HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 Networking Adapters

The DL385 Gen11 takes network adapters in its two OCP 3.0 slots and in up to eight PCIe 5.0 slots on three risers, of which slots 4 to 8 need the second processor. No embedded network ports; networking comes from an OCP or stand-up PCIe card. HPE's QuickSpecs have listed 37 network adapters (Ethernet and InfiniBand) and 8 Fibre Channel HBAs for it across editions.

  • 45 adapters
  • 1GbE to 200GbE · 32 and 64Gb Fibre Channel
  • New and refurbished
  • Tested or factory sealed

From the HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 QuickSpecs (a50004300enw, version 50, 02-November-2026).

Slot map

Where each adapter goes in a DL385 Gen11

OCP 3.0
Two OCP 3.0 slots under the risers, OCP1 and OCP2, each x8 as standard and x16 with an OCP upgrade cable kit pp. 5, 16, 66
Built-in ports
None p. 15
Primary riser
Slots 1–3: PCIe 5.0 x16, x16, x16 (slot 1 with P57890-B21; slot 2 with P57890-B21). On processor 1. + 1 other riser HPE lists for this position pp. 4, 10–11
Secondary riser
Secondary riser, processor 2: slots 4 to 6, PCIe 5.0 x16, full-height half-length. + 3 other risers HPE lists for this position pp. 4, 11–12
Tertiary riser
Slots 7–8 (riser kit P57893-B21): PCIe 5.0 x16, x16. Needs processor 2. + 1 other riser HPE lists for this position pp. 4, 12–13
HPE's words for each line
  • OCP 3.0 “OCP 3.0 slot 1 (underneath)” (page 5) “OCP 3.0 slot 2 (underneath)” (page 5) “This cable kit upgrades OCP1 from x8 to x16 and OCP2 from x8 to x16.” (page 66) “OCP 3.0 SFF NIC Support.” (page 16)
  • Built-in ports “Network Ports None. Choice of OCP or stand-up card” (page 15)
  • Primary riser “Primary riser: PCIe slots 1–3 (top to bottom)” (page 4) “Default: one x16 slot only (slot 3).” (page 10) “3 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full-height, half-length slot Processor 1” (page 10) “1 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full-height, half-length slot Processor 1.” (page 11) “2 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full-height, half-length slot Processor 1.” (page 11) “Supported with P57890-B21” (page 11)
  • Secondary riser “Secondary riser: PCIe slots 4–6 (top to bottom)” (page 4) “6 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full-height, half-length slot Processor 2” (page 11) “4 PCIe 5.0 x16 x16 Full-height, half-length Processor” (page 12) “There are five secondary riser configurations:” (page 11)
  • Tertiary riser “Tertiary riser: PCIe slots 7–8 (top to bottom, not shown).” (page 4) “7 PCIe 5.0 X16 X16 Full-height, half-length Proc 2” (page 13) “8 PCIe 5.0 X16 X16 Full-height, half-length Proc 2” (page 13) “There is one type of Tertiary riser configuration by selecting HPE DL385 Gen11 2x16 Tertiary FIO Riser Kit (P57893-B21).” (page 12)

From the HPE ProLiant DL385 Gen11 QuickSpecs (a50004300enw, version 50, 02-November-2026).

All DL385 Gen11 network adapters

The network adapters HPE's QuickSpecs have listed for the DL385 Gen11 across editions, grouped by slot and type. In each group the adapters in stock come first, then the ones our customers order most.

OCP 3.0 or PCIe on the DL385 Gen11?

