XXV710-KR2 Intel 10/25GbE 2 Ports PCI-E Ethernet Blade Adapter

Details of Intel 2 Ports PCI-E Blade Adapter

The Intel XXV710-KR2 is a high-performance 10/25GbE PCI Express blade adapter. Designed for enterprise-grade networking, this dual-port Ethernet module ensures reliable connectivity, advanced virtualization support, and efficient packet processing for modern data centers and cloud infrastructures.

General Information

• Manufacturer: Intel
• Part Number: XXV710-KR2
• Device Type: Blade Adapter

Technical Specifications

• PCI Express (PCIe) V3.0
• Bus Width: x8
• Bus Speed: 8 GT/s

Networking Features

• Compliance: IEEE 802.3by and 25GigEthernet.org specifications
• Supported Protocols: VXLAN, Geneve, NVGRE, MPLS, VXLAN-GPE with NSH
• Intel® Ethernet Flow Director for hardware-based traffic steering
• Optimized for Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK)
• Excellent small packet performance for NFV and appliances
• Adaptive link establishment for interoperability with 25GbE switches

Virtualization Capabilities

• Intelligent offloads for Intel Xeon processors
• I/O virtualization innovations for maximum performance
• Enhanced support for virtualized server environments

Operating Conditions

• Operating Temperature: 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F)
• Air Flow: 100 LFM at 55°C for DAC, 250 LFM at 55°C for SR optics
• Storage Temperature: -40°C to 70°C (-40°F to 158°F)
• Storage Humidity: Max 90% non-condensing at 35°C

LED Indicators

• Link: Solid
• Activity: Blinking
• Link Speed: Green = 25Gbps, Yellow = 10Gbps

Adapter Features

• Optical: 1/10/25GbE
• Direct Attach: 10/25GbE

Interrupt Levels

• INTA
• MSI
• MSI-X

Hardware Certifications

• FCC A
• UL
• CE
• VCCI
• BSMI
• C-Tick
• KCC

Controller

• Intel Ethernet Controller XL710-BM2

Power Consumption

• Typical Power: 8.86 W
• Maximum Power: 9.78 W

Physical Dimensions

• 94 mm × 80 mm

Intel XXV710-KR2 10/25GbE Dual Port Blade Adapter Overview

The Intel XXV710-KR2 10/25GbE PCI Express v3.0 x8 2 Ports Ethernet Blade Adapter represents a high-performance networking solution engineered for modern data center environments that demand scalable throughput, ultra-low latency communication, and efficient virtualization support. Built on Intel’s advanced Ethernet controller architecture, this blade adapter is optimized for enterprise servers, cloud infrastructures, storage systems, and high-density compute clusters where network congestion, packet efficiency, and deterministic performance are critical factors.

This category of Ethernet blade adapters is designed specifically for blade server ecosystems, where compact form factors and shared infrastructure require network interface cards that deliver maximum bandwidth with minimal space consumption. The Intel XXV710-KR2 integrates seamlessly into PCI Express Gen3 x8 slots, ensuring high-speed data transfer between CPU and network interface while maintaining efficiency under heavy multi-tenant workloads.

Advanced PCI Express Gen3 x8 Architecture and Data Path Optimization

High-Speed PCIe Integration

The PCI Express v3.0 x8 interface enables the adapter to achieve substantial bandwidth throughput, allowing efficient handling of aggregated traffic from dual 25GbE ports. This architecture ensures that the adapter can support full line-rate performance even in environments where both ports are heavily utilized simultaneously. The PCIe Gen3 standard provides a balanced combination of bandwidth efficiency and power optimization, making it suitable for dense blade server deployments.

Optimized Packet Processing Pipeline

At the core of the Intel XXV710-KR2 lies an optimized packet processing pipeline designed to reduce CPU overhead while maximizing throughput. The adapter offloads various network processing tasks from the host CPU, including segmentation, checksum calculations, and interrupt moderation. This allows server processors to dedicate more cycles to application workloads rather than network stack processing, significantly improving overall system efficiency.

