SFN8542-PLUS Solarflare 2 Port SFN8542 PCI Express 3.1 X16 Flareon Ultra Server Adapter

Solarflare SFN8542-PLUS Server Adapter Overview

The Solarflare SFN8542-PLUS is a high-performance 40 Gigabit Ethernet card designed for advanced server networking. As part of the renowned Flareon Ultra series, this adapter provides unmatched speed, reliability, and efficiency for data centers and enterprise-level servers. Engineered to meet modern network demands, it offers superior connectivity and low-latency performance for critical server applications.

Product Information

• Manufacturer: Solarflare
• Model: SFN8542-PLUS
• Product Line: Flareon Ultra
• Device Supported: Servers
• Environmental Certification: RoHS

Technical Specifications

• Form Factor: Plug-in module
• Height: 2.7 inches
• Width: 6.6 inches

Key Features of SFN8542-PLUS

• High-speed 40GbE connectivity for demanding workloads
• Dual-port configuration for enhanced bandwidth and redundancy
• Supports PCI Express 3.1 x16 host interface
• Designed for plug-in module form factor for easy installation
• Compatible with servers and optimized for data center deployments

Connectivity & Expansion

• Host Interface: PCI Express 3.1 x16
• Total Ports: 2 high-speed QSFP+ ports
• Expansion Slot Type: QSFP+

Media & Performance Capabilities

• Supports optical fiber media for fast, long-distance transmission
• Optimized for low-latency, high-throughput networking environments

Environmental & Compliance Information

• RoHS certified, meeting stringent environmental standards
• Eco-friendly design for sustainable deployments
• Built to support server hardware with minimal energy footprint

Benefits of Using the Flareon Ultra SFN8542-PLUS

• Boosts server performance with rapid 40Gb Ethernet connectivity
• Ensures reliable network communication with dual ports
• Simple installation in PCIe 3.1 x16 slots reduces setup time
• Supports modern server environments with scalable networking
• Energy-efficient and environmentally responsible design

Ideal Applications

• High-speed server networking in data centers
• Virtualization and cloud computing environments
• High-frequency trading systems requiring ultra-low latency
• Enterprise servers demanding robust and reliable connectivity
• Mission-critical applications with high bandwidth needs

Packaging & Included Components

• Packaged Quantity: 1 adapter card
• Ready-to-install module with essential documentation
• Compatible with most server chassis supporting PCIe 3.1 x16 slots

Solarflare SFN8542-PLUS Server Adapters

The Solarflare SFN8542-PLUS is a high-performance 2-port network adapter designed to meet the demanding requirements of modern data centers, cloud infrastructure, and high-frequency trading environments. Built on the Flareon Ultra platform, it offers ultra-low latency, high throughput, and advanced offload capabilities, making it a leading choice for enterprises aiming to optimize network performance and server efficiency.

This PCI Express 3.1 x16 adapter is engineered to deliver reliable connectivity and high-speed data transfer while minimizing CPU overhead. Its dual-port design supports advanced networking features, including TCP/IP offload, RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE), and hardware acceleration for virtualization, ensuring that servers achieve maximum efficiency even under the most intense workloads.

Performance Advantages

The SFN8542-PLUS excels in latency-sensitive environments, offering microsecond-level latency reduction. This is critical for applications such as high-frequency trading (HFT), real-time analytics, and financial services, where even nanoseconds of delay can affect performance. By leveraging hardware acceleration and advanced offload technologies, this adapter minimizes delays caused by CPU processing, ensuring rapid packet delivery.

High Throughput Capabilities

With dual 10/25/40/50GbE ports, the adapter can handle massive data volumes without compromising performance. Its PCI Express 3.1 x16 interface provides sufficient bandwidth to fully utilize the network capacity, while internal packet buffering ensures smooth data flow even under peak loads. This makes the SFN8542-PLUS ideal for data-intensive workloads such as.

CPU Offload and Efficiency

The adapter’s advanced hardware offloads reduce the burden on the server CPU. Tasks such as TCP/IP checksum computation, segmentation, and RDMA processing are handled directly by the adapter, freeing CPU cycles for application-level operations. This improves overall server efficiency and enables higher VM densities in virtualized environments.

Reliability

Security is a priority in enterprise networking, and the SFN8542-PLUS includes features to ensure secure and reliable data transmission. MACsec encryption protects data in transit, preventing unauthorized access and eavesdropping. Additionally, support for secure boot and firmware validation ensures the adapter operates with trusted software, mitigating the risk of attacks on the server’s network interface.

Reliability in Mission-Critical Environments

Designed for high-availability environments, the SFN8542-PLUS is built to withstand continuous operation. Key reliability features include:

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

In HFT environments, microsecond-level latency can significantly affect profitability. The SFN8542-PLUS provides the ultra-low latency and deterministic packet delivery required for executing trades faster than competitors. Its hardware offloads reduce CPU intervention, allowing trading algorithms to operate at peak efficiency.

High-Performance Storage Networks

For enterprises leveraging software-defined storage or high-speed SANs, the SFN8542-PLUS supports RDMA and iWARP protocols, enabling direct memory access between storage and compute nodes. This reduces latency, lowers CPU utilization, and enhances overall storage performance.

Compatibility

The SFN8542-PLUS is compatible with a wide range of server platforms, including rack-mounted and blade servers from leading manufacturers. Its PCI Express 3.1 x16 interface ensures it can operate seamlessly with modern motherboards while maintaining backward compatibility with PCIe 3.0 slots.

Advanced Networking Capabilities

The SFN8542-PLUS provides hardware acceleration for Remote Direct Memory Access (RDMA) over Converged Ethernet (RoCE) and iWARP protocols. This allows for zero-copy data transfer directly between application memory spaces, drastically reducing CPU load and latency for storage, database, and compute-intensive operations.

Virtualization and SR-IOV

Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) allows the SFN8542-PLUS to partition its physical ports into multiple virtual functions, providing dedicated network interfaces to virtual machines. This reduces software overhead and ensures near-native performance for virtualized workloads, making it ideal for large-scale data centers.

Firmware Management

Regular firmware updates from Solarflare ensure that the SFN8542-PLUS continues to operate at peak performance while maintaining compatibility with evolving networking standards. Firmware management tools allow IT administrators to deploy updates efficiently across multiple servers.

Thermal Management

Despite its high performance, the SFN8542-PLUS is designed to minimize power consumption. Hardware offloads and efficient processing reduce CPU load and energy requirements, supporting green data center initiatives. The adapter features optimized thermal design, including heatsinks and airflow management, ensuring consistent performance under continuous operation. It can operate effectively in high-density server environments without overheating.

Ideal for Data Centers and Enterprise Networks

With its combination of ultra-low latency, high throughput, advanced offloads, and security features, the Solarflare SFN8542-PLUS 2-port PCI Express 3.1 x16 Flareon Ultra Server Adapter is an ideal choice for modern data centers, cloud infrastructure, and high-performance computing environments. It ensures that servers operate at maximum efficiency while delivering predictable, high-speed network performance for even the most demanding workloads.