The Intel X520 and X540 Dual Port 10 GbE adapters for System x and ThinkServer are powered by reliable and proven 10 Gb Ethernet technology. These adapters 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. For ThinkServer, the X520 and X540 adapters also include FCoE and iSCSI Converged Ethernet support.

This product guide provides essential presales information to understand the Intel X520 and X540 offerings and their key features, specifications, and compatibility. This guide is intended for technical specialists, sales specialists, sales engineers, IT architects, and other IT professionals who want to learn more about Intel X520 and X540 adapters and consider their use in IT solutions.

Changes in the February 21 update:

• Added ThinkServer TS460 (not supported) - Server support section
• Updated operating system support information - Operating system support section

Introduction

The Intel X520 and X540 Dual Port 10 GbE adapters for System x are powered by reliable and proven 10 Gb Ethernet technology. These adapters 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. For ThinkServer, the X520 and X540 adapters also include FCoE and iSCSI Converged Ethernet support.

The Intel X520 adapter provides SFP+ based connectivity options (fiber or DAC cabling). The Intel X540 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. Both the X520 and X540 are available in either standard PCIe low-profile card form factor or mezzanine card form factor.

Figure 1. Intel X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT Adapter for System x

Did you know?

In a multicore platform, the Intel X520 and X540 adapters support Intel I/O Virtualization Technology (IOVT), 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 and X540 adapters are available in special mezzanine form factors for supported System x and ThinkServer systems. This form factor allows you to use the server's standard PCIe slots for other technologies.

Part number information

The following tables provide the ordering part numbers and feature codes for the Intel X520 and X540 adapters.