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Hello!
I have a question regarding to the direct connectability of NICs without any switch.
I have a computer equipped with Intel ethernet CNA X710-DA4FH (4x10gbps) and another computer with Intel ethernet CNA XL710-QDA1 (1x40gbps). They are connected directly using Intel X4DACBL3 Ethernet QSFP 40G QSFP+ to 4x10G Breakout Cable. Theoretically, is it a possible setup? Unfortunately, I could not make it work.
Thanks in advance!
Best regards
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Hi Qweee,
Thank you for posting in Wired Communities. I will further check for you and can you also share what is the operating system used?
Thanks,
Sharon
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Hello Sharon!
Thank you for the quick reply!
I have freshly installed Debian stretch x64 systems.
# cat /proc/version
Linux version 4.9.0-4-amd64 (mailto:debian-kernel@lists.debian.org debian-kernel@lists.debian.org) (gcc version 6.3.0 20170516 (Debian 6.3.0-18) ) # 1 SMP Debian 4.9.51-1 (2017-09-28)
The drivers are also up to date.
X710-DA4FH
# ethtool -i ens6f0
driver: i40e
version: 1.6.16-k
firmware-version: 6.01 0x800034af 1.1747.0
expansion-rom-version:
bus-info: 0000:02:00.0
supports-statistics: yes
supports-test: yes
supports-eeprom-access: yes
supports-register-dump: yes
supports-priv-flags: yes
On the other machine (XL710-QDA1):
# ethtool -i enp4s0f0
driver: i40e
version: 2.3.6
firmware-version: 6.01 0x800034a3 1.1747.0
expansion-rom-version:
bus-info: 0000:04:00.0
supports-statistics: yes
supports-test: yes
supports-eeprom-access: yes
supports-register-dump: yes
supports-priv-flags: yes
Thank you for your help!
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Hi Qweee,
Thank you for the information. You may need to use a a QSFP to SFP cable. Aside from that, did you try using the QCU tool to convert the XL710 40Gb ports to 10 GB?
You may download the tool at https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25851/Intel-QSFP-Configuration-Utility-Linux- and refer to the user guide
https://downloadmirror.intel.com/25116/eng/qsfp-configuration-utility-quick-usage-guide.pdf
Thanks,
Sharon
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Dear Sharon,
Thank you for your help. This tool made it! It works!
I would share my output from QCU tool after I set it up in 4x10GB mode.
# ./qcu64e
Intel(R) QSFP+ Configuration Utility
QCU version: v2.30.16.08
Copyright(C) 2014 - 2017 by Intel Corporation.
Software released under Intel Proprietary License.
NIC Seg:Bus Ven-Dev Mode Adapter Name
=== ======= ========= ======== =================================================
1) 000:004 8086-1584 4x10 Intel(R) Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710
Again, thanks!
All the best,
Qweee
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Hi Qweee,
Thank you for the update and glad the tool made it works for you. Please feel free to update me if you still have other inquiries. Thank you.
Regards,
Sharon

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