NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus 2-Port 10GBPS PCIE 3.1 X8 Server Network Interface Card

High-Performance Networking with the NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus

The NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus 2-Port 10Gbps PCIe 3.1 x8 Server Network Interface Card is a top-tier, enterprise-grade NIC engineered for data-intensive workloads. Featuring dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports and a high-throughput PCI Express 3.1 x8 interface, this network card is designed to provide ultra-low latency, exceptional packet processing rates, and robust reliability for servers operating in virtualized, cloud, and data center environments.

10GbE Technology: The Backbone of Modern Server Infrastructure

With the increasing demand for higher network speeds, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) technology has become a critical standard in modern IT infrastructure. The NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus NIC leverages this technology to deliver full-duplex data rates of up to 20 Gbps, reducing data bottlenecks, enhancing throughput, and supporting a wide array of applications including big data analytics, virtualization, and video streaming.

Advantages of 10GbE Over Traditional Networking

• Significantly reduced latency for time-sensitive applications
• Greater bandwidth allocation to each server workload
• Higher I/O throughput for virtual machines and containerized environments
• Improved performance for clustered database and storage systems
• Energy-efficient Ethernet features for optimized power usage

Detailed Specifications of the Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus

Understanding the technical capabilities of the NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus is essential when considering this network interface card for deployment in server racks and enterprise systems. Below is a comprehensive breakdown of its hardware and software features.

Hardware Specifications

• Ports: Dual SFP+ 10GbE Ports
• Interface: PCIe 3.1 x8 (backward compatible with x4 and x16 slots)
• Form Factor: Low-profile with standard and low-profile brackets included
• Connector Type: Optical fiber via SFP+ transceivers (not included)
• Throughput: Up to 20Gbps aggregate full-duplex
• Memory: Onboard memory buffer for enhanced data queuing
• Cooling: Passive heatsink for thermal efficiency

Software and Compatibility

• Supports Windows Server, Linux (RHEL, Ubuntu, CentOS), and VMware ESXi environments
• SR-IOV support for virtualization efficiency
• Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) capability
• Kernel bypass for reduced CPU usage
• Solarflare OpenOnload for application acceleration

Use Cases and Application Scenarios

The NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus 2-Port NIC is suitable for a range of high-performance computing and networking tasks. Whether used in cloud architecture, on-prem data centers, or hybrid environments, it plays a vital role in achieving low-latency and high-bandwidth operations.

Cloud Data Centers

Cloud service providers require network hardware that supports millions of concurrent connections and high throughput per port. The SFN8522 Plus is designed to handle dynamic cloud workloads and multi-tenant environments with support for virtualized NICs and scalable bandwidth.

High-Frequency Trading (HFT)

In finance, microsecond-level latency matters. The low jitter and ultra-low latency capabilities of this card make it a top choice for trading platforms that demand deterministic network performance and hardware-based packet filtering.

Big Data & AI Workloads

Distributed compute environments like Hadoop or AI training models benefit from the card’s ability to quickly transmit large volumes of data between compute nodes, minimizing bottlenecks during data ingestion and distribution.

Video Production & Streaming

For high-resolution media content, streaming servers and post-production pipelines, dual 10GbE ports ensure uninterrupted, high-bandwidth transmission, making them ideal for broadcast and editing suite environments.

Enterprise Features for Modern IT Environments

The NG4VX Dell Solarflare SFN8522 Plus includes numerous enterprise-focused features designed to simplify administration, enhance uptime, and optimize performance in mission-critical deployments.

Advanced Virtualization Support

Virtual environments benefit from SR-IOV, VMware NetQueue, and Microsoft VMQ features, allowing the NIC to efficiently allocate network resources to virtual machines. Each VM can access its own dedicated virtual NIC for better isolation and lower latency.

Enhanced Security Functions

Security is paramount in network infrastructure. The SFN8522 Plus offers hardware-level packet filtering, DoS protection, and compatibility with intrusion detection/prevention systems (IDS/IPS). With its FPGA-based programmable hardware, security policies can be enforced at line speed.

QoS and Traffic Shaping

Quality of Service (QoS) allows administrators to prioritize traffic types such as VoIP, database, or backup data. The Solarflare SFN8522 Plus supports traffic shaping and prioritization mechanisms to meet service level agreements (SLAs).