HPE P26256-B21

Overview

The HPE P26256-B21 is a dual-port 10 Gb Ethernet adapter designed specifically for HPE Gen10 Plus servers with an OCP 3.0 mezzanine slot. It delivers high-speed network connectivity through two SFP+ ports, supporting both optical and direct-attach copper cables. With a PCIe Gen3 x8 interface, it ensures fast data transfer and low latency, making it suitable for demanding data center workloads such as virtualization, storage replication, and scale-out databases.

Key features

• Dual 10 Gb Ethernet ports provide up to 20 Gb aggregate bandwidth for handling heavy network traffic efficiently.
• Flexible connectivity options with SFP+ ports that support both fiber optic and copper cables, allowing adaptation to various network layouts.
• PCIe Gen3 x8 interface ensures rapid communication between the server and network, minimizing bottlenecks.
• Supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) to assign virtual functions directly to guest OS, improving virtualization performance and reducing host overhead.
• RoCE v1 and v2 support enables low-latency RDMA messaging, ideal for hyper-converged infrastructure and NVMe-over-Fabric environments.
• VXLAN offload capabilities facilitate the creation of overlay networks that are easy to segment and manage as network demands evolve.
• Energy-efficient design with a typical power consumption of 11.6 watts, suitable for high-density server environments where power and cooling are critical.
• Compact OCP 3.0 form factor fits seamlessly into HPE Gen10 Plus servers, preserving slot space for additional components.
• Backed by a 1-year limited HPE warranty, ensuring reliable support and service.

Key specs

• Network speed: 10 Gb Ethernet per port
• Ports: 2 x SFP+
• Host interface: PCIe Gen3 x8
• Form factor: OCP 3.0 mezzanine card
• Power consumption: Typical 11.6 watts
• Controller: Broadcom BCM57412
• Virtualization support: SR-IOV
• RDMA support: RoCE v1 and v2
• Network overlay support: VXLAN

Connectivity and compatibility

This adapter is designed to integrate seamlessly with HPE Gen10 Plus servers featuring an OCP 3.0 mezzanine slot. Its two SFP+ ports allow connection to a variety of network fabrics using either fiber optic or direct-attach copper cables, providing flexibility to match your existing infrastructure. The PCIe Gen3 x8 interface ensures compatibility with modern server architectures, delivering the bandwidth needed for intensive data center applications.

Performance and reliability

Equipped with the Broadcom BCM57412 controller, the adapter offers advanced networking features that enhance performance in virtualized and storage-heavy environments. SR-IOV reduces CPU overhead by enabling direct assignment of network functions to virtual machines, while RoCE support lowers latency for storage and database traffic. The low power draw and efficient design contribute to stable operation in dense server racks, helping maintain optimal thermal conditions and power budgets.

Ideal uses and environments

This adapter suits data centers focused on virtualization, software-defined storage, and high-speed East-West traffic within clusters. It works well in environments where network flexibility and low latency are critical, such as hyper-converged infrastructure and scale-out database deployments. Its energy-efficient profile and compact form factor make it a strong choice for high-density server configurations where power and space are limited.

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