X4HRY Dell Nvidia Dual Port 10/25GBE SFP28 PCIE Connectx-6 Lx Adapter

General Information

Technical Specifications

The Enterprise-Class Network Adapter

The Dell X4HRY Nvidia Dual Port 10/25GBE SFP28 PCIe ConnectX-6 Lx Adapter belongs to a high-performance enterprise networking hardware category designed for modern data centers, cloud infrastructures, virtualization platforms, and high-throughput server environments. This category focuses on advanced Ethernet adapters that support 10GbE and 25GbE connectivity using SFP28 interfaces, optimized for low latency, high bandwidth, and efficient CPU utilization. Products in this category are purpose-built to handle demanding workloads such as virtualization, containerized applications, big data analytics, artificial intelligence workloads, and high-performance computing.

As part of the broader server network interface card (NIC) ecosystem, this category emphasizes reliability, scalability, and compatibility with industry-standard servers. These adapters are commonly deployed in rack servers, blade servers, and custom-built enterprise systems where network performance directly impacts application responsiveness and operational efficiency. The Dell X4HRY adapter exemplifies this category by integrating Nvidia’s ConnectX-6 Lx controller, a well-known architecture for advanced offload capabilities and intelligent networking features.

Dual-Port 10/25GbE Ethernet Adapter

This category includes dual-port Ethernet adapters that support both 10GbE and 25GbE speeds through SFP28 transceivers. Dual-port designs are especially valuable in enterprise environments because they allow redundancy, load balancing, and flexible network configurations. Each port can operate independently or in bonded configurations, enabling higher aggregate throughput or fault tolerance.

SFP28-Based

SFP28 is a key defining characteristic of this category. SFP28 ports support high-speed fiber and direct attach copper (DAC) connections, providing flexibility in cabling and distance requirements. Fiber optic transceivers enable long-distance connections within data centers or between racks, while DAC cables offer low-latency, short-distance connections with reduced power consumption.

PCI Express Network Adapter

The Dell X4HRY adapter falls under the PCI Express (PCIe) network adapter subcategory, specifically designed for high-bandwidth server expansion slots. PCIe-based NICs provide significantly higher throughput and lower latency compared to legacy interfaces, making them essential for modern servers handling intensive network traffic.

PCIe Gen3 and Gen4

This subcategory often supports PCIe Gen3 x8 or x16 interfaces, with backward and forward compatibility depending on the server platform. The high lane count ensures that both 10GbE and 25GbE ports can operate at full speed without bottlenecks. PCIe connectivity also enables advanced features such as direct memory access and efficient packet processing.

Server Integration and Form Factor

Adapters in this class are typically delivered in standard low-profile or full-height PCIe form factors, ensuring compatibility with a wide range of enterprise servers. Dell-branded adapters, such as the X4HRY, are validated for seamless integration with Dell PowerEdge servers, reducing deployment complexity and ensuring firmware and driver compatibility.

Nvidia ConnectX-6 Lx Controller-Based Adapters

A defining aspect of this category is the use of Nvidia’s ConnectX-6 Lx controller. This controller represents a balance between performance, power efficiency, and feature richness. It is specifically optimized for 10GbE and 25GbE environments, making it suitable for cloud-scale deployments and enterprise data centers.

RDMA and RoCE

This category often supports Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), allowing servers to exchange data directly between memory spaces with minimal CPU involvement. RDMA capabilities are especially important for high-performance computing, distributed storage, and latency-sensitive applications.

Virtualization and Cloud Networking

The Dell X4HRY adapter is part of a broader category tailored for virtualization and cloud networking. Modern data centers rely heavily on virtual machines and containers, each generating network traffic that must be efficiently managed and isolated.

SR-IOV and Virtual

Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) is a common feature in this category, enabling a single physical NIC to present multiple virtual functions to guest operating systems. This allows virtual machines to access network resources directly, reducing latency and improving throughput compared to software-based virtual switches.

Data Center and Enterprise Use Cases

This category serves a wide range of enterprise and data center use cases. The Dell X4HRY Nvidia Dual Port 10/25GBE SFP28 PCIe Adapter is representative of hardware used in mission-critical networking scenarios where reliability and performance are paramount.

High-Performance Storage Networks

In storage environments, such as software-defined storage or network-attached storage, high-bandwidth NICs are essential to prevent network congestion. Adapters in this category support fast data replication, backup operations, and real-time access to shared storage resources.

Big Data and Platforms

Big data platforms generate massive east-west traffic between nodes. Dual-port 25GbE adapters provide the throughput required to move large datasets quickly, reducing job completion times and improving overall system efficiency.

Security and Network Features

Enterprise network adapter categories increasingly emphasize built-in security and isolation features. Hardware-level security reduces reliance on software-based controls and enhances overall system protection.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is an important consideration in this category, especially for large-scale deployments. Nvidia ConnectX-6 Lx adapters are designed to deliver high performance while maintaining low power consumption.

Scalability and Future-Proof

Scalability is a defining characteristic of this network adapter category. As organizations grow and network demands increase, adapters must support higher traffic volumes without requiring frequent hardware replacements.

Enterprise Reliability

Reliability and long-term support are critical aspects of this category. Enterprise customers expect consistent performance, extended product lifecycles, and vendor-backed support.