OCP 3.0PCIe adapter
How manyTwo OCP 3.0 slots under the risers, OCP1 and OCP2, each x8 as standard and x16 with an OCP upgrade cable kit.Up to eight PCIe 5.0 slots on three risers
What HPE has listed1GbE to 100GbE Ethernet; InfiniBand adapters1GbE to 200GbE Ethernet; InfiniBand adapters; 32 and 64Gb Fibre Channel HBAs
Slot rulesThe Intel E810 100Gb (P22767-B21) and Broadcom BCM57504 4-port (P26269-B21) OCP3 adapters need an OCP upgrade cable kit; with the 32EDSFF x4 Direct Attach kit no OCP card fits, as its re-timer cards use both OCP slots.Slots 4 to 8 need the second processor.
How to tell from the nameOCP3 in the nameNo OCP3 in the name

How to choose a DL385 Gen11 network adapter

Rule 1

Decide the OCP 3.0 adapter first

The Intel E810 100Gb (P22767-B21) and Broadcom BCM57504 4-port (P26269-B21) OCP3 adapters need an OCP upgrade cable kit; with the 32EDSFF x4 Direct Attach kit no OCP card fits, as its re-timer cards use both OCP slots.

HPE: “When the 32EDSFF x4 DA FIO Kit is configured, no OCP card can be supported because this FIO Kit includes two OCP re-timer cards which provide PCIe lanes for EDSFF drives.” (page 46)

Rule 2

Match the cabling to the switch

DAC cables or fiber transceivers and cables are bought separately.

HPE: “Direct Attach Cable (DAC) for copper environments or fiber transceivers and cables for fiber- optic environments must be purchased separately.” (page 63)

Rule 3

Count the processors

Slots 4 to 8 need the second processor.

HPE: “This requires the 2nd processor.” (page 47)

Rule 4

Plan the server memory

With processors of 300 W cTDP or more, a 24SFF, 12LFF, 36EDSFF, 48SFF or GPU front end and more than twelve 256 GB DIMMs, the adapters P31324-B21, P45641-B21, P45642-B21, P26269-B21, P22767-B21, P31323-B21 and P31348-B21 cannot be chosen, unless Direct Liquid Cooling is configured, which HPE says lifts the 256 GB DIMM restrictions.

HPE: “When processor cTDP >= 300 W, and server front-end configurations are any of 24SFF, 12LFF, 36EDSFF, 48SFF or GPU, and 256 GB DIMMs quantity is more than twelve, then below NIC cards cannot be selected due to thermal:” (page 28)

DL385 Gen11 adapter questions

How many network adapters can a DL385 Gen11 take?

The DL385 Gen11 takes network adapters in its two OCP 3.0 slots and in up to eight PCIe 5.0 slots on three risers, of which slots 4 to 8 need the second processor. One PCIe slot as standard (primary slot 3) on the 8 SFF, 8 LFF and 12 EDSFF servers and two (primary and secondary) on the GPU and 48 SFF servers; the 8 SFF, 8 LFF, 12 EDSFF and 48 SFF servers take up to eight with two processors; bus width is the electrical lane count. The Intel E810 100Gb (P22767-B21) and Broadcom BCM57504 4-port (P26269-B21) OCP3 adapters need an OCP upgrade cable kit; with the 32EDSFF x4 Direct Attach kit no OCP card fits, as its re-timer cards use both OCP slots.

Does the DL385 Gen11 have network ports built in?

No embedded network ports; networking comes from an OCP or stand-up PCIe card. Every CTO server (8 SFF, 8 LFF, 12 EDSFF, GPU and 48 SFF) takes its network controller as an OCP or PCIe stand-up card, and Network Choice models do not include embedded LOM.

Are cables or transceivers included?

DAC cables or fiber transceivers and cables are bought separately. HPE: “Direct Attach Cable (DAC) for copper environments or fiber transceivers and cables for fiber- optic environments must be purchased separately.” (page 63).

Do I need the second processor for more adapters?

Slots 4 to 8 need the second processor. Slots 1 to 3 run from processor 1. HPE: “This requires the 2nd processor.” (page 47).

What do “QuickSpecs version 50” and “earlier HPE edition” mean on the list?

An adapter tagged “Listed in QuickSpecs version 50” is in version 50 of HPE's QuickSpecs for the DL385 Gen11, the edition this page is built from. One tagged “Listed in an earlier HPE edition” was listed for this server in an earlier edition of HPE's QuickSpecs and is not in version 50.

Which Fibre Channel HBAs does HPE list for the DL385 Gen11?

