Intel Ethernet I350 Server Adapters

Based on the new Intel I350 Gigabit Ethernet Controller, the Intel Ethernet I350 server adapters represent the next step in the GbE networking evolution for the enterprise and data center. It introduces new levels of performance through industry-leading enhancements for both virtualized and iSCSI Unified Networking environments. This new family of adapters also includes new power management technologies such as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and DMA Coalescing (DMAC).

Overview

The new Intel Ethernet Server Adapter I350 family builds on Intel’s extended history of excellence in Ethernet products. Intel continues its market leadership with this new generation of PCIe* GbE network adapters. Built with the bridgeless Intel I350 Ethernet Controller, these adapters represent the next step in the GbE networking evolution for the enterprise and data center by introducing new levels of performance through industry-leading enhancements for both virtualized and iSCSI Unified Networking environments. This new family of adapters also includes new power management technologies such as Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) and DMA Coalescing (DMAC).

Flexible I/O Virtualization

The Intel Ethernet I350 adapters include Intel Virtualization Technology for connectivity (Intel VT-c) to deliver I/O virtualization and Quality of Service (QoS) features designed directly into the I350 controller on the adapter. I/O virtualization advances network connectivity models used in today’s servers to more efficient models by providing Flexible Port Partitioning (FPP), multiple Rx/Tx queues, and on-controller QoS functionality that can be used in both virtual and non-virtual server deployments.

By taking advantage of the PCI-SIG SR-IOV specification, Intel® Ethernet products enable Flexible Port Partitioning (FPP). With FPP, virtual controllers can be used by the Linux* host directly and/ or assigned to virtual machines. With this port partitioning, administrators can create up to eight dedicated networks on a single Ethernet port for use in bare- metal and virtualized server deployments. In a bare-metal Linux server, host processes can be assigned to dedicated network resources to provide traffic isolation and balanced bandwidth allocation.

In a virtualized environment, a VM can be assigned to a virtual controller to reduce the CPU overhead seen when using a software-based network bridge by offloading network traffic management to the Ethernet controller silicon

Scalable iSCSI Performance

Intel Ethernet I350 Server Adapters with native iSCSI initiators built into Microsoft Windows, Linux, and VMware ESX platforms provide a simple, dependable, cost-effective way to connect to LANs and iSCSI SANs. These native initiators are broadly tested using multiple generations of operating systems, storage systems, and OS tools to help ensure reliability and ease of use. Standardizing on Intel® Ethernet for iSCSI allows administrators to use a single initiator, TCP/IP stack, and a common set of management tools and IT policies. In addition, Intel Ethernet includes a number of hardware features designed to accelerate iSCSI traffic and enhance data processing. For example, TCP segmentation offload, Receive Side Coalescing (RSC), and checksum offload capabilities help reduce processor usage, increase throughput, and deliver exceptional iSCSI performance. Finally, using native OS initiators, an Intel Ethernet I350 Server Adapter enables support for the CRC-32 digest instruction set included with Intel Xeon processor products, which improves transmission reliability and thus delivers an enterprise- class iSCSI solution for the IT customer.

Power Management Technologies

Today, companies everywhere are looking for ways to decrease energy consumption across the enterprise to reduce costs and environmental impact, while at the same time solving increasingly important power density challenges. That’s why Intel has introduced new, advanced Power Management Technologies (PMTs) with the Intel Ethernet I350 Server Adapter family that enable enterprises to configure power options on the adapter and more effectively manage their power consumption.

Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE)

The Intel Ethernet I350 Server Adapter family supports the IEEE802.3az Energy Efficient Ethernet (EEE) standard so that, du