555-BCKM Dell Intel X710 2P 10Gb Da/Sfp+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth Ndc Network Daughter Card.

Dell 555-BCKM 2-Port 10Gb SFP+ Network Daughter Card

High-Performance Server Networking Solution

The Dell 555-BCKM Network Daughter Card is a robust enterprise-grade networking component engineered to enhance server connectivity, scalability, and throughput. Built on Intel X710 architecture, it delivers reliable 10 Gigabit Ethernet performance for modern data center environments requiring fast and stable network communication.

Key Highlights of Dell 555-BCKM

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number / SKU: 555-BCKM
• Product Category: Network Daughter Card (NDC)
• Total Ports: 4 Ports (2 x 10Gb + 2 x 1Gb)
• High-speed 10Gb SFP+ connectivity
• Intel X710-based architecture for enterprise reliability

Advanced Technical Specifications

Core Device Information

• Device Type: Network Adapter / Daughter Card
• Form Factor: Plug-in expansion card
• Bundled Controller: Intel I350 Dual-Port Network Module

Networking Capabilities

• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 10 Gbps per port
• Data Link Protocol: 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE)
• Optical Interface: Dual SFP+ 10Gb ports

Performance and Reliability Features

• Optimized for high-bandwidth workloads and virtualization
• Stable low-latency network performance for enterprise servers
• Enhanced offloading capabilities for reduced CPU usage
• Designed for scalable data center networking environments

Compatibility and Supported Systems

Supported Dell PowerEdge Servers

• PowerEdge R640
• PowerEdge R740
• PowerEdge R740xd
• PowerEdge R940
• PowerEdge M630
• PowerEdge R630
• PowerEdge R730
• PowerEdge R730xd

Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb Network Daughter Card

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card represents a high-performance, enterprise-grade networking solution designed for modern data center environments. This advanced Network Daughter Card (NDC) integrates dual-port 10GbE Intel X710 connectivity along with dual-port 1GbE Intel I350 Ethernet, delivering a flexible and scalable networking architecture optimized for Dell PowerEdge server platforms. Built for bandwidth-intensive workloads, virtualization environments, cloud infrastructure, and enterprise networking demands, this NDC ensures reliable throughput, low latency, and enhanced system efficiency.

Engineered for compatibility with Dell enterprise servers, the Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card provides a consolidated network interface that reduces PCIe slot usage while maximizing network density. Its hybrid design allows IT administrators to balance high-speed 10GbE workloads with standard 1GbE management or legacy traffic, making it a versatile component in mixed infrastructure environments.

Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 Network Daughter Card

Hybrid Dual-Network Interface Structure

The architecture of the Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card is built around a dual-controller system. The Intel X710 chipset provides two 10Gb SFP+ ports optimized for high-speed data transfers, while the Intel I350 controller delivers two 1Gb Ethernet ports for management and auxiliary networking tasks. This hybrid architecture enables simultaneous handling of multiple network tiers within a single hardware module.

Separation of Data and Management Traffic

By separating high-performance data traffic (10GbE) from management or secondary traffic (1GbE), the card reduces network congestion and improves reliability. This separation is especially useful in virtualized environments where different virtual machines or workloads require different levels of bandwidth allocation.

Integrated Design for Dell PowerEdge Systems

The Network Daughter Card form factor ensures tight integration with Dell PowerEdge servers. Unlike traditional PCIe network adapters, the NDC design connects directly to the motherboard, reducing cabling complexity and improving airflow within the chassis. This contributes to better thermal efficiency and long-term system stability.

Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb 2P 1Gb Eth NDC

High-Speed 10GbE Performance

The dual 10GbE SFP+ ports powered by Intel X710 deliver exceptional bandwidth for data-intensive applications. These ports support low-latency communication, making them ideal for storage networking, virtualization clusters, and cloud computing infrastructures.

Advanced Offloading Capabilities

The Intel X710 chipset includes advanced offloading features such as TCP segmentation offload, checksum offload, and virtualization offloads. These capabilities reduce CPU overhead, allowing server processors to focus on application workloads instead of network processing tasks.

