737WF Dell Intel I350 Quad Ports Daughter Card

Dell 737WF Intel I350 Quad Ports RJ-45 1Gb PCI Express Network Daughter Card Overview

The Dell 737WF Intel I350 Quad Ports RJ-45 1Gb PCI Express Network Daughter Card is an advanced networking solution designed for enterprise-grade servers and data centers. This high-performance network adapter offers four RJ-45 Gigabit Ethernet ports, providing reliable and efficient connectivity for demanding networking applications. Built on Intel's I350 chipset, this card ensures superior network performance, scalability, and advanced virtualization support.

Key Features of the Dell 737WF Intel I350 Network Daughter Card

This network daughter card is packed with features that cater to modern networking requirements. Below are the key features that set this card apart from others:

Intel I350 Chipset for Enhanced Performance

The Dell 737WF is powered by the Intel I350 chipset, which offers advanced network performance, reduced latency, and lower power consumption. The chipset supports a range of features including IEEE 1588 precision time synchronization, iSCSI acceleration, and Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq) for improved virtualization performance.

Quad-Port Design for Greater Network Flexibility

This card features four RJ-45 ports, each capable of delivering up to 1Gbps bandwidth. The quad-port configuration provides enhanced network redundancy and load balancing, ensuring continuous connectivity and improved data transfer efficiency. This makes it ideal for environments that require high availability and network fault tolerance.

PCI Express Interface

The Dell 737WF utilizes the PCI Express interface, offering faster data transfer rates compared to older PCI and PCI-X standards. This ensures that the card can handle high-bandwidth applications and is compatible with modern server architectures.

Technical Specifications

Understanding the technical specifications of the Dell 737WF Intel I350 Network Daughter Card is crucial for selecting the right hardware for your server environment. Below is a breakdown of its key technical details:

Supported Protocols and Standards

The card supports a variety of networking protocols and standards, including:

• IEEE 802.3, 802.3u, 802.3ab (Ethernet Standards)
• IEEE 1588 (Precision Time Protocol)
• PXE Boot Support
• iSCSI and NFS Offload
• VLAN Tagging and Priority Queues

Compatibility and Supported Operating Systems

The Dell 737WF network daughter card is compatible with a range of Dell servers and operating systems, ensuring seamless integration into your existing infrastructure. Supported operating systems include:

• Windows Server 2012, 2016, 2019
• Linux Distributions (Red Hat, Ubuntu, CentOS, SUSE)
• VMware ESXi

Applications and Use Cases

This network adapter is suitable for a variety of enterprise applications. Whether you’re running a data center, private cloud, or enterprise network, the Dell 737WF delivers reliable performance and scalability.

Data Center Networking

The Dell 737WF is an excellent choice for data centers that require high-speed network connections and redundancy. With four Gigabit Ethernet ports, it supports high-availability configurations and load balancing, ensuring uninterrupted network performance.

Virtualization and Cloud Environments

The card’s advanced virtualization support, including VMDq and support for multiple queues, makes it an ideal solution for virtualized environments. It allows for better resource allocation and reduces CPU overhead, enhancing overall system performance.

Enterprise Networking

For enterprise networks, the Dell 737WF provides robust connectivity for file servers, email servers, and web hosting. The card’s ability to support multiple VLANs and advanced network management features ensures a secure and efficient network infrastructure.

Benefits of Using the Dell 737WF Intel I350 Network Daughter Card

The Dell 737WF Intel I350 Network Daughter Card offers several benefits that enhance networking performance and reliability:

Improved Network Performance

With support for features like TCP segmentation offload (TSO), Large Send Offload (LSO), and Receive Side Scaling (RSS), this card reduces CPU utilization and boosts overall network performance.

High Availability and Redundancy

The quad-port design provides network redundancy, reducing the risk of downtime. This is critical for applications that require 24/7 connectivity and minimal disruption.

Advanced Network Security

The card supports advanced security features such as VLAN tagging, hardware-based checksum offload, and secure boot options, helping to protect the network from potential threats and attacks.

Installation and Configuration

Installing and configuring the Dell 737WF Intel I350 Network Daughter Card is a straightforward process. Below are the steps to ensure a successful installation:

Step 1: Prepare Your Server

Before installing the network daughter card, power down your server and disconnect it from any power sources. Ensure you are properly grounded to avoid static electricity discharge.

Step 2: Install the Network Daughter Card

Open the server chassis and locate an available PCI Express slot. Carefully insert the Dell 737WF card into the slot and secure it with the provided screws. Ensure the card is firmly seated in the slot.

Step 3: Reconnect and Power On

Reconnect all cables and power on the server. The card should be automatically detected by the operating system.

Step 4: Install Drivers and Configure Settings

Install the latest drivers for the Intel I350 chipset from Dell’s support website. Configure network settings such as IP addresses, VLANs, and load balancing options according to your network requirements.

Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Proper maintenance and troubleshooting are essential for keeping the Dell 737WF network daughter card functioning optimally.

Regular Firmware Updates

Keep the card’s firmware up to date to ensure compatibility with the latest operating systems and to access new features and bug fixes.

Monitoring and Diagnostics

Use network monitoring tools to track performance and identify potential issues. Dell’s OpenManage software can be used to monitor and manage the card remotely.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

If you encounter connectivity issues, check the following:

• Ensure the card is properly seated in the PCI Express slot.
• Verify that the correct drivers are installed.
• Check for firmware updates.
• Ensure network cables are connected securely.

Comparing the Dell 737WF with Similar Network Cards

When selecting a network adapter, it’s important to compare the Dell 737WF with other available options. Here’s how it stacks up:

Performance Comparison

The Intel I350 chipset offers superior performance compared to older generations of network adapters. It supports advanced features like Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq), Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), and improved power management.

Port Configuration

Unlike single- or dual-port network adapters, the quad-port configuration of the Dell 737WF provides greater flexibility for network management and redundancy.

Cost-Effectiveness

The Dell 737WF is a cost-effective solution for organizations that require multiple network connections without investing in expensive 10GbE solutions.