Optimized network connectivity

Emulex is delivering integrated 10Gb Ethernet (10GbE) connectivity across a broad spectrum of IBM servers, demonstrating tight integration between Emulex and IBM for its next-generation of x86 and blade servers. The Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated Virtual Fabric Adapter (VFA) III for IBM System x, based on the BladeEngine 3 (BE3) controller, is integrated into System x platforms, so the benefits of Emulex technology are included by simply selecting the right model server. It offers the benefits and flexibility of I/O convergence with a single end-to-end solution. An upgrade option can be used to add support for storage networks using iSCSI or Fibre Channel over Ethernet (FCoE) with full protocol offload¹.

Superior 10Gb/s performance

The Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated VFA III for IBM System x achieves line rate 10Gb/s performance with support for TCP/IP stateless offloads and TCP Chimney Offload. TCP Chimney Offload reduces system processor utilization, provides increased system performance and reduces overall system power requirements.

Network convergence

The Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated VFA III for IBM System x provides the option to support FCoE, seamlessly converging Fibre Channel and Ethernet I/O while leveraging ten generations of proven Emulex Fibre Channel technology. By using a common infrastructure for Ethernet and storage networks, data centers can reduce capital expense (CAPEX) with savings of up to 30% for adapters and switches, and up to 80% for cables. Network convergence also reduces operational expense (OPEX) for power and cooling by up to 40%. FCoE is fully compatible with existing Fibre Channel infrastructures to fully protect investments in storage, switches, management applications and administrative expertise.

Optimized for virtualization

The Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated VFA III for IBM System x offers the benefits and flexibility of an enhanced virtual NIC (vNIC) function, which enables bidirectional bandwidth management, dynamic bandwidth allocation and I/O convergence in a single end-to-end solution. Each port on the Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated VFA III card can support up to four vNICs per physical port. In addition, the Emulex Dual Port 10GbE SFP+ Integrated VFA III card supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) which allows PCIe devices to appear as multiple virtual devices that can optimize I/O performance by providing direct I/O for virtual machines (VMs).

¹Support for storage networks using FCoE and iSCSI with full protocol offload is a future feature upgrade via FoD licensing.