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XL710-QDA2 Possible to use two breakout cables for eight 10Gb ports?

jSimo33
Beginner
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Hi, We are contemplating using a XL710-QDA2 PCIe card in our servers. Is it possible to have two breakout cables (one per port) to get a total of eight 1Gb links? From the Intel QCU tool that doesn't seem doable although I don't understand why.

Thanks a lot

-jf simon

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
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Hi jSimo33,

Thank you for posting in our Intel® Ethernet Communities Forum.

To confirm, is your goal to have 8 ports running at 10Gb or 1Gb each using a breakout cable?

Looking forward to your reply. Should we not get your reply, we will follow up with you after 3 business days.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

 

 

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jSimo33
Beginner
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​Hi Alfred,

Sorry, my bad. I meant 8 ports running at 10Gb/s. That is: from the two 40Gb/s ports of the DA2, run two breakout cables for a total of eight ports at 10Gb/s

Thanks a lot

Best regards

jf simon

 

 

 

 

 

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
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Hi jSimo33,

Thank you for the quick response.

No apologies needed. We were just confirming to ensure that we give you the best recommendation.

If you would refer to page 6 of this guide. There is a 4 x 10 option for one single port which means 4 connections of 10Gbps for one single port. We need to confirm though if this can be applied to each port. Please allow us some time to do this. We will get back to you no later then 3 business days from now.

 

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
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Hi jSimo33,

We spent the last few days looking for workaround to accommodate your planned configuration on the card. Thank you for your patience waiting for an answer. The 4 x 10 option can only be set on one port of the card, and it will disable the second port so that means that your planned setting of 8 x 10 Gbps connection is not feasible.

We hope for your understanding regarding the matter.

Should you have any further clarifications or questions, we hope to hear back from you. If we do not get your reply, we will check back with you after 3 business days.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

 

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
3,863 Views

Hi jSimo33,

We have not heard from you yet, and we are reaching out to check if you need more time.

Should we not get your response, we will check back with you again after 3 business days.

If there is still no response, our system may consider automatically closing your thread.

 

 

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
3,863 Views

Hi jSimo33,

We are following up on your thread that is still open where you are inquiring about splitting your card in eight 10Gb ports. We hope that our answer made everything clear.

Since we have not heard from you for several days, the case will automatically close.

You may want to post a new thread once you are ready to proceed with the issue.

Thank you for choosing Intel.

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

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frosteyes
Beginner
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Hi AlfredS_Intel / JSimo33.

 

I was just looking into possibilities for getting 8 x 10G from a single NIC and found this thread.

 

The QSFP utility (QCUW64e.exe) guide only shows 2x2.10 as you also says.

 

When you go to the download for the adapter - qda2

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/product/83966/intel-ethernet-converged-network-adapter-xl710-qda2

And find the Intel Ethernet Port Configuration Tool the readme on the otherhand shows the 2x4x10 option.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28931/Intel-Ethernet-Port-Configuration-Tool-All-Supported-OSs-?product=83966

And then the readme

https://downloadmirror.intel.com/28931/eng/epct.txt

 

<snip from epct readme>

>epct -nic=1 -get

Available Port Options:

==========================================================================

Active Port Quad 0 Quad 1

Option Option (Gbps) L0 L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7

======= ============================= ================ ================

4x25 -> 25 25 25 25 - - - -

2x1x100 -> 100 - - - 100 - - -

X 2x2x25 -> 25 25 - - 25 25 - -

2x50 -> 50 - 50 - - - - -

2x1x50 -> 50 - - - 50 - - -

2x4x10 -> 10 10 10 10 10 10 10 10

2x25+2x10-2x10 -> 25 25 10 10 10 10 - -

1x10+1x25+1x10+1x25-2x10 -> 10 25 10 25 10 10 - -

</snip>

 

So my questions does you have any PCIe cards able to breakout to 8 x 10g?

If yes - what is the product number.

 

Thanks ahead

Claus Stovgaard

 

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
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Hi CStov2,

Thank you for your reply.

Please allow us some time to check on this. We will get back to you no later than 3 business days from now.

We hope for your understanding and patience on this.

Have a nice day!

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
3,863 Views

Hi CStov2,

Thank you for patiently waiting for an update.

Our upcoming Columbiaville products will support the 2x4x10 configuration. The NIC that will support that configuration is the E810-CQDA2. It will have a maximum throughput of 100Gb and so it will be able to handle 8 10Gb ports using 2 breakout cables.

 

Link to Product Preview (Intel® Ethernet 800 Series)

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/architecture-and-technology/ethernet.html

 

As of the moment, we do not have a definite launch date yet.

 

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

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frosteyes
Beginner
3,863 Views

Hi @AlfredS_Intel​ 

 

Thanks for your reply regarding the upcomming product supporting 2x4x10 configuration.

 

Regards

Claus

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AlfredoS_Intel
Moderator
3,863 Views

Hi CStov2,

You are most welcome. We will be re-closing this thread since we have already answered your question.

Thank you for choosing Intel and have a great day.

 

Best Regards,

Alfred S

Intel Customer Support

 

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