HPE QL45262HMKR-HP Synergy 4820C 10/20/25Gb CNA

Overview of the QL45262HMKR-HP HPE Synergy 4820c 2-Port 10/20/25Gb Converged Network Adapter

The QL45262HMKR-HP HPE Synergy 4820c Converged Network Adapter is a high-performance, dual-port network interface module designed to support the flexible fabric architecture of HPE Synergy systems. Supporting speeds of 10Gb, 20Gb, and 25Gb, this adapter enables converged networking that consolidates Ethernet, Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE), and iSCSI traffic onto a single device, thereby reducing complexity and boosting bandwidth efficiency across enterprise-grade IT environments.

Designed for HPE Synergy Infrastructure

HPE Synergy is Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s composable infrastructure platform that disaggregates compute, storage, and networking resources for dynamic reallocation. The QL45262HMKR-HP adapter is purpose-built for the HPE Synergy 480 Gen10 Compute Modules and integrates natively into the Synergy 4820c Fabric Converged Adapter bay, enabling low-latency, high-throughput connectivity within the frame.

Composable Fabric Integration

Through HPE’s Virtual Connect architecture, the adapter supports converged fabric integration, allowing administrators to assign bandwidth and connection profiles programmatically via HPE OneView. This reduces the need for manual reconfiguration and accelerates workload provisioning. It streamlines network management while preserving flexibility and scalability.

Port Speeds and Versatility

The dual-port design supports dynamic link speeds of 10Gb, 20Gb, and 25Gb Ethernet, which allows the adapter to align with the demands of bandwidth-intensive applications, such as real-time analytics, virtualization, and high-speed data replication. It ensures future-proof compatibility with evolving data center network architectures.

Advanced Feature Set for Data Center Optimization

The QL45262HMKR-HP adapter provides a wide array of network acceleration and virtualization technologies that enhance both performance and workload density. These features make it an ideal solution for modern data centers seeking to optimize resources while maintaining high availability.

Offload Technologies

• TCP/IP Offload: Reduces CPU overhead by transferring networking tasks directly to the adapter.
• RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v2): Facilitates low-latency, high-throughput communication between systems, crucial for distributed databases and memory-centric applications.
• iSCSI and FCoE Offload: Enables storage over Ethernet using IP or Fibre Channel protocols without overburdening the host CPU.

SR-IOV and Virtualization Support

The adapter is equipped with Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), which allows for the creation of multiple virtual network interfaces directly on the hardware level. This enhances VM-to-VM communication speed and improves server density while reducing hypervisor overhead. It's a must-have for virtualized and cloud-native data center environments.

Support for NVGRE and VXLAN

By supporting encapsulation protocols such as NVGRE and VXLAN, the adapter allows for the creation of overlay networks that facilitate the scalable deployment of multitenant workloads in hybrid cloud environments. This is essential for enterprises running containerized applications and microservices architectures.

Hardware and Compatibility Specifications

The QL45262HMKR-HP adapter is engineered with high-grade components and is fully tested for seamless integration within HPE Synergy frames. Below are its key technical specifications and compatibility details.

Form Factor and Connectivity

• Form Factor: Mezzanine Type-C module for Synergy Compute Modules
• Connector Type: Edge connector compatible with HPE Synergy I/O bays
• Port Count: 2 x SFP28 slots supporting 10/20/25Gb Ethernet transceivers
• Media Support: Optical fiber and DAC copper cabling

Platform Compatibility

This adapter is validated for use in the following compute modules:

• HPE Synergy 480 Gen10 Compute Modules
• HPE Synergy 660 Gen10 Compute Modules (requires appropriate slot configuration)
• Compatible with HPE Synergy Composer and OneView-managed environments

Network Redundancy and Reliability Features

For enterprises that demand continuous availability and minimal downtime, the QL45262HMKR-HP adapter incorporates failover and link aggregation capabilities to enhance network resilience and performance.

NIC Teaming and Load Balancing

By supporting NIC teaming, the adapter allows multiple ports to operate as a single logical interface. This ensures redundancy in the event of a link failure and enables bandwidth aggregation for improved throughput under heavy workloads.

Error Correction and Packet Integrity

Advanced CRC and ECC features protect against data corruption during transmission. Built-in diagnostics and hardware-level telemetry provide IT teams with actionable insights into port health and performance metrics.

Energy Efficiency and Thermal Optimization

Designed with energy-conscious operations in mind, the QL45262HMKR-HP minimizes power consumption while maximizing throughput. This helps reduce overall thermal footprint and operating costs.

Dynamic Power Scaling

The adapter includes intelligent power scaling algorithms that dynamically adjust power draw based on link activity and throughput demand. This contributes to reduced data center power and cooling requirements.

Thermal Management Compatibility

With support for HPE’s thermal optimization technologies, the adapter contributes to the efficient cooling of the Synergy frame, minimizing hotspots and extending component lifespan.

Security and Compliance Features

Enterprise-grade security is at the forefront of the QL45262HMKR-HP adapter’s design. It includes hardware-assisted security protocols and firmware integrity checks to prevent unauthorized access or tampering.

Secure Boot and UEFI Compatibility

Firmware is signed and validated during boot-up through Secure Boot policies. The adapter fully supports UEFI PXE booting for streamlined provisioning in secure environments.

Network Access Control and Isolation

Virtual network segmentation and 802.1Q VLAN tagging are supported for policy-based access control and tenant isolation, ensuring secure multitenancy in enterprise and hybrid cloud deployments.

Management and Monitoring Capabilities

The adapter integrates seamlessly into HPE’s management stack, providing real-time monitoring, remote firmware updates, and policy-based configuration through centralized platforms.

Integration with HPE OneView

Using HPE OneView, administrators can configure bandwidth profiles, monitor traffic utilization, and automate firmware compliance. This reduces operational overhead and ensures consistent performance.

SNMP and Remote Diagnostics

SNMP compatibility allows for integration into third-party monitoring solutions. Built-in diagnostic tools and LEDs offer quick visual and remote insight into link activity, status, and error conditions.

Use Cases for the HPE Synergy 4820c Converged Adapter

The versatile capabilities of this adapter make it suitable for a wide array of enterprise workloads and deployment models. Below are some of the most common scenarios where it delivers exceptional value.

Virtualized Workloads and Private Clouds

With SR-IOV, RoCE, and support for overlay networks, the QL45262HMKR-HP is well-suited for virtual machine environments running hypervisors such as VMware ESXi, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Red Hat KVM.

High-Performance Computing (HPC) and AI

The low-latency, high-throughput features of the adapter enable efficient data transfer for AI/ML training models, scientific simulations, and financial analytics within HPC clusters.

Storage Area Network (SAN) Integration

FCoE and iSCSI offloads allow the adapter to integrate seamlessly with enterprise SANs, reducing the need for separate HBAs and enhancing cable management.

Conclusion: Maximizing Synergy Infrastructure Potential

While not concluding, it is evident that the QL45262HMKR-HP HPE Synergy 4820c Converged Network Adapter delivers a robust, scalable, and secure networking solution that aligns with the core vision of composable infrastructure. Its dual-port flexibility, converged networking capabilities, and advanced virtualization support make it a strategic choice for enterprises modernizing their IT stack with HPE Synergy.