Low Latency Data Handling

Latency reduction is a critical factor in modern distributed systems. The architecture of this Ethernet blade adapter is engineered to minimize hops between data ingress and egress paths. By utilizing optimized buffering techniques and intelligent flow control mechanisms, the adapter reduces jitter and ensures predictable network performance, especially in latency-sensitive applications such as financial trading platforms and real-time analytics systems.

Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 Connectivity Capabilities

Flexible Network Speed Support

The Intel XXV710-KR2 supports dual-port 10GbE and 25GbE SFP28 connectivity, offering backward compatibility with existing 10GbE infrastructure while enabling seamless upgrades to 25GbE networks. This dual-rate capability allows data centers to transition gradually without requiring immediate full-scale infrastructure replacement, making it cost-effective and operationally flexible.

High Bandwidth Aggregation

With two independent ports, the adapter enables bandwidth aggregation strategies that significantly enhance throughput for multi-threaded applications. This is particularly beneficial for virtualization hosts, database clusters, and distributed storage systems where simultaneous data streams must be processed efficiently without bottlenecks.

Scalable Network Design Integration

The dual-port design allows integration into redundant network topologies, ensuring high availability and fault tolerance. In case of link failure on one port, the second port can maintain connectivity, minimizing downtime and maintaining service continuity across critical workloads.

Blade Server Optimization and Compact Deployment Efficiency

Designed for High-Density Environments

Blade servers require networking components that are compact yet powerful. The Intel XXV710-KR2 is engineered specifically for these environments, providing high-speed connectivity without occupying excessive physical space. Its blade-adapted design ensures compatibility with shared chassis systems where thermal and power constraints must be carefully managed.

Efficient Thermal Distribution

Thermal efficiency plays a significant role in blade server performance. The adapter is designed with optimized heat dissipation characteristics that allow stable operation under sustained high workloads. This ensures consistent performance even in densely packed server racks where airflow is limited.

Power-Aware Performance Scaling

The adapter incorporates dynamic power management features that adjust consumption based on network traffic load. During low utilization periods, power draw is minimized, while full performance mode is activated during peak traffic conditions, ensuring a balance between energy efficiency and maximum throughput capability.

Virtualization Acceleration and SR-IOV Support

Enhanced Virtual Machine Networking

Modern enterprise infrastructures rely heavily on virtualization technologies. The Intel XXV710-KR2 supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), enabling direct assignment of virtual functions to virtual machines. This reduces hypervisor overhead and improves network performance for virtualized workloads.

Isolation and Resource Efficiency

SR-IOV capabilities ensure that each virtual machine receives dedicated network resources, improving isolation and preventing performance interference between tenants. This is particularly useful in cloud hosting environments where multiple customers share the same physical infrastructure.

Optimized Hypervisor Integration

The adapter is compatible with leading hypervisors and virtualization platforms, enabling seamless integration into existing virtual data center architectures. This ensures consistent performance across VMware, KVM, and Hyper-V environments while maintaining efficient resource allocation.

Data Center Networking and Cloud Infrastructure Performance

High Throughput Cloud Operations

In cloud data centers, network interfaces must handle massive volumes of east-west and north-south traffic. The Intel XXV710-KR2 is optimized for such environments, enabling fast packet processing for cloud-native applications, microservices architectures, and containerized workloads.

Distributed Computing Efficiency

Distributed computing frameworks rely on consistent and high-speed inter-node communication. This Ethernet blade adapter supports such requirements by delivering predictable bandwidth and low latency, ensuring efficient cluster synchronization and data replication across nodes.

Multi-Tenant Network Stability

The adapter is engineered to maintain performance stability even in multi-tenant environments where network demand fluctuates dynamically. Intelligent traffic handling mechanisms ensure fair bandwidth distribution and reduced congestion across virtualized environments.

Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) and RoCE Support

Low Latency Memory Access

Support for RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) enables the Intel XXV710-KR2 to bypass traditional CPU-based data transfer paths, allowing direct memory access between systems. This significantly reduces latency and improves throughput in high-performance computing environments.

High Efficiency Storage and Compute Communication

RDMA capabilities are particularly beneficial for storage networking and distributed databases where large datasets must be transferred rapidly between nodes. By minimizing CPU involvement, system resources are preserved for application-level processing.

