StarTech.com Dual Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card - Intel XL710 Open QSFP+ Converged Adapter PCIe 40 Gigabit Fiber Ethernet Server 40GbE NIC

Experience game-changing speed and unwavering reliability with the StarTech.com Dual Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card. Engineered for demanding data-center environments, this high-performance NIC delivers blazing 40 Gigabit Ethernet connectivity across two QSFP+ ports, empowering servers and workstations to handle intensive workloads with ease. Built around the Intel XL710 chipset, the card combines robust hardware offloads, efficient traffic management, and a scalable design that shines in virtualization, cloud, database, HPC, and high-availability deployments. Whether you are consolidating workloads, accelerating storage backends, or enabling ultra-fast interconnects for virtual machines, this converged adapter provides the speed, flexibility, and reliability your network infrastructure demands. The Open QSFP+ design supports standard 40GbE transceivers and breakout configurations, giving you the freedom to tailor your topology to your existing switches and cabling ecosystem. Installing a dual-port 40G NIC is a forward-looking upgrade that maximizes throughput while minimizing latency across your server fleet. With StarTech’s proven reliability and Intel’s engineering finesse, you gain a proven, future-proof NIC ready to scale with your data center needs.

• Dual 40G QSFP+ ports deliver up to 80Gbps of aggregate bandwidth, enabling high-speed interconnects for servers, storage, and virtualization environments.
• Powered by the Intel XL710 chipset, the card benefits from advanced traffic management, hardware offloads, large buffers, and efficient virtualization support to reduce CPU overhead.
• Open QSFP+ converged design provides flexibility to deploy standard 40GbE transceivers and supports breakout configurations to four 10GbE links when paired with compatible cables and switches.
• PCI Express host interface ensures a high-bandwidth, low-latency data path between the NIC and your server motherboard, optimizing throughput for latency-sensitive workloads.
• Engineered for data centers, cloud deployments, virtualization, and HPC tasks, this NIC delivers reliable performance, easy deployment, and scalable connectivity that grows with your infrastructure.

Technical Details of StarTech.com Dual Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card

• Chipset: Intel XL710
• Ports: 2 x QSFP+ 40GbE networking ports
• Maximum theoretical bandwidth: 80Gbps aggregate (40Gbps per port)
• Host interface: PCIe (likely PCIe 3.0 x8) for robust data throughput
• Breakout capability: Supports breakout to four 10GbE links with compatible QSFP+ breakout cables and switches
• Form factor: PCIe expansion card for servers/workstations
• Operating system support: Compatible with major Windows and Linux distributions with vendor-provided drivers
• Convergence: Open QSFP+ design enables flexible deployment with standard 40GbE transceivers and optics
• Reliability features: Designed for 24/7 data-center operation with enterprise-grade stability

how to install StarTech.com Dual Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card

Installing this dual-port 40G QSFP+ NIC is straightforward and designed for data-center-grade performance. Follow these general steps to ensure a smooth deployment:

1) Prepare your server or workstation: Power down the system, unplug the power source, and discharge static electricity. If you are performing a hot-swap in a server chassis, verify hot-plug compatibility.

2) Choose the correct PCIe slot: Locate a suitable PCIe expansion slot that provides sufficient bandwidth and physical clearance for the card. Typically, PCIe x8 or higher slots are preferred for 40G NICs to maximize throughput and avoid bottlenecks.

3) Install the card: Remove the slot cover, align the NIC with the PCIe slot, and firmly but gently insert the card until seated. Secure the bracket with the screw to the chassis, ensuring the card remains steady during operation.

4) Connect the network media: Attach your preferred QSFP+ transceiver or Direct Attach Copper (DAC) cable to each QSFP+ port. For breakout configurations, connect QSFP+ to SFP+ breakout cables as required by your topology and switch capability.

5) Power on and enter the operating system: Boot the server and allow the OS to detect the new hardware. Install the latest Intel XL710 drivers and StarTech firmware if available from the official source. This ensures optimal performance, stability, and access to advanced features.

6) Configure drivers and network settings: In your OS, configure the NIC lanes for 40GbE operation or enable breakout mode if your switch and cabling support it. For virtualization environments, enable SR-IOV or other offload features as appropriate for your hypervisor.

7) Verify link status and throughput: Check the LEDs on the NIC and switch to confirm a stable link. Run throughput tests to validate performance against your workload requirements and adjust MTU sizes, VLAN configurations, and bonding if needed.

8) Monitor and maintain: Keep drivers and firmware up to date, monitor health metrics through your network management tools, and review switch port configurations to ensure optimal performance and reliability over time.

Note: Always refer to the latest installation guide from StarTech and Intel for any model-specific steps, supported breakout configurations, and required cables or transceivers. The exact driver packages and OS compatibility can vary by firmware revision and operating system version, so verify compatibility before deploying in production environments.

Frequently asked questions

• What is a 40G QSFP+ NIC, and why would I use it? A 40G QSFP+ NIC provides very high bandwidth per port, allowing fast interconnects between servers and switches. It is ideal for data-center workloads requiring low latency and high throughput, such as virtualization, large databases, storage networks, and HPC clusters.
• Can I break out the 40G ports to four 10G links? Yes. The Intel XL710-based design supports breakout configurations with appropriate QSFP+ breakout cables and a switch that supports 4x10G. This provides flexible topologies and incremental bandwidth without changing hardware.
• What cables or transceivers do I need? Your setup will require standard QSFP+ transceivers or DAC cables compatible with your switch and the NIC. Always confirm supported transceiver types in the product documentation to ensure compatibility and performance.
• What operating systems are supported? The card is designed to be used with major Windows and Linux distributions, with drivers provided by Intel and StarTech. Always check for the latest driver packages for your OS version to ensure full functionality and best performance.
• Do I need special hypervisor support to use this NIC in virtualization environments? For virtualization environments, you can enable features like SR-IOV and VM networking offloads where supported by your hypervisor. Ensure the hypervisor, drivers, and firmware are all up to date to maximize compatibility and performance.
• Will this NIC improve my data-center performance? In most deployments, dual 40G QSFP+ NICs significantly increase inter-server bandwidth, reduce PCIe contention, and improve throughput for virtual machines, storage traffic, and compute-intensive workloads, contributing to lower latency and higher application performance.