Server Requirements for 100G Ethernet Cards: A Comprehensive Look

Fancy Wang

The growing demands of modern digital enterprises necessitate high-speed and efficient network solutions. Enter the 100G Ethernet card: a powerhouse component offering speeds unimaginable just a few years ago. However, to leverage its full potential, servers need to meet specific requirements. This article will elucidate six such prerequisites and address some FAQs surrounding current market needs.

## What is a 100G Ethernet card?

? A 100G Ethernet card (NIC) is a device that connects network devices to a local area network for communication. It supports a data transmission rate of 100Gbps and is generally used in high-performance computing, cloud computing, and big data scenarios that require high bandwidth .

? 100G Ethernet cards generally use QSFP28 interfaces, which can be used with different types of optical modules or cables, such as QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 LR4, QSFP28 CWDM4, QSFP28 PSM4, QSFP28 DAC, QSFP28 AOC, etc., to achieve connections in different distances and environments.

## Server Requirements

In order to use the 100G Ethernet card, the server needs to meet the following requirements:

• Bus type: The server needs to have a PCI-E x16 or PCI-E x8 slot to support the high-speed data transmission of the 100G Ethernet card. Generally speaking, PCI-E x16 slots can provide higher bandwidth and performance, but also require more space and power consumption. The PCI-E x8 slot is relatively more space-saving and power-efficient, but there may also be a performance loss .

• Operating system: The server needs to support the drivers and software required by the 100G Ethernet card to realize network functions and management. Different manufacturers and products may support different operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, FreeBSD, etc. Therefore, when selecting a 100G Ethernet card, you need to confirm whether it is compatible with the server's operating system .

• CPU performance: The server needs to have sufficiently powerful CPU performance to handle a large amount of network traffic and data packets generated by the 100G Ethernet card. If the CPU performance is insufficient, it may cause problems such as network congestion, delay or packet loss, affecting the quality and efficiency of network services .

• Memory capacity: The server needs to have a large enough memory capacity to cache and process a large amount of data transmitted by the 100G Ethernet card. Insufficient memory capacity may lead to data loss or damage, affecting data integrity and security .

? Network equipment: The server needs to cooperate with corresponding network equipment, such as switches, routers, firewalls, etc., to realize network connection and functions. Different network devices may support different transmission protocols and standards, such as Ethernet, InfiniBand, Fiber Channel, etc. Therefore, when selecting a 100G Ethernet card, it is necessary to confirm whether it is compatible with the transmission protocols and standards of the network device .

? Heat dissipation capability: The server needs to have good heat dissipation capability to ensure that the 100G Ethernet card will not be overheated or damaged when running at high speed. If the heat dissipation capacity is insufficient, it may cause problems such as performance degradation or failure of the 100G Ethernet card, affecting network stability and reliability .

## Common problem

? Q: Why use 100G Ethernet card?

? A: The use of 100G Ethernet cards can provide servers with higher network bandwidth and speed, meeting the needs of high-performance computing, cloud computing, big data and other scenarios that require high network performance. The use of 100G Ethernet cards can improve the processing capacity and efficiency of servers, reduce network delays and costs, and improve user experience and competitiveness.

? Q: What is the difference between 100G Ethernet card and smart network card?

? A: 100G Ethernet card is a common network interface controller, which can only provide basic data transmission functions, and cannot effectively handle complex functions and tasks in the network. The smart network card is a device that adds a programmable and configurable hardware acceleration engine on the basis of a traditional network card, which can complete specific infrastructure function operations, such as reorganization acceleration, security acceleration, deep packet inspection, etc. Compared with ordinary network cards, it can bring greater performance improvements.

? Q: What kind of optical modules or cables are needed for 100G Ethernet cards?

? A: 100G Ethernet cards generally use QSFP28 interfaces, which can be used with different types of optical modules or cables, such as QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 LR4, QSFP28 CWDM4, QSFP28 PSM4, QSFP28 DAC, QSFP28 AOC, etc., to achieve connections in different distances and environments. Which type of optical module or cable to choose depends on actual network requirements and conditions.

? Q: How much is the price of 100G Ethernet card?

? A: The price of 100G Ethernet cards is affected by many factors, such as brand, performance, function, market supply and demand, etc. Generally speaking, the price of a 100G Ethernet card will be higher than that of a low-speed network card, but it will also be lower than that of a smart network card. The specific price needs to be queried and compared according to different manufacturers and products.

? Q: What is the development trend of 100G Ethernet card?

? A: With the upgrade of the data center network from 10G to 100G, and the development of emerging technologies such as 5G network, Internet of Things, and edge computing, the demand for network bandwidth and speed will continue to increase, and the data center will also develop to 200G/400G or even higher rates. Therefore, 100G Ethernet cards will gradually become popular and will lead the continuous growth of the optical communication market.

## Different needs of server groups

? Q: What kind of server needs to use 100G Ethernet card?

? A: Generally speaking, the servers that need to use 100G Ethernet cards are those scenarios that require high network performance, such as high-performance computing, cloud computing, and big data. These scenarios need to handle a large amount of data and network traffic, and require higher network bandwidth and speed to improve processing power and efficiency, reduce network delay and cost, and improve user experience and competitiveness.

? Q: What kind of server does not need to use 100G Ethernet card?

? A: Generally speaking, the servers that do not need to use 100G Ethernet cards are those scenarios that have lower requirements on network performance, such as office, education, and entertainment. These scenarios only need to process a small amount of data and network traffic, do not require excessive network bandwidth and speed, and can use low-speed network cards, such as 10G or 25G network cards, to save space and power consumption, and reduce cost and complexity.

? Q: What kind of servers can use smart network cards?

? A: Generally speaking, the servers that can use smart network cards are those scenarios that need to handle complex functions and tasks in the network, such as virtualization, network security, cloud services, edge computing, etc. These scenarios require the filtering, detection, encryption, and routing of data packets at the network level to improve network security and reliability and support the development of emerging technologies. The smart network card can offload these operations from the CPU and optimize and accelerate them at the hardware level to improve network efficiency and flexibility.

? Q: What kind of servers cannot use smart network cards?

? A: Generally speaking, servers that cannot use smart NICs are those scenarios that only require basic data transmission functions, such as file transmission, video playback, and music downloading. These scenarios do not need to implement complex functions and tasks at the network level, and only need ordinary network cards. SmartNICs may be overkill or wasteful for these scenarios and may add cost and complexity.

? Q: How to choose a suitable network card according to different server requirements?

? A: When choosing a network card, the following aspects need to be considered according to different server requirements:

• Network performance: Select an appropriate network card rate, such as 10G, 25G, 40G or 100G, according to the amount of data and network traffic that the server needs to process.

• Network function: Select the appropriate network card type, such as common network card or smart network card, according to the network functions and tasks to be realized by the server.

• Network connection: According to the network equipment and environment connected to the server, select the appropriate network card interface and optical module or cable type, such as QSFP28 SR4, QSFP28 LR4, QSFP28 DAC, QSFP28 AOC, etc.

• Network cost: According to the network cost and budget borne by the server, select the appropriate network card brand and price, such as Intel, Mellanox, etc.

• Network compatibility: Select the appropriate network card driver and software according to the bus type and operating system supported by the server, such as PCI-E x16 or PCI-E x8 slot, Windows or Linux operating system, etc.