Intel X540-T2 Ethernet Converged Network Adapter (X540T2)

10 Gigabit for the Broad Market

The Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 is the latest innovation in Intel’s leadership to drive 10 Gigabit Ethernet into the broader server market. This adapter hosts Intel’s latest Ethernet silicon, the Intel® Ethernet Controller X540, which is used by many OEMs as a single chip solution for LAN on Motherboard (LOM) to deliver 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10 GbE) on the latest server platforms.

10GBASE-T Simplifies the Transition to 10GbE

The X540 family of products works with existing networks today. It works with legacy Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) switches and CAT-6a cabling. Install the X540 adapter into a server and the auto-negotiation between 1 GbE and 10 GbE provides the necessary backwards compatibility that most customers require for a smooth transition and easy migration to 10 GbE. When time and budget allows, 10GBASE-T switches can be added any time to experience the full benefits of 10 GbE.

10GBASE-T uses the copper twisted pair cables that are very familiar to IT professionals today. It is everything you know and love about 1000BASE-T. The knowledge, training and investment in BASE-T are preserved. 10GBASE-T is the easiest and most versatile 10 GbE and you can deploy it anywhere in your data center. Its flexible reach from 1 meter to 100 meters supports the latest network architectures including Top of Rack (ToR), Middle of Row (MoR), and End of Row (EoR).

10G Performance at Low Cost and Low Power

The new Intel® Ethernet Converged Network Adapter X540-T2 is the lowest cost way to deploy 10 GbE in your data center today. The X540-T2 uses low cost, CAT-6 and CAT-6a cabling. Chances are this cabling already exists in the data center. A way for Intel to reduce cost and power is to integrate components into a single-chip solution. Of course, integration is what Intel does best. With the new Intel X540 Controller, the MAC and the PHY are integrated into a single-chip solution.

So, why is integration important? First, integration translates to lower power. A single-chip solution simply uses less power than two separate components. This means no more active heat sink and reduces the per-port power consumption. Second, integration also means lower cost per port. Manufacturing a single part costs less than two. When cabling is accounted for, cost efficiencies realized from a single part mean 10GBASE-T is the lowest cost media to deploy.With lower cost and power, 10GBASE-T is ready for broad deployment. 10GBASE-T is an option for every rack and tower server in the data center. The wait for a low cost 10 GbE copper solution to broadly deploy 10 GbE to all corners of the data center is over. The new Intel X540 adapter provides bandwidth-intensive applications with highly affordable 10 GbE network performance and cost-effective RJ-45 con-nectivity for distances up to 100 meters.

Key Features:

• Low Cost, Low Power, 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) Performance for the Entire Datacenter
• Standard CAT-6a Cabling with RJ45 Connectors
• Backward Compatibility with Existing 1000BASE-T Networks Simplifies the Transition to 10GbE
• Flexible I/O virtualization for port partitioning and quality of service (QoS) of up to 64 virtual ports
• Unified Networking Delivering LAN, iSCSI, and FCoE in One Low Cost CNA
• Industry First Dual-Port 10GBASE-T Adapter with Single-Chip Solution with Integrated MAC + PHY
• Reliable and proven 10 Gigabit Ethernet technology from Intel Corporation