HPE lists Emulex and QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs (32Gb SN1610E/SN1610Q and 64Gb SN1700E/SN1700Q, 1- and 2-port) under HPE Storage Options. HPE's QuickSpecs list 8 Fibre Channel HBAs for it, by model: Emulex SN1610E and SN1700E; QLogic SN1610Q and SN1700Q. They are in the Fibre Channel HBAs section of this page.

What if the adapter I need is out of stock?

Out of stock today does not mean unavailable: we can often source this part. Add it to a quote request and we reply with current pricing and availability. Every message, quotes included, is answered within 24 hours.

More for the DL385 Gen11

DL385 Gen11 storage controllersDL385 Gen11 drivesDL385 Gen11 memoryDL385 Gen11 processorsDL385 Gen11 power suppliesAll DL385 Gen11 partsDL380 Gen11 networking adaptersDL360 Gen11 networking adaptersDL385 Gen10 Plus v2 adapters

Most ordered for the DL385 Gen11

The adapters on this page our customers order most, for any server. Each card shows only while the store has it in stock.

OCP 3.0 adapters

10 adapters

Two OCP 3.0 slots under the risers, OCP1 and OCP2, each x8 as standard and x16 with an OCP upgrade cable kit.

PCIe Ethernet adapters

17 adapters

Stand-up cards for the PCIe slots.

InfiniBand and Omni-Path adapters

10 adapters

Under HPE InfiniBand HPE lists the InfiniBand NDR200 200Gb (P45642-H23) and NDR 400Gb (P45641-H24) OSFP PCIe5 x16 adapters and notes that all InfiniBand options need six performance fan kits; after the InfiniBand temperature table it limits the cards to PCIe slots 1, 4, 5, 6 and 7 and bases the temperatures on HPE AOC cables.

  • P23665-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR100/Ethernet 100Gb 1-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 MCX653105A-ECAT Adapter100Gb1 portQSFP56PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in an earlier HPE edition
  • P23666-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR100/Ethernet 100Gb 2-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 MCX653106A-ECAT Adapter100Gb2 portsQSFP56PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P23664-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR/Ethernet 200Gb 1-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 MCX653105A-HDAT Adapter200Gb1 portQSFP56PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P45642-B21HPE InfiniBand NDR200 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-HEAT Adapter1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P31323-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR/Ethernet 200Gb 1-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 OCP3 MCX653435A-HDAI Adapter200Gb1 portQSFP56OCP 3.0InfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P31324-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR/Ethernet 200Gb 2-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 MCX653106A-HDAT Adapter200Gb2 portsQSFP56PCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P31348-B21HPE InfiniBand HDR/Ethernet 200Gb 2-port QSFP56 PCIe4 x16 OCP3 MCX653436A-HDAI Adapter200Gb2 portsQSFP56OCP 3.0InfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P45642-H23HPE InfiniBand NDR200/Ethernet 200Gb 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-HEAT Generic Adapter200Gb1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P45641-B21HPE InfiniBand NDR 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-NEAT AdapterInfiniBand NDR1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50
  • P45641-H24HPE InfiniBand NDR/Ethernet 400Gb 1-port OSFP PCIe5 x16 MCX75310AAS-NEAT Generic Adapter400Gb1 portOSFPPCIeInfiniBand / Omni-PathListed in QuickSpecs version 50

Kits and risers HPE lists for these slots

2 kits

Parts that go with the adapters in these slots. They are not counted with the adapters, and the filters leave them out.

Fibre Channel HBAs for the DL385 Gen11

HPE lists Emulex and QLogic Fibre Channel HBAs (32Gb SN1610E/SN1610Q and 64Gb SN1700E/SN1700Q, 1- and 2-port) under HPE Storage Options. QuickSpecs page 62

Fibre Channel host bus adapters

8 HBAs
Ships same dayMost orders ship the same business day
1-year warrantyReplacement coverage on every part
5,000+ five-star reviewsShopper Approved, BBB A+ rating
Ships to 120+ countriesBy UPS; duties are collected by the carrier

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