HPE Ethernet 10Gb 2-port SFP+ BCM57414 Adapter

Overview

The HPE P08421-B21 is a dual-port 10Gb Ethernet network adapter designed to enhance the connectivity of HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers. Equipped with two 10Gb SFP+ ports and powered by the Broadcom BCM57414 controller, it offloads packet processing from the CPU to maintain high performance for applications and virtualization. Its PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface ensures sufficient bandwidth for demanding data center environments.

Key features

• Two 10Gb SFP+ ports provide fast and reliable network connections suitable for high-throughput workloads.
• Broadcom BCM57414 controller handles packet processing on the card, reducing CPU load and improving overall server efficiency.
• PCI Express 3.0 x8 interface delivers ample bandwidth to support continuous data flow without bottlenecks.
• Hardware offloads for VXLAN and NVGRE enhance performance in overlay network environments by minimizing latency.
• DPDK support enables developers to leverage hardware acceleration for increased I/O throughput in user-space applications.
• Optimized compatibility with HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers, including the DL380 Gen10, for seamless integration.
• Plug-in form factor allows quick installation into available PCIe slots, simplifying upgrades and maintenance.
• Wired connectivity ensures stable, low-latency links essential for virtualization hosts, clustered databases, and backup servers.

Key specs

• Network ports: 2 x 10Gb SFP+
• Controller: Broadcom BCM57414
• Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x8
• Offload support: VXLAN, NVGRE
• DPDK support: Yes
• Compatible servers: HPE ProLiant Gen10, including DL380 Gen10

Connectivity and compatibility

This adapter fits into standard PCIe slots on HPE ProLiant Gen10 servers, providing two 10Gb SFP+ ports for fiber or direct attach copper connections. It supports overlay network protocols like VXLAN and NVGRE, making it suitable for modern data center architectures that rely on virtualized networking. The card’s hardware offloads and DPDK support ensure it works efficiently with software-defined networking and high-performance applications.

Installation and setup

Installing the adapter is straightforward: simply insert it into an available PCIe 3.0 x8 slot on your server, connect your SFP+ optics or cables, and configure the network settings within your operating system. This plug-and-play approach minimizes downtime and allows you to quickly upgrade your server’s network capacity to 10Gb speeds, supporting faster east-west traffic and storage replication.

Ideal uses and environments

This network adapter is well suited to data centers and enterprise environments where servers handle virtualization, clustered databases, or backup operations that demand consistent 10Gb throughput. It fits well in setups that require low-latency, high-bandwidth connections without adding CPU overhead, making it a strong choice for IT professionals looking to optimize server networking performance in HPE ProLiant Gen10 systems.