P13188-B21 HPE Mellanox 10/25GBE 2 Port 28 SFP PCI-E Adapter

Overview of the HPE P13188-B21 PCI-E Network Adapter

This dual‑port network interface card delivers dependable high‑speed connectivity for modern data‑center workloads. Engineered by HPE, the P13188-B21 adapter blends robust throughput, versatile protocol support, and compatibility with multiple ProLiant Gen10 Plus platforms.

Main Specifications

• Brand: HPE
• Part Number: P13188-B21
• Device Type: 2 Ports Network Adapter

Technical Specifications

• Internal form factor optimized for server chassis airflow
• PCI Express 3.0 x16 host interface
• Compliant with PCIe 3.0 specification for stable bandwidth allocation
• Two QSFP28‑type ports engineered for high‑capacity networking
• 10‑Gigabit Ethernet
• 25‑Gigabit LAN

Transmission Performance

• Maximum data throughput reaching 25 Gbps
• Optimized for low‑latency packet delivery across demanding workloads

Protocol Compatibility

• Gigabit Ethernet standards for broad interoperability
• PCI‑Express connectivity for seamless server integration

Platform Integration

Supported Server Families

• ProLiant DL325 Gen10 Plus
• ProLiant DL385 Gen10 Plus
• ProLiant DL385 Gen10 Plus Entry

Deployment Advantages

• Ideal for virtualization, cloud hosting, and high‑bandwidth applications
• Reliable performance for scalable enterprise networking environments

HPE P13188-B21 2 Ports PCI-E Adapter

The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox 10/25GbE 2 Port 28 SFP PCI-E MCX512F-ACHT Adapter is a high-performance networking solution designed to enhance server connectivity, improve data transfer efficiency, and support demanding enterprise workloads. Built with advanced Mellanox ConnectX-5 controller technology, this adapter delivers flexible Ethernet performance with dual-port connectivity supporting both 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 25 Gigabit Ethernet speeds. It is engineered for modern data centers, cloud environments, virtualization platforms, high-performance computing applications, and enterprise server infrastructures that require reliable, low-latency network communication.

This HPE Ethernet adapter provides a powerful combination of speed, scalability, and intelligent networking features through two SFP28 ports integrated into a PCI Express interface. The adapter enables organizations to upgrade their existing server networks while maintaining compatibility with current Ethernet infrastructures. By supporting multiple bandwidth configurations, the HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox adapter provides a future-ready networking platform capable of handling increasing data demands from virtualization, database applications, analytics platforms, and cloud-based services.

Advanced Mellanox ConnectX-5 Ethernet Technology

The HPE P13188-B21 adapter incorporates the Mellanox ConnectX-5 MCX512F-ACHT controller, a highly optimized network interface technology developed to deliver enhanced throughput, reduced latency, and efficient data processing. ConnectX-5 architecture provides advanced networking capabilities that allow servers to communicate more efficiently with storage systems, application servers, and network devices.

The adapter is designed to accelerate network-intensive operations by utilizing hardware-based processing technologies that reduce CPU overhead. This allows server processors to focus on application workloads instead of managing network traffic. The result is improved overall system efficiency, better application responsiveness, and enhanced performance for environments requiring continuous high-speed data exchange.

Dual-Port 10/25 Gigabit Ethernet Connectivity

The two-port SFP28 interface configuration of the HPE P13188-B21 adapter provides flexible networking options for enterprise environments. Each port supports 10GbE and 25GbE connectivity, allowing administrators to select the appropriate network speed based on infrastructure requirements. This flexibility makes the adapter suitable for organizations transitioning from traditional 10 Gigabit Ethernet networks to faster 25 Gigabit Ethernet environments.

Dual-port functionality provides additional network capacity, redundancy options, and improved traffic management capabilities. Servers equipped with this adapter can connect to multiple network paths, supporting high availability configurations and optimized workload distribution. The dual-port design also enables better utilization of network resources in data center environments where consistent bandwidth and reliability are essential.

SFP28 Port Design for High-Speed Networking

The SFP28 ports featured on the HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox adapter provide a compact and efficient interface for high-speed Ethernet connectivity. SFP28 technology supports 25Gb Ethernet while maintaining a similar form factor to SFP+ solutions used for 10Gb Ethernet. This allows organizations to upgrade network speeds without completely redesigning their existing cabling infrastructure.

SFP28 compatibility provides support for a wide range of optical and direct attach cable solutions, enabling flexible deployment options across different data center layouts. Whether used for short-distance server connections or longer network links, the adapter offers dependable connectivity for various enterprise networking scenarios.

PCI Express Interface and Server Integration

The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox MCX512F-ACHT adapter is designed for installation in compatible HPE ProLiant servers and systems equipped with PCI Express expansion slots. The PCI Express interface provides a high-bandwidth connection between the adapter and the server motherboard, ensuring that network performance is not limited by the internal system bus.

PCI Express connectivity allows the adapter to deliver high-speed communication between the server and network infrastructure while maintaining efficient power usage and reliable operation. The adapter architecture is optimized for enterprise server environments where consistent performance, compatibility, and scalability are critical requirements.

