10GbE solutions and accessories
10GbE solutions and accessories
Hey there! I'm trying to decide on some 10 Gigabit cards and cables. I have an HP Proliant microserver with a dual-core G1610T CPU (probably Gen 8) and a spare 16x Gen 2 slot. I'm running FreeRAM 11.2u6 there. My main PC is a Ryzen 7 1700 with an MSI Tomahawk motherboard, also running Windows 1903, and it has a spare x16 slot for cards. The backup server is a dual-core Athlon 200GE with an ASRock AB350M Pro 4 motherboard, same OS, and another spare x16 slot.
I'm checking out the card you linked: HP-NC523SFP-Dual-Port-10GbE... I want to know if it'll work smoothly in FreeRAM without needing heavy CLI commands. Also, does it play well with Windows on my main PC? For cables, I need modules—probably DAC modules would be a good fit. I'm looking for lengths of 2, 3, or 5 meters.
I'm a bit confused about compatibility since most sources mention specific brands or models. Could you help me avoid any compatibility headaches? Thanks a lot!
I haven't tried either of those cards in FreeNAS or Windows. I'm familiar with the 10GBASE-SR options that are plug-and-play, such as the Mellanox ConnectX-2 SFP+ (single port) and the Broadcom BCM85710S (dual port). I've used these transceivers successfully. (though one showed up D.O.A.)
Chelsio is the best choice. HP, Dell and others rebrand their NICS products under their own names. The T520 cars are easy to install and offer many adapter options. I chose the T520-BT models to make use of the copper wiring I already set up.
I'll check those if I locate them in the UK. Those look like decent dual-port options for dual ports... do Cisco modules fit with them? What about other brands? Just want to avoid getting caught in a tricky purchase situation.
I was talking about the T50 series of cards. That’s an example; you might find better deals elsewhere. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/DELL-J6VY6-0J...Swr6hc~7oL I recommend checking the FreeNAS forum for details. Also, this provides a solid reference. https://www.servethehome.com/buyers-guid...s-servers/
My take is that investing a bit more pays off when you choose proven options. The T5 series from Chelsio is reliable and even available through iXsystems. Their products stand out, especially when compared to Intel, which remains a dependable option for network cards.
Are you aware of dual port 10 gigabit cards compatible with Windows 10 and Freenas? I’m open to paying more if they prove useful. They’d help me connect two servers to my main PC and each other, which is important for syncing data between them. If single-port cards are needed, linking the servers together would be ideal for faster transfers, especially when rebuilding a storage array. While I wasn’t seeking the cheapest option, dual ports are what I’m after. Hopefully someone knows about dual cards that work well with Freenas on Windows 10—it’s not my top priority, but it could save time during data migrations. I can manage to source two MiStox cards and a 3M cable for around £60, which is reasonable. I’m just hoping there are people familiar with dual port solutions for this setup.