VHNMC Dell Intel X710 2Ports 10GB Ethernet Converged Sfp Pci-e Network Adapter.

High-Performance Networking with Dell Intel X710 Dual-Port 10GB Converged SFP PCIe Network Adapters

The VHNMC Dell Intel X710 2Ports10GB Ethernet Converged SFP PCI-e Network Adapter is engineered to deliver ultra-low latency, high throughput, and advanced virtualization features for data center and enterprise-grade network environments. Designed to support modern workloads and increasing data demands, this dual-port 10 Gigabit adapter ensures seamless performance across cloud, virtualization, and storage networks.

Optimized Architecture and Intel X710 Chipset Benefits

Powered by the Intel X710 controller, this network adapter is part of a next-generation family of Ethernet products that support hardware acceleration, packet filtering, and offloads for improved CPU efficiency. Built on Intel’s trusted Ethernet technology, the X710 chipset provides a highly stable and feature-rich networking solution with extensive support for advanced networking technologies, including VXLAN, NVGRE, and Geneve.

Intel Ethernet Controller X710: Performance at the Core

The Intel X710 controller integrates multiple hardware queues, programmable offload engines, and intelligent offload functions, allowing it to deliver consistent performance even under heavy data loads. With the ability to handle millions of packets per second, the X710 controller is ideal for use in hyper-converged infrastructure, network functions virtualization (NFV), and software-defined networks (SDNs).

Dual 10 Gigabit SFP+ Ports for Flexible High-Speed Connectivity

The dual-port SFP+ configuration supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet per port, offering up to 20 Gbps of full-duplex aggregate bandwidth. This flexibility makes the adapter ideal for high-bandwidth applications such as cloud computing, online streaming, virtualization, and backup replication.

Hot-Swappable SFP+ Transceivers

The SFP+ slots allow users to install a wide variety of 10Gb transceivers and DAC (Direct Attach Copper) cables. This makes it easy to adapt to different cabling infrastructures or distance requirements. Whether connecting to fiber networks or using copper for short distances, the modular SFP+ architecture provides maximum deployment flexibility.

Common Compatible Transceivers and Cables

• 10GBASE-SR SFP+ modules for short-range multimode fiber
• 10GBASE-LR SFP+ modules for long-range single-mode fiber
• SFP+ Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cables for low-cost in-rack connectivity

PCI Express 3.0 Interface for High Bandwidth

With a PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface, the VHNMC Dell Intel X710 NIC ensures optimal throughput and low-latency communication between the network interface and the server’s CPU and memory subsystems. The PCIe 3.0 architecture provides higher bandwidth compared to earlier generations, allowing the network adapter to fully utilize the 10G bandwidth on both ports without bottlenecks.

Advanced Features for Virtualization and Data Center Optimization

This network adapter is built to support virtualization and other data center workloads. Key features such as Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq), and Network Partitioning (NPAR) help isolate and manage network traffic across virtual machines, improving I/O performance and security.

SR-IOV and Network Virtualization Enhancements

SR-IOV allows a single physical NIC to appear as multiple virtual interfaces, each with dedicated bandwidth and resources. This is crucial for environments with multiple virtual machines requiring consistent network performance. Additionally, the adapter supports virtual extensible LAN (VXLAN) and Network Virtualization using Generic Routing Encapsulation (NVGRE), enabling scalable cloud networking.

Converged Networking Capabilities

The VHNMC Dell Intel X710 adapter supports FCoE (Fibre Channel over Ethernet), enabling both storage and network data to travel over the same Ethernet infrastructure. This reduces cabling, lowers power consumption, and simplifies data center network design. The convergence of data and storage on a single adapter streamlines operations and minimizes infrastructure costs.

Benefits of FCoE

• Unified fabric for data and storage traffic
• Lower TCO through hardware consolidation
• Simplified cabling and infrastructure management
• Lower latency storage networking

Dell OEM Reliability and Compatibility

As a Dell OEM product, the VHNMC X710 adapter undergoes rigorous testing and qualification to ensure compatibility with Dell PowerEdge servers and workstations. Dell’s certification ensures plug-and-play deployment, firmware support, and long-term reliability in enterprise environments. These adapters are also supported through Dell OpenManage for centralized configuration and monitoring.

Power Efficiency and Cooling

Built with power-optimized components and energy-saving technologies, this network adapter helps reduce data center energy costs. The adapter includes support for Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE), DMA coalescing, and dynamic power adjustment based on traffic workloads. These features ensure that power consumption scales appropriately without compromising performance.

Smart Thermal Design

The adapter features passive heat sinks and efficient thermal layouts that integrate with server airflow designs. The thermal envelope is designed to operate reliably in high-density server chassis, minimizing overheating risks and reducing cooling costs.

Security Features and Network Management

Integrated security features such as UEFI secure boot, platform attestation, and firmware integrity checks help protect against unauthorized firmware tampering and cyber threats. Additionally, features like VLAN tagging, ACL filtering, and traffic shaping provide administrators with granular control over network flows.

Support for VLAN and QoS

VLAN tagging and priority classification allow the network adapter to efficiently segment and prioritize traffic. This is vital in virtualized environments and workloads requiring bandwidth guarantees, such as VoIP, video conferencing, and real-time analytics.

Comparison with Other 10G Network Adapters

Compared to legacy adapters or base-level 10Gb NICs, the Dell Intel X710 offers superior scalability, offload support, and security. Unlike copper-based RJ45 10GbE cards, the SFP+ design reduces EMI interference, allows for longer transmission distances, and uses less power per port.

Key Differentiators vs. RJ45 10GbE Adapters

• Lower latency and jitter
• Reduced power consumption
• Better support for converged traffic and virtualization
• Greater distance and transmission quality with fiber

Intel X710 over Broadcom or Mellanox Equivalents

While Broadcom and Mellanox offer competitive 10Gb NICs, Intel X710 is widely praised for its superior driver support, predictable performance under virtualization, and consistent firmware upgrades across hardware generations. Intel’s tools and diagnostics utilities are also more mature, aiding in troubleshooting and deployment at scale.

Scalability and Future-Proof Design

With the transition to 25GbE and beyond, the 10GbE standard remains a solid middle ground for most organizations balancing performance and cost. The X710’s advanced protocol support, firmware extensibility, and compatibility with next-gen infrastructures make it an investment that can scale with future networking demands.

Ordering and SKU Variants

The VHNMC part number refers to the specific Dell OEM-branded variant of the Intel X710 adapter, optimized for Dell PowerEdge environments. This SKU typically includes the latest Dell-certified firmware, support documentation, and server mounting brackets. Other SKUs may include:

Where to Buy and Availability

VHNMC Dell Intel X710 adapters are available through Dell authorized resellers, data center solution providers, and online enterprise hardware vendors. It is recommended to purchase OEM-certified variants for guaranteed compatibility and support.

Deployment Scenarios and Network Architectures

The dual-port configuration supports flexible topologies such as redundant uplinks, trunked links, or dedicated paths for storage and application traffic. In high-availability deployments, one port may serve a primary production VLAN while the other is reserved for failover or management VLANs.

Recommended Network Topologies

• Active-Active Bonded Links for Load Balancing
• Redundant A/B Fabric Design for Fault Tolerance
• Layer-2 Bridging for Hypervisor Networking
• Isolated Storage VLANs for FCoE/iSCSI optimization