P26968-001 HPE DSC-25 10/25Gigabit 2Ports SFP28 Network Adapter.

Overview of HPE P26968-001 DSC-25 10/25Gigabit 2-Port SFP28 Network Adapter

The HPE P26968-001 DSC-25 10/25Gigabit 2-Port SFP28 Network Adapter is a high-performance, dual-port network interface card (NIC) engineered for modern data centers, enterprise-level networking, and cloud-based infrastructures. Designed by Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), this adapter leverages the high-speed capabilities of the SFP28 standard to offer flexible connectivity at either 10GbE or 25GbE speeds. Its versatility, low-latency architecture, and advanced features make it a critical component for organizations looking to optimize server performance, minimize network bottlenecks, and future-proof their infrastructure investments.

Performance-Centric Architecture

At the core of the HPE P26968-001 adapter lies a design focused on achieving high throughput and minimal latency. Supporting both 10Gbps and 25Gbps Ethernet standards, it is built to meet the demands of data-intensive workloads such as virtualization, cloud applications, real-time analytics, and high-frequency trading platforms. With dual SFP28 ports, the card enables high-availability configurations, efficient load balancing, and superior fault tolerance in demanding network environments.

10/25GbE Bandwidth Flexibility

One of the standout features of the P26968-001 is its dual-speed capability. Network administrators can deploy it in 10GbE environments for legacy compatibility or in 25GbE networks to take advantage of significantly higher bandwidth. This allows for seamless upgrades and infrastructure scalability, extending the life of the hardware and supporting growing data center demands without immediate large-scale overhauls.

SFP28 Interface: Enhanced Speed and Efficiency

The Small Form-Factor Pluggable 28 (SFP28) interface utilized by this adapter is an optimized version of the SFP+ interface, delivering enhanced signaling integrity, lower power consumption, and increased throughput per port. It ensures stable and efficient data transmission, particularly in environments requiring minimal packet loss and low jitter performance.

Advanced Features for Enterprise Workloads

The HPE P26968-001 DSC-25 isn’t just a high-speed adapter—it also includes enterprise-grade networking features to support secure, efficient, and manageable operations. From virtualization optimizations to hardware offloads, it is built to support the intricate requirements of large-scale IT environments.

Virtualization and Network Partitioning

With support for Single-Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) and Virtual Network Interface Card (vNIC) functionality, the adapter can carve out multiple virtual interfaces from a single physical port. This improves workload isolation and performance in virtualized server environments such as VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM-based systems. Network administrators can assign specific virtual interfaces to virtual machines (VMs), ensuring optimized traffic routing and reduced CPU overhead.

Hardware Offloading Capabilities

Offloading tasks such as TCP segmentation, checksum calculations, and Large Receive Offload (LRO) reduces CPU utilization and improves overall system performance. By delegating these network stack tasks to the adapter’s onboard processors, server resources can focus more effectively on applications and services rather than network I/O.

Security Enhancements

The HPE P26968-001 includes advanced network security features such as VLAN tagging, MAC address filtering, and secure boot support. These contribute to a hardened infrastructure that can defend against common network-based attacks, especially in multi-tenant data centers or hybrid cloud architectures.

Compatibility and Integration

HPE ensures broad compatibility of the P26968-001 DSC-25 with its ProLiant server portfolio. The card supports a wide range of HPE Gen10 and Gen11 servers, including rack, tower, and blade server configurations. Moreover, the adapter is certified for use in major operating systems, including Microsoft Windows Server, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES), and VMware ESXi.

Plug-and-Play Deployment

Deployment is simplified with plug-and-play support through HPE’s Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) management engine. Server administrators can monitor, manage, and configure the adapter remotely using HPE’s intelligent provisioning tools, minimizing downtime and manual setup efforts.

Interoperability with Network Switches

This network adapter pairs seamlessly with HPE and third-party network switches, including 10GbE and 25GbE models. It supports auto-negotiation and backward compatibility, allowing mixed-speed environments while maintaining optimal performance. For optimal results, pairing with HPE FlexFabric or Aruba network switches is recommended.

