IBM Emulex 10GbE Dual Port PCI Express 2.0 x8 Virtual Fabric Adapter network card 49Y7950

Dual-Port 10GbE Adapter for Virtualised Servers

This IBM Emulex Virtual Fabric Adapter adds two 10Gbps Ethernet ports through a PCI Express 2.0 x8 slot. It targets data-centre servers that run multiple virtual machines and need converged network and storage traffic on a single card. The dual-port design provides link redundancy or bandwidth aggregation for heavy east-west traffic. Factory-sealed condition ensures clean inventory for deployment.

Low-Power Operation in Dense Racks

The adapter is built for performance per watt, lowering the power and cooling budget in dense rack environments. Storage protocol offloads move processing off the host CPU, reducing overall system heat during sustained loads. With no active cooling specifications disclosed, the card relies on server chassis airflow for thermal management. Typical noise contribution is negligible inside managed server fans.

Upgrade from Single-Port or 1GbE NICs

This card replaces single-port 10GbE or dual-port 1GbE adapters when virtual machine density demands more throughput and offload capability. The jump is worth it when CPU cycles spent on protocol handling become a bottleneck or when cabling flexibility between fibre and twin-ax copper is required. Servers limited to PCI Express 2.0 x8 slots gain full advertised speed without platform changes.