Intel X520 (N2XX-AIPCI01) in a UCS server with Cisco SFP-10G-SR/LR optics
3
The poster planned to install an Intel X520 adapter (Cisco PID N2XX-AIPCI01) into a Cisco UCS C240 server and use Cisco SFP-10G-SR or SFP-10G-LR transceivers, and asked whether the combination has compatibility problems. A later reader asked whether the Cisco SFP-H10GB-CU3M= twinax cable would work with the card. The underlying issue is that Intel's ixgbe-based cards reject optics that are not Intel-branded unless the driver is explicitly told to allow unsupported modules.
- Hardware: Intel X520 (Cisco N2XX-AIPCI01), Cisco UCS C240 server
- Transceivers: SFP-10G-SR, SFP-10G-LR, CSP-SFP-1WSR=, SFP-H10GB-CU3M=
- Form factor: SFP+, DAC
Symptoms / messages:
Intel X520 refuses non-Intel SFP+ modules (unsupported SFP)
compatibility question before purchase
Comments 4
Cisco sells an X520-specific optic, CSP-SFP-1WSR= (SFP+ 10GE SR for Intel X520), listed on page 45 of the UCS C220 M4 spec sheet.
On Linux the ixgbe driver can be told to accept any module: create /etc/modprobe.d/ixgbe.conf with 'options ixgbe allow_unsupported_sfp=1,1' (one value per port); ESXi and Windows have no such option without specially modified drivers.
Intel X520 cards do not accept Cisco SFP+ modules; order Intel-branded SFP+ optics for them.
For twinax, Intel-branded DAC assemblies have worked with X520 cards; nobody confirmed the Cisco SFP-H10GB-CU3M= cable.