Lenovo ThinkSystem Emulex LPe35002 32Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

The Lenovo ThinkSystem Emulex LPe35002 32Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter is engineered to deliver exceptional data transfer speeds and rock-solid reliability for modern data centers. Built on Emulex’s renowned LightPulse architecture, this dual-port Fibre Channel HBA enables Lenovo ThinkSystem servers to connect to SAN fabrics with ease, bandwidth headroom, and impressive IOPS for virtualized workloads, data protection, and mission-critical applications. Whether you’re supporting virtual desktop infrastructure, large-scale backups, or latency-sensitive databases, the LPe35002 provides a scalable foundation for high-performance storage networking. The combination of 32Gbps per port, robust error handling, and streamlined management makes it a compelling choice for organizations pursuing low latency, high availability, and predictable performance in their storage fabric. Seamless integration with Lenovo ThinkSystem hardware and software ecosystems ensures simplified deployment, ongoing maintenance, and durable operation across firmware revisions and varying workload profiles.

• Dual 32Gbps Fibre Channel ports deliver full line-rate bandwidth and scalable connectivity for demanding storage targets, databases, backups, and virtualized workloads. With two independent channels, you can design redundant paths, aggregate bandwidth for large I/O profiles, and preserve consistent performance even under peak load.
• PCIe 3.0 interface provides a high-speed, low-latency data path from the host to the fabric. The LPe35002 is optimized for ThinkSystem servers, offering reliable signal integrity, efficient buffering, and compatibility with the latest operating systems and hypervisors for seamless SAN integration.
• NPIV support enables virtualization-ready fabric provisioning, letting multiple virtual machines share a single physical port while retaining distinct World Wide Port Names (WWPNs) for isolation and security. This simplifies guest migrations, optimizes fabric utilization, and enhances scalability in VMware, Hyper-V, KVM, and other virtualization environments.
• ThinkSystem-certified design with integrated management tooling, including Lenovo XClarity integration and Emulex OneCommand Manager utilities. Administrators gain centralized visibility, firmware update capabilities, performance analytics, and proactive health monitoring to maximize uptime and ease routine maintenance.
• Enterprise-grade reliability features, including end-to-end data integrity checks, robust error handling, and compatibility with multi-vendor storage arrays. The LPe35002 is designed to withstand data-center demands, delivering stable throughput, predictable performance, and durable operation across firmware revisions and diverse storage fabrics.

Technical Details of Lenovo ThinkSystem Emulex LPe35002 32Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

• Product family: Emulex LPe35000/LPe35002 family, 32Gbps Fibre Channel HBA
• Model: LPe35002
• Ports: 2 x 32Gb Fibre Channel ports
• Interface: PCIe 3.0 (typical implementation x8) host interface
• Data rate: 32 Gbps per port; up to 64 Gbps aggregated bandwidth across both ports
• Protocol support: Fibre Channel (32Gbps), NPIV (N_Port ID Virtualization) for virtualization-ready fabric access
• Operating system compatibility: Supported across major server OSes including Windows Server, Linux distributions (e.g., Red Hat, SUSE), and common virtualization platforms (e.g., VMware ESXi)
• Management and diagnostics: Emulex OneCommand Manager/Utility; Lenovo XClarity integration for streamlined lifecycle management
• Form factor: PCIe add-in card for standard server chassis slots
• Warranty and certification: Lenovo ThinkSystem-certified hardware with vendor-supported firmware/software updates
• Power and thermal design: Optimized for data-center efficiency with standard enterprise-grade power handling and thermal characteristics
• Compatibility and interoperability: Designed to work with a wide range of SAN fabrics and storage arrays from multiple vendors, ensuring flexible integration into existing environments

how to install Lenovo ThinkSystem Emulex LPe35002 32Gb 2-Port PCIe Fibre Channel Adapter

• Power down the server, unplug power, and open the chassis to access the PCIe slots. Identify a compatible PCIe slot that meets the card’s form factor and bandwidth requirements.
• Remove any slot covers as needed and prepare the slot for installation by ensuring the slot is clean and free of debris. Ground yourself to avoid static discharge.
• Insert the LPe35002 into the selected PCIe slot with a firm, even press until the bracket is seated and the card is fully engaged. Secure the card to the chassis with the mounting screw if required.
• Attach Fibre Channel cables to the adapter’s ports, connecting them to your storage array, fabric switch, or expansion enclosure as per your SAN topology. Ensure the cables and SFPs/SFP+ modules are compatible with your fabric.
• Power on the server and boot into the operating system. Install the appropriate Emulex/Lenovo drivers and management utilities from the vendor portal or the ThinkSystem software repository.
• Run the vendor-provided configuration tools (such as Emulex OneCommand Manager or the Lenovo XClarity-integrated utilities) to validate port status, set WWPNs, configure zoning as needed, and confirm fabric connectivity. Verify that the HBA is recognized by the OS and that a path to storage targets is active.
• Perform a basic I/O test by initiating a storage operation (e.g., a test backup or a read/write workload) to confirm that both ports operate correctly and that there are no errors or dropped frames on the fabric.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Lenovo ThinkSystem Emulex LPe35002? A: It is a dual-port 32Gbps Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter (HBA) designed for Lenovo ThinkSystem servers to provide high-performance SAN connectivity and robust virtualization-ready storage access.
• Q: How many ports and what speed does it support? A: It has 2 Fibre Channel ports, each supporting up to 32Gbps, delivering up to 64Gbps of aggregated bandwidth across both ports.
• Q: Is NPIV supported? A: Yes. NPIV support enables multiple virtual machines or hosts to share a single physical port while maintaining isolated WWPNs, improving fabric efficiency in virtualized environments.
• Q: Which operating systems and virtualization platforms are supported? A: The LPe35002 is compatible with major Windows Server and Linux distributions, as well as common virtualization platforms such as VMware vSphere, Hyper-V, and KVM, with appropriate drivers and management utilities provided by Emulex and Lenovo.
• Q: How do I manage and update the card? A: Use Emulex OneCommand Manager or Lenovo XClarity for firmware updates, health monitoring, performance analytics, and configuration management to keep the card running in peak condition.
• Q: What cables and SFPs are required? A: You need compatible Fibre Channel SFP/SFP+ modules and cables that match your SAN fabric specifications and the LPe35002 ports, following your storage array and switch compatibility requirements.