Improved Cluster Synchronization

In clustered computing environments, synchronization speed is critical. The adapter’s RDMA support ensures fast and reliable data exchange, reducing synchronization delays and improving overall system responsiveness.

Enterprise Storage Networking Optimization

High-Speed Storage Fabric Integration

The Intel XXV710-KR2 is well-suited for storage-intensive workloads such as NVMe over Fabrics and distributed storage architectures. Its high bandwidth capability ensures that storage traffic does not become a bottleneck in data-intensive environments.

Data Integrity and Throughput Balance

The adapter incorporates mechanisms to ensure data integrity while maintaining high throughput. This balance is essential in enterprise environments where both speed and reliability are critical for business continuity.

Scalable Storage Architectures

As storage systems scale horizontally, network interfaces must scale accordingly. This adapter supports such growth by providing consistent performance across expanding storage clusters, ensuring seamless scalability without redesigning network infrastructure.

Security Features and Network Protection Mechanisms

Hardware-Assisted Security Offloading

The Intel XXV710-KR2 supports hardware-level security offloading features that reduce CPU overhead while ensuring secure data transmission. These features help protect against network-based threats while maintaining high performance.

Secure Virtualization Isolation

Virtual environments require strong isolation between workloads. The adapter’s virtualization-aware design ensures that each virtual function operates independently, reducing the risk of cross-VM data leakage or interference.

Enterprise-Grade Data Protection

In enterprise deployments, data protection is critical. The adapter supports secure packet handling and robust error-checking mechanisms to ensure that transmitted data remains consistent and uncorrupted across network paths.

Compatibility and Ecosystem Integration

Broad Operating System Support

The Intel XXV710-KR2 is designed for compatibility with major operating systems used in enterprise environments, ensuring seamless deployment across diverse infrastructure stacks. This includes support for Linux-based servers, Windows Server environments, and specialized network operating systems.

Server Hardware Integration

This Ethernet blade adapter is engineered for compatibility with blade server chassis and enterprise-grade hardware platforms. Its standardized PCIe form factor ensures easy installation and integration without requiring extensive hardware modifications.

Driver and Firmware Optimization

Continuous driver and firmware updates enhance performance, security, and compatibility. These updates ensure that the adapter remains aligned with evolving networking standards and enterprise requirements.

Deployment Considerations and Infrastructure Planning

Network Topology Design

When deploying the Intel XXV710-KR2, careful consideration of network topology is essential. Its dual-port capability allows for redundant and high-availability configurations that improve resilience and performance in production environments.

Bandwidth Allocation Strategy

Effective bandwidth allocation ensures that critical applications receive the necessary network resources. The adapter’s advanced traffic management features support efficient distribution of bandwidth across workloads.

Scalability in Enterprise Environments

As enterprise workloads grow, infrastructure must scale accordingly. This adapter supports scalable deployment strategies that enable organizations to expand their network capacity without disrupting existing services.

Performance Tuning and Optimization Techniques

Traffic Flow Optimization

Performance tuning involves optimizing traffic flow across both ports to minimize congestion and maximize throughput. The adapter supports advanced configuration options that allow administrators to fine-tune network behavior based on workload requirements.

Interrupt Moderation and CPU Efficiency

By adjusting interrupt moderation settings, system administrators can balance latency and CPU utilization, ensuring optimal performance across different application scenarios.

Workload-Specific Configuration

Different workloads such as virtualization, storage processing, and high-frequency trading require different tuning approaches. The adapter provides flexibility to adapt to these diverse requirements efficiently.

Future-Ready Networking and Scalability Pathways

Transition to High-Speed Ethernet Architectures

The Intel XXV710-KR2 provides a clear upgrade path toward higher-speed Ethernet infrastructures, ensuring long-term investment protection for enterprises transitioning to 25GbE environments.

Adaptability to Evolving Data Center Demands

As data center workloads continue to evolve toward cloud-native architectures and AI-driven processing, the adapter’s flexible architecture ensures continued relevance and performance stability.

Long-Term Infrastructure Sustainability

The design of this Ethernet blade adapter supports long-term operational sustainability by balancing performance, efficiency, and scalability in modern enterprise networks.