HPE ProLiant DL980 G7 Networking Adapters
Genuine HPE Ethernet server adapters for the HPE ProLiant DL980 G7, new and refurbished. Onboard networking comes from an SPI board rather than a fixed LOM, and which board is fitted decides what upgrades exist: the NC375i board accepts an optional dual-port 10GbE upgrade that replaces two of its 1G ports, while the 331i board does not support that upgrade at all.
DL980 G7 Networking Specifications
- Integrated networking: a choice of the HPE ProLiant DL980 NC375i or 331i SPI board, each presenting four RJ-45 network ports, alongside a separate iLO 3 management NIC
- 10GbE upgrade path: an optional dual-port 10GbE upgrade is available on the NC375i board and replaces two of its 1G ports; the 331i board does not support it
- Gigabit copper cards stocked: NC112T single port, NC360T dual port, NC364T quad port, NC375T quad port, NC365T four-port, and the NC382T dual-port Multifunction adapter
- 10 Gigabit cards stocked: NC522SFP, NC524SFP and NC550SFP dual-port SFP adapters
- Adapter limits: HPE documents up to four 10 Gigabit adapters per server under Windows Server 2008 R2 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and up to eight NC550SFP under Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server; the parts listing caps the NC364T at five
- 10GbE requirements: a minimum of 2GB of server memory per adapter, with direct attach copper cables or fibre transceivers and cables bought separately
The SPI board decides what upgrades exist. An NC375i board takes the optional dual-port 10GbE upgrade that replaces two of its 1G ports, and takes the 512MB mini DIMM that enables TCP/IP Offload Engine support for Windows. A 331i board supports neither, so 10 Gigabit there has to come from a PCIe adapter.
Which upgrade does your SPI board allow?
| Onboard option | Ports | What it allows |
|---|---|---|
| NC375i SPI board | 4 RJ-45 Gigabit | Takes the optional dual-port 10GbE upgrade, which replaces two 1G ports, and takes the mini DIMM that enables TOE for Windows |
| 331i SPI board | 4 RJ-45 Gigabit | No 10GbE upgrade — 10 Gigabit here means an add-in card |
| Add-in SFP adapter | 2 x 10GbE | Needs 2GB of server memory per adapter, plus cables or transceivers bought separately |
Establish which SPI board the machine has before shopping, because it changes the answer twice over. On an NC375i server the cheapest route to 10 Gigabit may be the onboard upgrade rather than a card, and the mini DIMM module turns on TCP/IP offload for Windows on ports you already own. On a 331i server neither exists, and every 10 Gigabit port comes out of the PCIe budget.
Choosing the Right DL980 G7 Network Adapter
- Identify the SPI board first. It decides whether the onboard 10GbE upgrade and the TOE mini DIMM are options for your server at all.
- Budget memory for 10 Gigabit. HPE calls for a minimum of 2GB of server memory per 10GbE adapter fitted, which is rarely a constraint on this platform but is a documented requirement.
- Watch the per-card maximums. The parts listing caps the NC364T quad-port at five per server, and HPE's 10 Gigabit limits depend on the operating system as well as the card.
- Cables and transceivers are separate. SFP cards ship bare: direct attach copper for short runs, or transceivers and fibre for longer ones.
- Count the slots you have, not the slots the chassis supports. Eleven full height slots and five low profile is the maximum with I/O expansion kits fitted; the base backplane offers far fewer.
Complete Your DL980 G7 Build
Ten Gigabit adapters carry a documented memory requirement, so check DL980 G7 memory alongside this page, and note that storage cards compete for the same slots — see DL980 G7 storage controllers. Also available: DL980 G7 hard drives, processors and power supplies, or the full DL980 G7 parts listing, and every model is listed under HPE parts by server model.
DL980 G7 Networking Adapters FAQ
How many network ports does a DL980 G7 have as standard?
Four RJ-45 Gigabit ports, provided by either the HPE ProLiant DL980 NC375i SPI board or the 331i SPI board. A separate port serves iLO 3 remote management.
Can I get 10 Gigabit Ethernet without an add-in card?
Only on the NC375i SPI board, which takes an optional dual-port 10GbE upgrade that replaces two of its 1G ports. The 331i SPI board does not support that upgrade, so 10 Gigabit there means a PCIe adapter.
How many 10GbE adapters can a DL980 G7 take?
HPE documents up to four 10 Gigabit adapters per server under Windows Server 2008 R2 and Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and up to eight NC550SFP adapters under Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server.
Do 10GbE adapters need extra memory?
HPE documents a minimum of two gigabytes of server memory for each 10 Gigabit adapter installed.
What does the mini DIMM module do?
Plugged into the integrated NC375i quad-port Multifunction Gigabit adapter, the 512MB mini DIMM module enables TCP/IP Offload Engine support for Windows on the onboard ports.
Are cables included with SFP adapters?
No. Direct attach copper cables for copper environments, and fibre transceivers and cables for fibre-optic environments, are purchased separately from the adapter.
✅ Looking for a specific DL980 G7 network adapter? Browse our full selection below.
Browse all models
Why Global One?
- Trusted by thousands. Over 36,000 customers in 100+ countries trust Global One Technology to deliver mission-critical HP Enterprise hardware - including Fortune 500 businesses, schools, hospitals, and federal, state, and local goverment agencies.
- HPE is our specialty! We only sell genuine HP Enterprise parts.
- EASY ordering process. Purchase online now with credit card or PayPal!
- FAST shipping. Global One Technology ships orders received by 4pm ET the same day and offers NEXT DAY delivery to US customers.
