934KG Dell 4 Ports 10/25GbE SFP28 PCI-E Precision Timing Adapter

Overview of Dell 934KG Advanced Ethernet Adapter  

The Dell 934KG Precision Timing Adapter built on the Intel Ethernet E810 controller family is engineered for high-performance data centers that demand deterministic networking, ultra-low latency, and flexible connectivity. This quad-port SFP28 network interface card supports both 10 Gigabit and 25 Gigabit Ethernet, making it suitable for evolving workloads where scalability and precision matter.

General Specification

• Manufacturer: Dell
• Part Number: 934KG
• Product Type: Network Adapter

Technical Specification

• Total Ports: 4
• Expansion Slot Type: SFP28
• Maximum Throughput: Up to 10/25Gb/s per port
• Form Factor: Full Height 
• Interface Type: PCI-E

Key Controller Capabilities

• Hardware-assisted packet classification and steering
• Enhanced precision time protocol support for synchronized networks
• Optimized throughput for cloud, edge, and telecom environments
• Lower latency compared to traditional Ethernet adapters

Connectivity Advantages

• Backward compatibility with 10GbE SFP+ modules
• Support for short-range and long-range fiber links
• Ideal for top-of-rack and leaf-spine architectures
• Reduced cabling complexity through port consolidation

Timing Use Cases

• High-frequency trading infrastructure
• Telecommunications and mobile network synchronization
• Industrial automation and control systems
• Real-time analytics and measurement platforms

Optimized for Enterprise Server Platforms 

• Full-height bracket for standard server chassis
• Secure fit for continuous 24/7 operation
• Designed for high-airflow data center environments
• Seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge systems

Virtualization Benefits

• SR-IOV support for direct VM access to NIC resources
• Improved packet throughput in virtualized workloads
• Reduced latency for containerized applications
• Better quality of service enforcement across tenants

Reliability Features

• Advanced error detection and correction
• Stable performance under heavy traffic loads
• Designed for long-term enterprise deployment
• Vendor-validated compatibility with supported platforms

Common Applications

• High-performance computing clusters
• Telecom infrastructure and 5G networks
• Financial services and low-latency trading
• Enterprise virtualization and private cloud platforms

Outline of Dell 934KG Quad Port Precision Timing Adapter

The Dell 934KG Quad Port 10/25GbE SFP28 Precision Timing Adapter, PCIe Full Height, represents a specialized category of high-performance network interface cards designed for environments where ultra-low latency, deterministic packet delivery, and nanosecond-level time synchronization are essential. This category focuses on precision timing network adapters that combine high-speed Ethernet connectivity with advanced hardware timestamping and synchronization capabilities, enabling modern data centers, telecom infrastructures, and edge computing platforms to operate with predictable and tightly aligned timing across distributed systems.

Precision timing adapters in this class go beyond standard Ethernet NIC functionality by integrating hardware-based time synchronization technologies that support protocols such as IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol and Synchronous Ethernet. These adapters are deployed in servers that must maintain exact timing alignment across networked nodes, a requirement increasingly critical in 5G fronthaul and backhaul networks, high-frequency trading platforms, industrial automation systems, and distributed storage or compute clusters.

High-Speed Quad Port 10/25GbE SFP28 Connectivity

The category defined by the Dell 934KG Quad Port adapter emphasizes flexible, multi-port high-speed Ethernet connectivity using SFP28 interfaces. Quad port designs allow a single PCI Express slot to deliver multiple independent network connections, significantly increasing port density and reducing the need for additional expansion cards. Each SFP28 port supports both 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 25 Gigabit Ethernet speeds, enabling seamless integration into existing 10GbE infrastructures while providing an easy upgrade path to 25GbE networks.

This dual-rate capability is particularly important for enterprises and service providers managing mixed-speed network environments. It allows servers equipped with these adapters to connect to top-of-rack switches, aggregation layers, or timing-aware network segments without forcing a complete infrastructure overhaul. Optical fiber connectivity via SFP28 modules ensures long-distance transmission, immunity to electromagnetic interference, and consistent signal integrity in dense rack deployments.

Scalable Bandwidth for Modern Workloads

Adapters in this category are engineered to handle the bandwidth demands of modern workloads, including real-time analytics, virtualized network functions, and latency-sensitive applications. With up to four ports operating at 25GbE, aggregate throughput can reach levels that support data-intensive operations while maintaining deterministic performance characteristics. This scalability makes the category suitable for high-performance computing clusters, software-defined networking environments, and cloud platforms that require predictable throughput under sustained load.

Precision Timing and Hardware Timestamping Capabilities

A defining characteristic of the Dell 934KG Precision Timing Adapter category is the integration of advanced timing features directly into the network interface hardware. Hardware timestamping allows packets to be marked with precise ingress and egress times at the physical layer, minimizing jitter and variability introduced by software processing. This capability is fundamental for applications that depend on accurate measurement of packet delay, synchronization accuracy, and time alignment across network nodes.