Enterprise Network Performance and Efficiency

Modern data centers require networking solutions capable of supporting large amounts of data traffic generated by virtualization, cloud computing, artificial intelligence workloads, storage applications, and business-critical software platforms. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter addresses these requirements by providing high bandwidth and advanced networking capabilities in a compact PCI Express form factor.

With support for 10GbE and 25GbE speeds, this adapter enables faster communication between servers, switches, and storage systems. Higher network bandwidth helps reduce bottlenecks, improves application performance, and allows organizations to process larger volumes of information more efficiently. The adapter is particularly suitable for environments where network speed directly impacts productivity and service availability.

Optimized Data Center Networking

The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox adapter is designed specifically for data center environments that demand reliable and scalable connectivity. Its dual-port architecture provides administrators with additional flexibility when designing network topologies, balancing traffic loads, or implementing redundant connections.

Data centers running virtualization platforms benefit from the adapter’s ability to efficiently handle multiple simultaneous network streams. Virtual machines, containers, and enterprise applications can share network resources while maintaining consistent performance. The adapter helps support dense server deployments where high network throughput is necessary for efficient resource utilization.

Support for Virtualized Infrastructure

Virtualized environments require network adapters capable of managing large numbers of connections and high levels of traffic. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter provides technologies that improve network virtualization efficiency and support advanced server virtualization deployments.

By reducing network processing demands on system CPUs, the adapter helps improve virtual machine performance and allows organizations to maximize server resources. It is suitable for cloud computing environments, private cloud infrastructures, and enterprise virtualization platforms where flexible and efficient network communication is essential.

High-Speed Ethernet Adapter Applications

The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox 10/25GbE adapter is designed for a broad range of enterprise applications that require fast and dependable network communication. It is commonly deployed in data centers, high-performance computing environments, enterprise server clusters, storage networks, and cloud infrastructure platforms.

Organizations can utilize this adapter to improve connectivity between application servers, database systems, storage platforms, and network switches. Its combination of high bandwidth, dual-port connectivity, and advanced controller technology makes it suitable for workloads where network performance is a key factor in overall system efficiency.

Cloud Computing and Service Provider Environments

Cloud service providers and enterprise cloud environments depend on high-speed networking to deliver reliable services to users and applications. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter supports cloud infrastructure by providing the bandwidth required for large-scale virtualized workloads and distributed computing operations.

The adapter enables efficient communication between cloud servers, storage resources, and networking equipment. Its flexible Ethernet support allows organizations to deploy it in environments that require scalable networking solutions capable of adapting to changing performance requirements.

High-Performance Computing and Data Analytics

High-performance computing applications often require rapid data movement between processing nodes and storage systems. The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox adapter provides the network capability needed for demanding computational workloads, scientific applications, simulation platforms, and large-scale analytics environments.

Fast Ethernet connectivity helps reduce data transfer delays and improves communication efficiency between interconnected systems. This makes the adapter an effective solution for organizations managing data-intensive applications that require consistent network performance.

Storage and Data Transfer Optimization

Enterprise storage environments generate significant network traffic as applications access and exchange large amounts of information. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter supports efficient data transfer between servers and storage infrastructure, helping organizations improve storage access performance and application availability.

The adapter’s high-speed Ethernet capabilities make it suitable for storage networking environments where fast response times and dependable connectivity are required. It helps create a balanced infrastructure where compute, storage, and network resources work together efficiently.

HPE Server Compatibility and Enterprise Deployment

The HPE P13188-B21 Mellanox adapter is designed as an enterprise-grade networking component for compatible HPE server platforms. It integrates with HPE server management tools and infrastructure solutions, helping administrators simplify deployment, monitoring, and maintenance activities.

Using an HPE-qualified network adapter helps organizations maintain compatibility with their existing server environments while ensuring dependable performance. The adapter is developed to meet enterprise requirements for reliability, scalability, and long-term operation in professional computing environments.

Reliable Hardware Architecture

The adapter features a durable hardware design optimized for continuous operation in enterprise data centers. Its advanced controller technology provides efficient network processing while maintaining stable performance under demanding workloads.

Enterprise networking equipment must operate consistently under heavy traffic conditions, and the HPE P13188-B21 adapter is designed to deliver dependable connectivity for mission-critical applications. Its combination of performance features and enterprise-focused engineering makes it a valuable component for modern server infrastructures.

Efficient Network Resource Management

Effective network management is essential for maintaining application performance and infrastructure efficiency. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter provides networking capabilities that help administrators optimize bandwidth usage, improve traffic handling, and support advanced deployment strategies.

Through intelligent networking features and flexible port configuration, the adapter enables organizations to create efficient network architectures that support current workloads while allowing room for future expansion.

Scalable Solution for Future Network Upgrades

The transition from 10 Gigabit Ethernet to 25 Gigabit Ethernet is becoming increasingly common as organizations require faster communication between servers and network systems. The HPE P13188-B21 adapter supports this transition by providing dual-speed Ethernet capability in a single networking solution.

This scalability allows businesses to upgrade network performance gradually without replacing existing infrastructure entirely. The adapter provides a practical solution for organizations seeking improved bandwidth, enhanced application performance, and a reliable foundation for future data center growth.