Designed for multi-core processors

This dual-port adapter provides high-performing, multi-port Gigabit connectivity in a multi-core platform as well as in a virtualized environment. In a multi-core platform, the adapters support different technologies such as Intel QuickData technology, MSI-X, and Low Latency Interrupts, that help in accelerating the data across the platform, thereby improving application response times.

Optimized for virtualization

The Intel Gigabit ET Multi-Port Server Adapter showcases the latest virtualization technology called Intel virtualization technology for Connectivity (Intel VT for Connectivity). Intel VT for Connectivity is a suite of hardware assists that improve overall system performance by lowering the I/O overhead in a virtualized environment.

Virtual Machine Device queues (VMDq)

VMDq reduces I/O overhead on the hypervisor in a virtualized server by performing data sorting and coalescing in the network silicon. VMDq technology makes use of multiple queues in the network controller. As data packets enter the network adapter, they are sorted, and packets traveling to the same destination (or virtual machine) get grouped together in a single queue. The packets are then sent to the hypervisor, which directs them to their respective virtual machines. Relieving the hypervisor of packet filtering and sorting improves overall CPU usage and throughput levels.

End-to-end wired security

The Intel Gigabit ET Multi-Port Server Adapters is Intel’s first PCIe adapters to provide authentication and encryption for IPsec and LinkSec. LinkSec is already designed into the network adapter hardware. This adapter is futures proof and prepared to provide LinkSec functionality when the ecosystem supports this technology.

Intel I/O Acceleration Technology

Intel I/O Acceleration Technology (Intel I/OAT) is a suite of features that improves data acceleration across the platform, from networking devices to the chipset and processors, which help to improve system performance and application response times. The different features include Intel QuickData technology, Direct Cache Access (DCA), MSI-X, Low-Latency Interrupts, Receive Side Scaling (RSS), and others.

PCI-SIG SR-IOV

PCI-SIG SR-IOV implementation helps direct connectivity from the adapter to the virtual machines in order to provide near-native performance. PCI-SIG SR-IOV offers a standard mechanism for I/O devices such as network ports to advertise their ability to be simultaneously shared among multiple virtual machines. Each virtual machine is assigned its own virtual network port. By offloading this connectivity functionality to the adapter, you improve CPU usage and reduce latency.

On-Board Management features

The Intel Gigabit ET Multi-Port Server Adapter enables network manageability implementations required by IT personnel for remote control and alerting (IPMI, KVM Redirection, Media Redirection) by sharing the LAN port and providing standard interfaces to a Board Management Controller (BMC). The communication to the BMC is available through an on-board System Management Bus (SMBus) port. The adapter provides filtering capabilities to determine which traffic is forwarded to the host.