Precision timing adapters support network-wide synchronization protocols that ensure all connected systems share a common time reference. In distributed environments, this shared time base enables coordinated operations, accurate logging, and consistent event sequencing. The category is particularly relevant in telecom and industrial sectors, where regulatory requirements and operational reliability depend on precise time distribution.

Support for Time-Sensitive Networking Environments

Time-sensitive networking environments require deterministic latency and bounded jitter, characteristics that cannot be reliably achieved with standard network adapters. Precision timing adapters address these challenges by providing hardware-assisted scheduling, timestamping, and synchronization features that align packet transmission with strict timing constraints. This makes the category suitable for applications such as mobile fronthaul, broadcast media workflows, and mission-critical control systems.

PCI Express Full Height Form Factor Integration

The PCIe full height form factor defines the physical integration characteristics of this adapter category. Full height cards are designed for standard server chassis and enterprise-grade systems, ensuring broad compatibility with rack-mounted servers used in data centers and telecom facilities. The PCI Express interface provides high-bandwidth, low-latency communication between the adapter and the host system, enabling efficient handling of multiple high-speed network streams.

Adapters in this category are optimized for modern PCIe generations, allowing them to scale with advancements in server architecture. This ensures that network performance is not constrained by the host interface and that precision timing features can operate without compromise. The full height design also allows for robust cooling solutions and stable power delivery, essential for sustained operation in high-density deployments.

Compatibility with Enterprise Server Platforms

Precision timing adapters such as the Dell 934KG are designed to integrate seamlessly with enterprise server platforms, including systems optimized for virtualization, network function virtualization, and edge computing. Driver support and firmware integration are tailored to ensure compatibility with major operating systems and hypervisors, allowing these adapters to be deployed in bare-metal, virtualized, or containerized environments.

Use Cases Across Industries

The category encompassing the Dell 934KG Quad Port Precision Timing Adapter spans a wide range of industry use cases where timing accuracy and high-speed connectivity intersect. In telecommunications, these adapters are deployed in servers that support 5G radio access networks, where precise synchronization between baseband units and radio units is mandatory. In financial services, they enable accurate timestamping of transactions and market data feeds, supporting compliance and performance optimization in high-frequency trading systems.

Industrial automation and energy sectors also benefit from precision timing network adapters, as they support synchronized control systems, monitoring platforms, and distributed sensors. Media and broadcast environments use these adapters to align audio and video streams across IP-based production networks, ensuring frame-accurate synchronization and consistent quality.

Edge Computing and Distributed Architectures

As computing resources move closer to the network edge, the need for precise timing becomes even more critical. Precision timing adapters allow edge nodes to remain synchronized with central data centers and other edge locations, enabling coordinated processing and real-time decision-making. This category supports emerging architectures where low latency and accurate time distribution are essential for operational success.

Advanced Offloading and Performance Optimization

Beyond timing and connectivity, adapters in this category incorporate advanced offloading capabilities that reduce CPU overhead and improve overall system efficiency. Hardware offloads for checksum calculation, segmentation, and packet classification allow the host processor to focus on application workloads rather than network processing tasks. This is particularly beneficial in environments running network-intensive applications or virtualized network functions.

Precision timing adapters are engineered to maintain performance consistency even under heavy load, ensuring that timing accuracy is preserved while handling high packet rates. This balance between throughput and determinism is a key differentiator of the category, making it suitable for demanding enterprise and service provider deployments.

Virtualization and Cloud Readiness

Modern data centers rely heavily on virtualization and cloud technologies, and precision timing adapters are designed to support these models. Features such as single root I/O virtualization enable multiple virtual machines to share a single physical adapter while maintaining isolation and performance. This allows service providers to deliver timing-aware services in multi-tenant environments without sacrificing accuracy or reliability.

Optical Networking and Signal Integrity

The use of SFP28 optical interfaces places this adapter category firmly within the realm of optical networking. Optical fiber connectivity offers advantages in terms of distance, bandwidth, and resistance to interference, making it ideal for data center interconnects and telecom networks. Precision timing adapters leverage these benefits to deliver consistent signal quality and reliable time distribution across extended network segments.

Support for a range of optical transceivers allows organizations to tailor deployments based on distance and performance requirements. This flexibility ensures that precision timing capabilities can be extended across campus networks, metro networks, and beyond, without compromising synchronization accuracy.

Reliability, Manageability, and Enterprise Features

Enterprise-grade precision timing adapters are built with reliability and manageability in mind. Firmware and management tools provide visibility into adapter status, timing performance, and link health, allowing administrators to monitor and maintain network integrity. Error detection and correction mechanisms help ensure continuous operation in mission-critical environments.

The category emphasizes long-term stability and support, making these adapters suitable for deployments with extended lifecycles. This aligns with the needs of telecom operators, industrial operators, and large enterprises that require consistent performance over many years of operation.