StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

The StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card is engineered for power users who demand peak performance from their servers and data centers. Built around the enterprise-class Intel X710-BM2 controller, this 2-port 10Gbps OCP NIC delivers exceptional throughput, low latency, and efficient offloads that keep your CPU free to handle critical tasks. Designed for Open Compute projects, it fits seamlessly into modern data-center ecosystems, enabling rapid data movement, resilient storage networking, and robust virtualization capabilities. Whether you’re supporting large-scale databases, virtualization clusters, machine-learning pipelines, or high-traffic web services, this NIC is purpose-built to handle intense network workloads with reliability and ease.

Thanks to the Intel X710-BM2 architecture, the card brings hardware acceleration for TCP/IP offloads, large send/receive offloads, and advanced packet processing. These features translate into reduced CPU overhead, lower latency, and improved overall system efficiency. The dual 10Gbps ports deliver substantial headroom for active-active server pairs, storage replication, live migration, and multi-tenant workloads. The OCP NIC 2 form factor is designed for modern servers and data-center enclosures, delivering a space-saving, modular solution that minimizes cabling complexity while maximizing performance. In addition to raw speed, the NIC provides strong support for virtualization features and network management capabilities that are essential in today’s cloud-ready environments.

Beyond raw bandwidth, the card emphasizes reliability, compatibility, and ease of deployment. It comes with enterprise-grade drivers and broad operating-system support, ensuring a smooth onboarding experience for Windows Server, various Linux distributions, and popular virtualization platforms like VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM. Network professionals will appreciate the rich set of offloads and virtualization features, which help ensure predictable performance under diverse workloads. The combination of a robust controller, a scalable OCP form factor, and comprehensive software support makes this StarTech NIC a versatile solution for traditional racks and modern, software-defined data centers alike.

• Dual-port 10Gbps performance for demanding workloads, delivering fast interconnect between servers, storage, and virtualization hosts.
• Open Compute Project (OCP) NIC 2 form factor for streamlined integration in compatible servers and chassis, reducing cabling and simplifying deployment in dense data-center racks.
• Intel X710-BM2 controller delivering hardware offloads, improved virtualization support, and efficient network processing that lowers CPU utilization while maintaining high throughput.
• Advanced offloads and features including SR-IOV, MSI-X, Large Send Offload (LSO), and Large Receive Offload (LRO), enabling superior VM networking and reduced host CPU load.
• Broad driver and OS support with compatibility across Windows, Linux, and major virtualization platforms, providing a familiar management experience and long-term reliability.

Technical Details of StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Form factor: Open Compute Project (OCP) NIC 2 standard, dual-port 10 GbE card designed for data-center servers.
• Controller: Intel X710-BM2, a scalable 10 Gigabit Ethernet controller with built-in offloads and virtualization features.
• Ports: 2 x 10 GbE network ports for high-throughput interconnects.
• Host interface: PCIe 3.0, typically an x8 connection, to deliver ample bandwidth for data-plane processing and offloads.
• Throughput: Up to 20 Gbps aggregate (2 x 10 Gbps) under ideal conditions, with line-rate performance on supported workloads.
• Networking features: IEEE 802.3-10GBase-T / 10GBASE-SR/SFP+ compatibility, hardware offloads for TCP/IP, SR-IOV, VMQ, MSI-X, LSO/LRO, and Ethernet flow control to optimize traffic and virtualization workloads.
• Compatibility: Broad OS support, including Windows Server and major Linux distributions; integrates with standard NIC management tools and virtualization platforms.
• Power and cooling: Enterprise-grade design intended for server environments with adequate cooling and stable power delivery; operation within standard data-center rack conditions.

How to Install StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

Installing the StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card is a straightforward process designed to minimize downtime and maximize server availability. Follow these steps to ensure a proper, reliable installation:

• Power down the server and disconnect all cables to prevent any electrical or static discharge risks during installation.
• Open the server chassis and identify an available OCP NIC 2 slot. If necessary, consult the server’s hardware manual to confirm the correct slot type and seating procedure for an OCP NIC 2 card.
• Insert the NIC firmly into the slot until it is seated and secured by the chassis or retention mechanism. A proper seating ensures stable operation and prevents intermittent connections.
• Reconnect the chassis and secure any mounting screws or latches as required by the server enclosure. Close the lid and connect power and essential network cables.
• Power on the server and install the latest drivers provided by StarTech or Intel. This typically involves updating the NIC driver package from your operating system’s repository or the vendor’s support portal. After installation, reboot if prompted to finalize driver integration.
• Configure the NIC within the operating system. Set up IP addressing, bonding or NIC teaming if needed, VLANs, QoS, and any virtualization offloads such as SR-IOV or VMQ according to your workload requirements and virtualization platform guidelines.
• Optionally, validate connectivity with basic network tests (ping, iperf, or OS-native network testing tools) and monitor performance using your preferred monitoring suite to confirm throughput and stability under load.

Frequently asked questions

• What is the maximum bandwidth of the StarTech.com 10Gigabit Ethernet Card? It provides up to 20 Gbps aggregate throughput (2 x 10 Gbps), with full duplex operation across both ports.
• What form factor is this NIC? It uses the Open Compute Project (OCP) NIC 2 standard, a dual-port 10 GbE card designed for data-center servers and compatible chassis.
• Which controller powers this card? Intel X710-BM2, known for strong performance, hardware offloads, and virtualization capabilities.
• Is driver support available for Windows and Linux? Yes. The card ships with and supports drivers for Windows Server and major Linux distributions, plus ongoing updates from StarTech/Intel for compatibility and security.
• Is this NIC suitable for virtualization workloads? Absolutely. With SR-IOV, VMQ, and other virtualization optimizations, it helps deliver near-native performance to virtual machines while maintaining flexible management and isolation.