HPE ProLiant SL270s Gen8 Networking Adapters
Genuine HPE Ethernet server adapters and FlexibleLOM cards for the HPE ProLiant SL270s Gen8, new and refurbished. The tray already carries two Gigabit ports on an embedded 361i adapter, and it has exactly two positions for anything else: one FlexibleLOM slot and one low-profile PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot — the other eight slots are PCIe 3.0 x16 and reserved for accelerators.
SL270s Gen8 Networking Specifications
- Embedded networking: an HPE Ethernet 1Gb 2-port 361i adapter on the Intel I350 controller, two RJ-45 ports at 10, 100 or 1000Base-T
- Management port: a separate dedicated 1Gb HPE iLO 4 port, independent of the two data ports
- PCI Express slot: one low-profile PCIe 3.0 x8 slot, half-length and half-height, with front panel access
- FlexibleLOM slot: one PCIe 3.0 x8 FlexibleLOM position, also front accessed, taking 1 Gigabit, 10 Gigabit or InfiniBand cards depending on workload
- Accelerator slots: all eight remaining slots are PCIe 3.0 x16, full-length and full-height, and are GPU only
- InfiniBand: 4X QDR and FDR host channel adapters, including ConnectX-3 544QSFP and 544FLR-QSFP cards that need no InfiniBand enablement kit — listed on the parts page rather than in this category
- Cables: direct attach copper for copper environments, or transceivers and fibre for optical runs, purchased separately
There are only two positions for a network card in this tray. One low-profile PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot, half-length and half-height, and one FlexibleLOM. The other eight slots are PCIe 3.0 x16 and GPU only, so a standard-height adapter has nowhere to go however well it matches on speed — and spending the FlexibleLOM on 10 Gigabit leaves the PCIe slot free.
Which Position Should the Card Go In?
| What you need | Where it goes | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| More Gigabit copper ports | The low-profile PCIe 3.0 x8 slot | Two-port and four-port Gigabit server adapters |
| 10 Gigabit over SFP+ or copper | Either position | The FlexibleLOM keeps the PCIe slot free for something else |
| InfiniBand FDR or QDR | Either position | ConnectX-3 544QSFP and 544FLR-QSFP need no enablement kit |
| A full-height or full-length card | Nowhere | The x16 slots are GPU only; the PCIe slot is half-height |
On a tray with only two general-purpose positions, the FlexibleLOM is the one to spend first: it reaches the same 10 Gigabit and InfiniBand speeds as the PCIe slot without consuming it. Two cards also carry a documented pairing restriction — HPE lists the 561T and the 561FLR-T for use with M2070 and M2090 GPU kits — so on a tray running other accelerators, or none, a different 10 Gigabit card is the safer order.
Choosing the Right SL270s Gen8 Network Adapter
- Count positions, not ports. One low-profile PCIe slot and one FlexibleLOM is the whole budget, because the eight x16 slots will not take a network card.
- Low profile is a requirement, not a preference. The PCIe slot is half-length and half-height, so a standard-height adapter is the wrong part however well it matches on speed.
- Check the 561T and 561FLR-T pairing note. HPE documents both as pairing with M2070 and M2090 GPU kits, which is a narrower condition than the rest of the 10 Gigabit range.
- Cables and transceivers are separate. SFP+ and QSFP cards ship bare: direct attach copper for short runs, transceivers and fibre for longer ones.
- The two onboard ports may be enough. If the requirement is management and a modest data path rather than bandwidth, the embedded 361i and the dedicated iLO 4 port already cover it.
Complete Your SL270s Gen8 Build
An adapter and an accelerator compete for the same tray, so check the slot plan against SL270s Gen8 processors before committing a position. Also available: SL270s Gen8 memory, drives, storage controllers and rack options, or the full SL270s Gen8 parts listing, where the InfiniBand host channel adapters are found, and the HPE parts by server model index.
SL270s Gen8 Networking Adapters FAQ
How many network ports does an SL270s Gen8 have as standard?
Two. An embedded HPE Ethernet 1Gb 2-port 361i adapter provides two RJ-45 ports, and a separate dedicated 1Gb port serves iLO 4 management.
How many slots are free for a network card?
Two: one low-profile PCI Express 3.0 x8 slot and one FlexibleLOM position. The other eight slots are PCIe 3.0 x16 and reserved for accelerators.
Does the SL270s Gen8 support 10 Gigabit Ethernet?
Yes, in either the PCIe slot or the FlexibleLOM position. Using the FlexibleLOM leaves the single low-profile PCIe slot available for something else.
Can I fit a full-height network card?
No. The expansion slot is half-length and half-height with front panel access, so the adapter has to be a low-profile part.
Are cables or transceivers included with SFP+ adapters?
No. Direct attach copper cables for copper environments, and transceivers plus fibre for optical ones, are purchased separately.
Does the SL270s Gen8 take InfiniBand?
Yes. 4X QDR and FDR host channel adapters are listed for this tray, including ConnectX-3 544QSFP and 544FLR-QSFP cards that require no InfiniBand enablement kit. They appear on the parts page rather than in this category.
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