Reliable 1GbE Connectivity

The integrated Intel I350 dual 1GbE ports provide stable and reliable connectivity for management networks, backup paths, or legacy systems. This ensures uninterrupted communication even in high-load environments where primary 10GbE links are heavily utilized.

Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card supports energy-efficient networking standards, helping reduce power consumption during low traffic periods while maintaining consistent performance when needed.

Compatibility and System Integration

Supported Dell PowerEdge Servers

This Network Daughter Card is designed specifically for Dell PowerEdge rack and tower servers that support NDC slots. It integrates seamlessly with enterprise systems, ensuring compatibility with server BIOS, firmware, and Dell OpenManage tools.

Firmware and Driver Support

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 NDC is supported by a wide range of operating systems including Windows Server, Linux distributions, and VMware ESXi. Regular driver updates ensure continued compatibility and performance optimization across evolving IT infrastructures.

Virtualization Platform Compatibility

The card is optimized for virtualization environments such as VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and KVM. It supports SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization), enabling multiple virtual machines to directly access physical network resources with minimal overhead.

Performance Optimization Capabilities

Low Latency Network Processing

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card is engineered for ultra-low latency communication. This is essential for financial trading systems, real-time analytics, and high-performance computing clusters where microsecond delays can impact results.

Load Balancing and Traffic Distribution

Advanced load balancing algorithms distribute traffic efficiently across available ports, ensuring no single interface becomes a bottleneck. This improves overall system responsiveness and network reliability.

Packet Processing Efficiency

The Intel X710 controller is optimized for high packet-per-second (PPS) performance, enabling efficient handling of small packet workloads common in modern microservices and containerized environments.

Virtualization and Cloud Integration

SR-IOV and Virtual Function Support

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 NDC supports SR-IOV technology, allowing physical NIC resources to be divided into multiple virtual functions. This enables direct VM-to-NIC communication, reducing hypervisor overhead and improving throughput.

Network Function Virtualization (NFV)

NFV workloads benefit significantly from this card’s architecture, as it provides flexible bandwidth allocation and efficient packet handling for virtual network appliances such as firewalls, load balancers, and routers.

Cloud Data Center Optimization

In cloud environments, the dual 10GbE and dual 1GbE design allows separation of tenant traffic, storage traffic, and management traffic, ensuring efficient and secure data flow across multi-tenant architectures.

Enterprise Deployment Scenarios

Data Center Networking

The Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 2P 10Gb DA/SFP+ I350 2P 1Gb Eth NDC Network Daughter Card is widely used in enterprise data centers where high availability and scalability are critical. It supports spine-leaf architectures and high-density server deployments.

High Availability Clustering

Clustered server environments benefit from redundant network paths provided by the dual-port configuration, ensuring continuous uptime even in the event of port or cable failure.

Storage Networking (iSCSI and NAS)

This NDC supports high-speed storage communication protocols, enabling efficient iSCSI and NAS operations. The 10GbE ports significantly reduce storage latency and improve backup and replication speeds.

Security Features and Network Protection

Hardware-Based Security Offloads

The Intel X710 chipset integrates security offloading capabilities that reduce CPU exposure to encrypted traffic processing. This improves both performance and system security.

VLAN and Traffic Isolation

Support for VLAN tagging and segmentation allows administrators to isolate sensitive workloads and enforce strict network policies across different departments or applications.

Secure Boot and Firmware Integrity

Dell enterprise hardware ensures secure firmware validation during boot, reducing the risk of unauthorized modifications or malicious firmware injections.

Comparison with Standard Network Adapters

NDC vs PCIe Network Cards

Unlike standard PCIe network cards, the NDC form factor reduces slot usage and improves integration with server architecture. This results in better airflow and simplified maintenance.

Performance Advantages

The combination of Intel X710 and I350 controllers provides a performance advantage over traditional single-controller NICs, especially in mixed workload environments.

Scalability Considerations

Organizations can scale network performance without adding additional PCIe cards, making the Dell 555-BCKM Intel X710 NDC a cost-effective and space-efficient solution.