HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9 Networking Adapters
Genuine HPE Ethernet adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL388 Gen9, new and refurbished. The chassis already carries four embedded 1Gb ports, and it has one FlexibleLOM connector — only one, so the choice on this page is really whether an upgrade goes into that connector or costs you a PCIe slot.
DL388 Gen9 Networking Specifications
- Embedded networking: four 1Gb Ethernet ports on the chassis as standard, before any adapter is added
- FlexibleLOM: one connector per server; the adapter in it can be changed after the server has shipped, so the original choice is not permanent
- FlexibleLOM adapters stocked: 1Gb four-port 331FLR and 366FLR, 10Gb two-port 560FLR-SFP+ and 561FLR-T, and FlexFabric 10Gb two-port 533FLR-T, 534FLR-SFP+ and 556FLR-SFP+
- 1Gb PCIe cards stocked: four-port 331T, two-port 361T and two-port 332T, all RJ-45 copper
- 10Gb PCIe cards stocked: two-port 530SFP, 530T, 560SFP+, 561T and 570SFP+
- Memory requirement: a minimum of two gigabytes of server memory is required for each adapter installed
- Slots available: the riser kits listed for this server give Slot 1 one PCIe Gen3 x16 full-length slot plus one Gen3 x8, and Slot 2 two Gen3 x16 full-length slots plus one Gen3 x8
There is only one FlexibleLOM connector, and it is the slot you are not spending. A FlexibleLOM adapter leaves the PCIe risers free for storage controllers and other cards, but the server accepts just one. A build that wants both 10 Gigabit and extra Gigabit ports will use the connector for one of them and a riser slot for the other.
FlexibleLOM or PCIe Card?
| FlexibleLOM | PCIe stand-up card | |
|---|---|---|
| What it uses | The FlexibleLOM connector | One PCIe slot on a riser |
| How many per server | One | As many as the risers carry |
| Stocked at 1Gb | 331FLR, 366FLR, four ports each | 331T four-port, 361T, 332T |
| Stocked at 10Gb | 533FLR-T, 534FLR-SFP+, 556FLR-SFP+, 560FLR-SFP+, 561FLR-T | 530SFP, 530T, 560SFP+, 561T, 570SFP+ |
The FlexibleLOM is the cheaper upgrade in slot terms, because it does not consume a riser slot that a controller or a fibre channel card might need. But there is exactly one of them, so a server that wants both 10 Gigabit and extra Gigabit ports will spend the connector on one of those and a PCIe slot on the other.
Choosing the Right DL388 Gen9 Network Adapter
- Count what you already have. Four embedded Gigabit ports cover a lot of ground; an adapter earns its place when the need is 10 Gigabit, fibre, or more ports than four.
- Match the media, not just the speed. A -T adapter is RJ-45 copper and an SFP or SFP+ adapter needs transceivers or direct attach cables, which are separate parts from the card.
- Budget the memory. Two gigabytes of server memory is required per adapter fitted, so a pair of cards assumes headroom in the memory configuration.
- Check the slot before the card. A full-length card needs a full-length slot, and the second riser's slots belong to the second processor.
Complete Your DL388 Gen9 Build
Adapters have a memory cost, so check DL388 Gen9 memory alongside this page, and the riser slots are shared with DL388 Gen9 storage controllers. Also available: DL388 Gen9 drives, processors and power supplies, or the full DL388 Gen9 parts listing and the wider parts by server model index.
DL388 Gen9 Networking Adapters FAQ
How many network ports does a DL388 Gen9 have as standard?
Four. The chassis ships with four embedded 1Gb Ethernet ports, and a FlexibleLOM adapter or a PCIe card adds to them rather than replacing them.
What is a FlexibleLOM and how many can I fit?
It is an HPE adapter format that plugs into a dedicated connector instead of a PCIe slot. Only one FlexibleLOM can be added to the server, though the adapter in it can be swapped later.
Does the DL388 Gen9 support 10 Gigabit Ethernet?
Yes, in either format. The 533FLR-T, 534FLR-SFP+, 556FLR-SFP+, 560FLR-SFP+ and 561FLR-T are FlexibleLOM adapters, and the 530SFP, 530T, 560SFP+, 561T and 570SFP+ are PCIe cards.
Do 10GbE adapters need extra memory?
A minimum of two gigabytes of server memory is required for each adapter installed, so two cards in one server assume the memory configuration has room for them.
Are transceivers or cables included with SFP+ adapters?
No. SFP and SFP+ adapters need transceivers or direct attach copper cables, and those are separate parts from the adapter itself. The -T adapters use ordinary RJ-45 copper instead.
Should I choose a FlexibleLOM or a PCIe card?
Take the FlexibleLOM first if the connector is free, because it leaves the riser slots for storage controllers and other cards. Use a PCIe card when the FlexibleLOM is already occupied or when more than one adapter is needed.
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