StarTech.com 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card - Intel XL710 Open QSFP+ Converged Adapter PCIe 40 Gigabit Fiber Ethernet Server NIC

The StarTech.com 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card delivers the ultimate upgrade for data centers, enterprise servers, and high-demand workstations that require ultra-fast fiber connectivity. Built around the Intel XL710 chipset, this Open QSFP+ converged adapter provides a single 40 Gigabit Ethernet port via a PCIe interface, enabling accelerated workloads, improved virtualization performance, and scalable network fabric integration. Designed for modern servers, it supports 40GBASE-SR4 fiber optics and compatible DAC cables, ensuring versatile, high-bandwidth links for critical applications like HPC, virtualization clusters, storage networks, and database acceleration. Expect lower latency, higher throughput, and efficient CPU offloads that keep your applications running at peak performance.

• Blazing-fast 40GbE connectivity: Harness the power of a single QSFP+ port delivering 40 Gb/s bandwidth to handle demanding workloads with ease. Ideal for data-intensive tasks such as large-scale virtualization, real-time analytics, and high-performance computing. The Intel XL710 controller provides robust, reliable throughput with low-latency packet processing to accelerate your most mission-critical applications.
• Open QSFP+ converged adapter design: Open QSFP+ supports flexible fiber connectivity options, including 40GBASE-SR4 optics and DAC cables, enabling seamless integration into diverse network fabrics. This converged approach simplifies cabling, reduces switch port pressure, and helps you scale your data center without switching to multiple adapters.
• PCIe 3.0 host interface for broad compatibility: Designed to plug into PCIe 3.0 x8 slots in servers and workstations, delivering dependable, high-bandwidth access to system memory and CPU for optimized packet handling. This ensures compatibility with a wide range of server platforms while maintaining strong performance headroom for multicore processing.
• Advanced offloads for virtualization and efficiency: Intel XL710 offloads tasks such as VLAN tagging, large send/receive offloads, RSS for balanced multi-core processing, and virtualization features like SR-IOV and NIC teaming. These capabilities reduce host CPU utilization and improve VM density, enabling you to run more virtual machines per host with predictable networking performance.
• Enterprise reliability and ease of deployment: StarTech’s 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card is built for data-center durability, with a compact and flexible form factor that fits standard PCIe slots across servers and workstations. It supports broad operating system compatibility and comes with brackets for both full-height and low-profile chassis, making installation straightforward in rack-mmounted environments or compact builds.

Technical Details of StarTech.com 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card

• Interface: QSFP+ 40GbE port for high-density fiber connectivity
• Chipset: Intel XL710-series controller enabling high-performance 40G Ethernet features
• Host connection: PCIe 3.0 x8 interface for wide compatibility and ample bandwidth
• Form factor: Desktop/server PCIe card with bracket options for full-height and low-profile configurations
• Optics compatibility: Supports 40GBASE-SR4 optical transceivers and passive/active DAC cables for flexible deployment
• Throughput and offloads: Extensive NIC offloads (VLAN, RSS, checksum/offload) to improve CPU efficiency and VM performance
• Virtualization readiness: Supports SR-IOV and NIC teaming for scalable virtualization environments
• OS and driver support: Broad compatibility with major server OS families (Windows Server, Linux distributions, virtualization platforms)

How to Install StarTech.com 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card

• Power down your server or workstation and unplug from any power source.
• Open the chassis and locate an available PCIe 3.0 x8 slot compatible with the card’s form factor.
• Remove the slot cover corresponding to the PCIe slot and insert the StarTech 1-Port 40G QSFP+ NIC firmly into the slot until it is seated.
• Secure the card with the chassis screw and replace internal cables or blanking plates as needed.
• Attach a QSFP+ fiber optic transceiver (40GBASE-SR4) or a compatible DAC cable to the QSFP+ port.
• Power up the system and enter the operating system. Install the appropriate drivers from StarTech or the Intel XL710 driver package for your OS version.
• Configure basic networking in the OS, then set up any required NIC teaming, VLANs, MTU adjustments, or SR-IOV settings for virtualization workloads.
• Verify link status and throughput with your network switch and perform a quick performance test to confirm the 40GbE connection is active and delivering expected performance.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the StarTech.com 1-Port 40G QSFP+ Network Card? It is a PCIe-based 40 Gigabit Ethernet NIC built around the Intel XL710 chipset, offering a single QSFP+ port for high-speed fiber connectivity. It is designed for servers and workstations that require a robust, scalable 40GbE link and supports flexible optics via QSFP+ interfaces.
• What optics does it support? The card supports 40GBASE-SR4 optics and compatible QSFP+ DAC cables. This enables both fiber-based transceiver connections and direct copper cable solutions, allowing you to choose the most cost-effective or distance-suited option for your network.
• Is this suitable for virtualization and cloud environments? Yes. With Intel XL710 offloads and SR-IOV/NIC teaming support, the card is well-suited for virtualization, cloud deployments, and multi-VM or containerized workloads. It reduces CPU overhead and improves VM networking performance, while providing stable, deterministic throughput.
• What systems and operating systems are supported? The card is designed for broad compatibility with major server operating systems, including Windows Server and mainstream Linux distributions, as well as common virtualization platforms. Always verify driver availability for your exact OS version to ensure optimal performance.
• How does it improve network performance? By delivering full 40 Gb/s bandwidth on a single port, leveraging advanced offloads (VLAN tagging, RSS, checksum offloads), and enabling virtualization features, the card minimizes CPU load, reduces latency, and enables higher VM density and faster data movement across your data center fabric.