Intel X520 Product Manual

®
Intel X520 and X540-T2 Dual Port 10 GbE Adapters for
IBM System x
IBM Redbooks Product Guide
The Intel X520 and X540-T2 Dual Port 10 GbE adapters for IBM® System x® are powered by reliable and
proven 10 Gb Ethernet technology from Intel. These cards offer full line-rate 10 Gbps performance for
high-IO intensive applications, and showcase the next generation in 10 GbE networking features for the
enterprise network and data center. The Intel X520 adapter provides SFP+ based connectivity options
(fiber or DAC cabling). The Intel X540-T2 adapter offers 10GBASE-T connectivity with RJ-45 ports, with
compatibility with the existing 1000BASE-T network, simplifying the transition to the 10 Gb Ethernet
technology. The following figure shows the Intel X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT Adapter for IBM System x.
Figure 1. Intel X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT Adapter for IBM System x
Did you know
In a multicore platform, the Intel X520 and X540-T2 adapters support Intel I/O Virtualization Technology
(I/OVT), which helps accelerate data across the platform, therefore improving application response times.
For virtualized environments, Intel Ethernet adapters offer advanced features with VMDq that lower
processor utilization and increase I/O performance.
The X520 adapter is also available in a special mezzanine form factor for supported servers. This form
factor allows you to use the server's standard PCIe slots for other technologies.
Intel X520 and X540-T2 Dual Port 10 GbE Adapters for IBM System x 1