Ethernet Products
Determine ramifications of Intel® Ethernet products and technologies
Announcements
The Intel sign-in experience has changed to support enhanced security controls. If you sign in, click here for more information.
4363 Discussions

Number of devices per QSFP+ port

SRR1
Beginner
1,183 Views

Hi,

I am planning to buy a network card for a new academic research server, which will be used in a SFP+ environment. I would like to evaluate the X520-DA2 (SFP+) and the X520-QDA1 (QSFP+).

I wonder if a X520-QDA1 card can be directly linked with two different SFP+ devices simultaneously, using a Direct Attach cable, such as the X4DACBL3, that provides 4x10 GbE connections.

If that is correct, how many network devices/interfaces will be available at OS level.

From the ixgbe driver's README:

"- 82599-based QSFP+ adapters only support 4x10 Gbps connections.

1x40 Gbps connections are not supported. QSFP+ link partners must be

configured for 4x10 Gbps."

Does it mean that the card provides four interfaces (i.e, eth0, ... eth3)?

Best,

Topo

0 Kudos
2 Replies
AP16
Valued Contributor III
271 Views

Each port of multi-port network adapters usually advertised to OS level as separate Ethernet device, so yes, you will have eth0, ... eth3). There is a teaming function of Intel driver to combine ports and/or adapters into single link, but technically this will create new virtual ethernet port and real ports will drop configuration and goes into unmanageable state.

SRR1
Beginner
271 Views

Thanks for your answer. This is exactly what I wanted to know.

Best,

Topo

Reply