HP NC7170 Overview page 3

QuickSpecs
Performance
Gigabit Throughput Gigabit Throughput Gigabit Throughput Gigabit Throughput
Combined with Legacy Combined with Legacy Combined with Legacy Combined with Legacy
Ethernet Support Ethernet Support Ethernet Support Ethernet Support
PCI-X Interface PCI-X Interface PCI-X Interface PCI-X Interface
Checksum Offloading Checksum Offloading Checksum Offloading Checksum Offloading
Load Balancing Load Balancing Load Balancing Load Balancing
Jumbo Frames Jumbo Frames Jumbo Frames Jumbo Frames
Scalability and Reliability Scalability and Reliability Scalability and Reliability Scalability and Reliability
PCI-X Support for PCI-X Support for PCI-X Support for PCI-X Support for
Traditional PCI slots Traditional PCI slots Traditional PCI slots Traditional PCI slots
Dual Ports Dual Ports Dual Ports Dual Ports
Network Fault Tolerance Network Fault Tolerance Network Fault Tolerance Network Fault Tolerance
(NFT)
PCI Hot Plug PCI Hot Plug PCI Hot Plug PCI Hot Plug
A 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet transfer rate delivers outstanding network performance that improves
response time and removes bottlenecks. Because the NC7170 supports both 10Mbps Ethernet and
100Mbps Fast Ethernet in addition to Gigabit Ethernet, users are guaranteed end-to-end protocol
support across their enterprise.
HP was an early champion of PCI-X bus technology and has played a key role in the development and
industry adoption of the PCI-X specification. The NC7170 features a PCI-X 64-bit/133MHz Interface,
which yields faster transmissions with lower CPU utilization than earlier PCI-based, gigabit fiber solutions.
The NC7170 allows TCP Checksum Offloading. This feature reduces the load on the CPU for overall
improved system response.
Transmit Load Balancing (TLB) and Switch-assisted Load Balancing (SLB) are two advanced features that
customers can use to build a bigger pipe for improved networking bandwidth. These port bonding
techniques enable users to install up to eight NC7170 adapters in a HP ProLiant server and aggregate
their throughput up to a theoretical maximum of 16Gigabits per second full-duplex transmissions.
Jumbo Frames (also known as Extended Frames) offer a 9K byte Maximum Transmission Unit (MTU),
which is six times the size of traditional Ethernet frames. Like all HP ProLiant server adapters, the NC7170
supports jumbo frames as a way to achieve higher throughput and better CPU utilization when deployed
in a network infrastructure that supports them. Jumbo frames are particularly useful for database transfers
and tape backups.
PCI-X technology ensures hardware investment protection by retaining backward compatibility with the
standard PCI bus architecture at the device and driver level. When the NC7170 is used in a traditional
64/100, 64/66, 64/33, or 32/33 PCI IO slot, its performance is limited to the maximum of the
conventional bus architecture.
Two Gigabit ports allow users to save slots in situations where their servers are slot-constrained. HP has
long been an advocate of dual port adapters for servers; the NC7170 is the latest in our legacy of best-
of-breed dual port devices for HP ProLiant servers.
Network Fault Tolerance, sometimes called "failover" or "NIC Redundancy," allows for the installation of
multiple NC7170 server adapters so that the active device can be backed up by a redundant adapter to
improve availability. HP's teaming utility also allows users to specify that when a failed adapter is fixed
and replaced, the original adapter resumes its function as the primary network connection.
The NC7170 ships with PCI Hot Plug support, which enables it to be replaced or added to a PCI Hot
Plug compatible server without powering down the system. This feature provides increased system
availability and serviceability in business-critical computing environments.
DA - 11650 Worldwide — Version 24 — July 13, 2009
HP NC7170 PCI-X Dual Port 1000T Gigabit Server HP NC7170 PCI-X Dual Port 1000T Gigabit Server HP NC7170 PCI-X Dual Port 1000T Gigabit Server HP NC7170 PCI-X Dual Port 1000T Gigabit Server
Adapter Adapter Adapter Adapter
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