Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 Ethernet Card

The Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 Ethernet Card is a high-performance, low-power network adapter designed for demanding data center workloads. Built to work within Lenovo ThinkSystem environments and compatible enterprise servers, this 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) card leverages a PCIe 4.0 host interface to deliver exceptional throughput, ultra-low latency, and efficient CPU offload. With TruFlow intelligent flow processing, it optimizes traffic paths and reduces processing overhead, making it an ideal choice for virtualization, cloud scaling, storage acceleration, and high-performance computing. The QSFP56 form factor enables dense port configurations for top-of-rack and spine-leaf deployments, while broad support for cutting-edge networking technologies helps you deploy modern, software-defined networks with ease.

Designed for modern data centers that demand both speed and efficiency, the Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100GbE card brings together advanced features for scalable networking. Its low-power design minimizes heat and power consumption in dense server racks, helping data centers lower total cost of ownership without sacrificing performance. Whether you’re building a new system, expanding an existing ThinkSystem deployment, or upgrading a virtualization-hosted infrastructure, this Ethernet card is crafted to deliver consistent, predictable performance under heavy workloads. It supports a range of network virtualization and fabric technologies, including VXLAN, NVGRE, and Geneve, enabling you to create flexible, multi-tenant networks with simplified management and improved isolation. The inclusion of RoCE support further accelerates data transfer for latency-sensitive applications, enabling high-speed RDMA capabilities that reduce CPU overhead and boost application response times.

• 100 GbE connectivity with QSFP56 form factor: Perfect for high-density uplinks and downlinks, enabling scalable performance in data center fabrics and server-to-server communications.
• TruFlow intelligent flow processing: Offloads and optimizes network traffic handling to reduce CPU usage, cut latency, and improve application throughput.
• Advanced networking technologies supported: VXLAN, NVGRE, and Geneve encapsulation for scalable network virtualization, with robust SDN and NFV compatibility.
• RoCE support for low-latency RDMA: Accelerates memory-to-memory and storage-to-storage transfers, delivering faster HPC, AI, and database workloads with reduced CPU overhead.
• PCIe 4.0 host interface with low power design: Delivers ample bandwidth for modern servers while optimizing power consumption and thermal performance in dense data centers.

Technical Details of Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Product: Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 Ethernet Card
• Interface: PCIe 4.0 host interface for high-bandwidth data transfer
• Port/Form Factor: 100GbE QSFP56 Ethernet adapter for high-density deployments
• Key Technologies: TruFlow intelligent flow processing, VXLAN/NVGRE/Geneve encapsulation, RoCE, SDN, NFV
• Power & Efficiency: Low-power design optimized for data-center efficiency
• Compatibility: Designed to integrate with Lenovo ThinkSystem servers and compatible enterprise platforms

How to install Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Power down the server and disconnect from power. Ground yourself to prevent static discharge before handling components.
• Open the server chassis and locate a compatible PCIe slot that supports PCIe 4.0, typically an x8 or x16 slot, depending on your server’s motherboard.
• Remove the appropriate slot cover and firmly insert the Lenovo Broadcom 57508 card into the PCIe slot until it seats securely. Ensure the card’s connectors are fully engaged and the bracket aligns with the chassis.
• Secure the card with the rear bracket screw to prevent movement and reassemble the chassis. Reconnect power and boot the system.
• Install or update network drivers in the operating system. For best results, use the latest Lenovo/ Broadcom drivers from official support portals. Verify recognition of the card with the OS network utility and confirm link status on the QSFP56 ports.
• Configure the network stack according to your topology: enable VXLAN/NVGRE/Geneve as needed, set up SDN/NFV policies, and optimize RoCE settings for RDMA traffic if applicable. Validate throughput with synthetic benchmarks or real workloads to confirm performance targets.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the Lenovo Broadcom 57508 100GbE QSFP56 Ethernet Card? It is a high-performance 100 Gigabit Ethernet network adapter with a QSFP56 port, designed for data centers and Lenovo ThinkSystem servers. It uses a PCIe 4.0 host interface and includes TruFlow intelligent flow processing to optimize network performance, while supporting advanced virtualization and fabric technologies.
• What environments is it best suited for? It excels in data centers with dense server racks, virtualization platforms, cloud deployments, and high-performance computing workloads that require low latency, high bandwidth, and efficient CPU offload.
• Does it support virtualization technologies? Yes. It supports VXLAN, NVGRE, and Geneve encapsulation, enabling scalable and flexible virtual networks in software-defined data centers.
• What about RoCE and RDMA? The card includes RoCE support, enabling low-latency RDMA communications for storage and HPC workloads, reducing CPU overhead and improving data transfer efficiency.
• Is driver support available for major operating systems? Yes. Lenovo Broadcom network adapters typically provide driver support for major operating systems (Linux, Windows, and virtualization platforms). Always check the latest driver package from Lenovo or Broadcom for compatibility with your OS version.
• How does TruFlow improve performance? TruFlow offloads and optimizes flow processing to reduce CPU overhead, lower latency, and boost throughput, particularly under virtualization and multi-tenant traffic conditions.
• Can I deploy this card in a dense 1U/2U chassis? Yes. The QSFP56 form factor supports high-density deployments in dense server environments, making it suitable for top-of-rack and leaf-spine configurations.
• What cables and breakouts are needed? For 100GbE operation, QSFP56 cables or appropriate breakout cables are used depending on your switch or fabric design. Verify compatibility with your data center switch fabric for optimal performance.
• Is it hot-pluggable? While many data-center NICs support hot-plug in enterprise servers, always follow your server hardware guidelines for PCIe device replacement and ensure the system is in a safe state before removing or inserting the card.