HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 Networking Adapters

Genuine HPE network adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11, new and refurbished, tested for compatibility before shipping. The server ships with four 1GbE ports on the motherboard and has exactly two places to add more: one PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one OCP 3.0 slot. HPE lists eight PCIe adapters and seven OCP adapters for them, from 1GbE BASE-T to 25GbE SFP28.

DL20 Gen11 Networking Adapter Specifications

• Embedded: Broadcom BCM5719 Ethernet 1Gb 4-port BASE-T adapter on the motherboard; port 1 is shared between iLO and production data unless the optional dedicated iLO port is fitted
• Slots: one PCIe 5.0 x16 full-height half-length slot on CPU 1, and one external OCP 3.0 slot with an x4 connection on the PCH
• Limits: HPE states a maximum of one PCIe adapter and a maximum of one OCP networking adapter
• PCIe adapters listed: 10/25GbE SFP28 — Broadcom BCM57414 2-port and BCM57504 4-port, Intel E810-XXVDA2 2-port and E810-XXVDA4 4-port, Mellanox MCX631102AS-ADAT 2-port; 10GbE — Broadcom BCM57416 2-port BASE-T and BCM57412 2-port SFP+; 1GbE — Broadcom BCM5719 4-port BASE-T
• OCP 3.0 adapters listed: 10/25GbE SFP28 — Intel E810-XXVDA2 2-port, Broadcom BCM57414 2-port and BCM57504 4-port, Mellanox MCX631432AS-ADAI 2-port; 10GbE — Broadcom BCM57416 2-port BASE-T and BCM57412 2-port SFP+; 1GbE — Broadcom BCM5719 4-port BASE-T
• OCP cabling: the External OCP Cable Kit (P65411-B21) is required to support OCP networking adapters
• Not supported: networking SR-IOV, per HPE

One PCIe adapter, one OCP adapter, and the OCP one needs its cable kit. HPE limits the DL20 Gen11 to a maximum of one PCIe networking adapter and one OCP networking adapter, and requires the External OCP Cable Kit (P65411-B21) for the OCP slot. Fill the OCP slot first to keep the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot free, and plan without SR-IOV, which HPE states this server does not support.

PCIe or OCP 3.0 on the DL20 Gen11?

With one of each slot the practical maximum is two add-in adapters, and the OCP slot is the one to fill first: it costs nothing in PCIe capacity and the OCP3 versions of every listed card are the same silicon as their PCIe siblings. Note that the x4 OCP connection is narrower than the x16 PCIe slot; for a 4-port 25GbE card that is the difference between the two placements.

Choosing the Right DL20 Gen11 Networking Adapter

• Fill the OCP slot first. It leaves the server's only PCIe slot free, and HPE allows one adapter in each.
• Order the cable kit with an OCP adapter. HPE requires the External OCP Cable Kit (P65411-B21) for OCP networking adapters on this server.
• Match the port type to the switch. BASE-T for existing copper, SFP+ or SFP28 for DAC or optics — transceivers and cables are separate purchases.
• Count the slot, not the ports. A 4-port 25GbE card gives four uplinks from one slot; on a server with two slots that is the way to a high port count.
• Plan without SR-IOV. HPE states the DL20 Gen11 does not support networking SR-IOV; virtualization designs that depend on it need a different server.
• Remember the shared port. Embedded port 1 carries iLO traffic unless the Serial Port/iLO/M.2 Enablement Kit adds the dedicated iLO port.

Complete Your DL20 Gen11 Build

If the PCIe slot is spoken for by a network adapter, the OCP-form DL20 Gen11 storage controllers keep RAID off that slot. See also memory, drives and power supplies, or the full DL20 Gen11 parts listing for the OCP cable kit and the enablement kit that adds the dedicated iLO port. The same Broadcom, Intel and Mellanox adapters serve the DL320 Gen11 and the ML30 Gen11; the previous generation is under DL20 Gen10 networking adapters. The rest of the range is under HPE ProLiant DL rack server parts, and every model under HPE parts by server model.

DL20 Gen11 Networking Adapters FAQ

How many network adapters can I add to a DL20 Gen11?
Two: one PCIe adapter in the PCIe 5.0 x16 slot and one OCP 3.0 adapter in the OCP slot. HPE states a maximum of one of each. The server also has four embedded 1GbE ports.

Does the DL20 Gen11 support 25GbE?
Yes. HPE lists 10/25GbE SFP28 adapters in both forms: Broadcom BCM57414 and BCM57504, Intel E810-XXVDA2 and E810-XXVDA4, and Mellanox MCX631102AS-ADAT for PCIe, with OCP3 equivalents of the Broadcom, Intel E810-XXVDA2 and Mellanox cards.

Do I need anything else for an OCP network adapter in a DL20 Gen11?
Yes. HPE requires the HPE ProLiant DL20 Gen11 External OCP Cable Kit (P65411-B21) to support OCP networking adapters. Order it with the adapter.

Can I use an OCP storage controller and an OCP network adapter together in a DL20 Gen11?
Yes. The server has separate slots for each: an internal OROC slot for OCP storage controllers and an external OCP 3.0 slot for network adapters. HPE states the two options can be selected together.

Does the DL20 Gen11 support SR-IOV?
No. HPE states the ProLiant DL20 Gen11 system does not support networking SR-IOV. The listed adapters work as standard network interfaces on this server.

Which port is used for iLO on the DL20 Gen11?
Embedded network port 1 is shared between iLO and production data by default. A dedicated 1Gb iLO port is optional, provided by the DL20 Gen11 LP Serial Port/iLO/M.2 Enablement Kit.

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