Use Cases in Enterprise Environments

The HPE P26968-001 is ideal for a broad spectrum of enterprise use cases. Whether you're operating a large-scale cloud environment, a mission-critical enterprise data center, or a private cloud solution, this NIC offers reliability, scalability, and performance.

Data Center Infrastructure

In data center applications, high-speed interconnectivity is vital. The 25GbE capabilities of this adapter dramatically reduce network bottlenecks between servers and top-of-rack (ToR) switches. This enables faster communication between distributed services, optimized east-west traffic, and more responsive application delivery.

Cloud and Virtualization Deployments

Cloud environments benefit significantly from this adapter’s virtual partitioning and traffic isolation capabilities. Whether you're hosting virtual desktops, containers, or software-defined storage, the ability to allocate bandwidth and isolate workloads ensures more predictable application performance and security.

High-Performance Computing (HPC)

HPC clusters require ultra-fast, low-latency communication. The HPE P26968-001, with its 25GbE throughput and hardware-based packet processing, is well-suited for distributed computing environments, scientific modeling, simulation workloads, and AI/ML training datasets.

Energy Efficiency

The adapter is built to be energy efficient, supporting Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and Dynamic Power Management. These technologies reduce power usage during periods of low traffic, helping data centers meet green IT goals without sacrificing performance.

Environmental Specifications

The card operates within standard data center environmental parameters, including a temperature range of 10°C to 55°C and humidity tolerance of 10% to 90% non-condensing. It also meets industry standards for electromagnetic interference (EMI) and safety compliance.

Benefits of Choosing the HPE P26968-001 Network Adapter

Opting for this network adapter provides several compelling advantages:

• Future-Ready Design: Supports scalable 25GbE networks.
• Lower Latency: Optimized for minimal packet delay and jitter.
• High Reliability: Enterprise-grade firmware and redundant features.
• Broad Compatibility: Certified across various HPE server families and OS platforms.
• Low Power Draw: Ideal for dense server deployments.
• Virtualization Support: Helps isolate and secure virtual workloads.

Networking with SFP28: Fiber and DAC Options

The HPE P26968-001 is compatible with both fiber optic transceivers and Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables, allowing flexibility in deployment:

Fiber Transceivers

For longer-distance connections, SFP28 fiber transceivers can be used. These provide reliable performance over distances up to 10 kilometers using single-mode fiber. Transceivers such as the HPE 25Gb SFP28 SR or LR are commonly deployed in conjunction with this adapter.

DAC Cables

DAC cables are ideal for short-distance, cost-effective server-to-switch connections within a rack or row. Supporting high-speed connectivity without the need for additional optics, DAC is a popular choice for hyperscale and high-density installations.

Redundancy and High Availability

With two independent SFP28 ports, the adapter supports NIC teaming and link aggregation, ensuring network path redundancy and improved fault tolerance. This helps maintain uninterrupted network access even in the event of cable or port failures.

Load Balancing Across Links

Traffic can be intelligently distributed across both ports using techniques such as LACP (Link Aggregation Control Protocol), boosting bandwidth and enhancing resilience to link failures.

Why 25GbE Matters for Modern Data Centers

As application demands grow and server workloads increase, 25GbE is becoming the new standard for server connectivity. Offering 2.5x the bandwidth of 10GbE without a significant increase in cost or power consumption, 25GbE delivers a balanced improvement in price, performance, and scalability.

Comparing 10GbE and 25GbE

While 10GbE has been sufficient for most legacy workloads, modern applications like containerized microservices, AI inference, and hybrid cloud workloads require higher throughput. 25GbE meets these needs while fitting into the same physical infrastructure footprint.

Return on Investment (ROI)

Upgrading to 25GbE with adapters like the HPE P26968-001 provides a high ROI by reducing the number of required network cards, cables, and switch ports while doubling performance compared to 10GbE setups.

Maintenance and Lifecycle Management

HPE provides firmware updates, lifecycle management, and support tools that extend the utility of the P26968-001 throughout its operational lifespan. Integration with HPE OneView and HPE InfoSight enables predictive analytics and proactive alerts for NIC health.

Firmware Management Tools

HPE's Smart Update Manager (SUM) and Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) allow seamless firmware updates across multiple devices, minimizing manual effort and reducing update errors.