Intel X710-DA2 Dual-Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe 3.0 x8 Low Profile Converged Network Adapter

Intel X710-DA2 Dual‑Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe 3.0 x8 Low Profile Converged Network Adapter

The Intel X710-DA2 is a high‑performance, dual‑port Ethernet adapter designed for server and data‑center environments. Built around the Intel® Ethernet Controller X710, it delivers 10 Gbps per port over SFP+ fiber or copper connections, supporting both 10GBASE‑SR and 10GBASE‑LR cabling standards.

Key Architectural Features

• Dual 10 Gbps Ports: Two independent SFP+ interfaces allow for link aggregation, redundancy, or separate network segments.
• PCI Express 3.0 x8 Interface: Provides an 8‑lane, 8.0 GT/s data path, ensuring ample bandwidth between the host and the adapter.
• Low‑Profile Form Factor: Measures 68.6 mm in width and 167.1 mm in depth, making it suitable for compact server chassis while maintaining full functionality.
• Power Efficiency: Consumes only 4.5 W, reducing overall data‑center power draw.
• Robust Certification: Meets FCC B, UL, CE, VCCI, BSMI, CTICK, and KCC standards for safety and electromagnetic compatibility.

Connectivity & Cabling Options

The adapter supports SFP+ Direct Attached Twin Axial (DTA) cabling up to 10 m, as well as standard fiber optic modules. Each port can be configured for:

• 10GBASE‑SR (Short Reach): Ideal for intra‑rack or short‑distance connections.
• 10GBASE‑LR (Long Reach): Enables up to 10 km over single‑mode fiber, suitable for inter‑data‑center links.

Software & Operating System Support

The X710-DA2 is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, ensuring flexibility across diverse infrastructures:

• Windows Server: 2008 R2, 2012, and 2012 R2 (64‑bit).
• Linux Distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.0+, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3/12, VMware ESXi 5.1/5.5.
• FreeBSD: Versions 9 and 10.

Management is facilitated through PXE booting, SNMP, and RMON, allowing administrators to monitor link status, traffic statistics, and error conditions remotely.

Advanced Networking Features

• IEEE 802.1Q VLAN Tagging: Supports up to 4096 VLANs for segmentation and security.
• Quality of Service (QoS): Hardware‑based traffic shaping and priority queuing ensure low latency for critical workloads.
• Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP): Enables dynamic bonding of multiple links for increased throughput or redundancy.
• IEEE 802.1p Priority Tagging: Provides per‑packet priority levels, essential for real‑time applications.
• IEEE 802.1as Precision Time Protocol (PTP): Supports sub‑microsecond synchronization across networked devices.
• Flow Control: Hardware flow control prevents packet loss under congestion.

Physical and Environmental Specifications

Use Cases and Deployment Scenarios

The X710-DA2 excels in environments that demand high throughput, low latency, and robust management:

• Virtualized Data Centers: Supports VMware ESXi and Hyper‑V with SR‑IOV for direct device assignment.
• High‑Performance Computing (HPC): Provides reliable interconnects between compute nodes.
• Storage Area Networks (SAN) & Network Attached Storage (NAS): Enables iSCSI, NFS, and Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) traffic.
• Enterprise LAN/WAN: Facilitates VLAN segmentation and link aggregation for scalable network design.

Conclusion

The Intel X710-DA2 Dual‑Port 10GbE SFP+ PCIe 3.0 x8 Low Profile Converged Network Adapter combines cutting‑edge performance with a compact footprint, making it an ideal choice for modern server deployments that require reliable, high‑speed connectivity and advanced network features.