Intel XL710-QDA2 Dual-Port 40GbE QSFP+ Adapter

Brand: Intel | Category: Transceivers & Cables

SKU: INTELXL710QDA2DUALPORT40GBEQSFPPL | Part #: XL710-QDA2 | MPN: XL710-QDA2

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When you're building or upgrading a high-performance data centre network, the interface type, speed rating, and reach specification determine whether a network adapter will work with your switching fabric. The Intel XL710-QDA2 is a dual-port 40GbE QSFP+ adapter card that fits directly into a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot and delivers 40 gigabits per second on each port over standard QSFP+ optics. This is a short-range SR interface designed for direct connections within your rack and across nearby switch fabric—typical reach of 100 metres over OM4 multimode fibre. If your data centre or enterprise lab is standardizing on 40GbE Ethernet with QSFP+ connectivity, the XL710-QDA2 is the Intel server-side adapter that makes that infrastructure work reliably.

Intel has been manufacturing the XL710 series for years, and this particular SKU—the XL710-QDA2—remains the workhorse card in thousands of deployed server clusters across the GCC, Europe, and Asia. The card supports Ethernet, RoCE (RDMA over Converged Ethernet), and iWARP protocols, which means it functions equally well in standard IP networks and in low-latency RDMA fabrics used by AI labs, financial trading desks, and research institutions. The dual-port design gives you two independent 40GbE connections, allowing you to split traffic, implement network redundancy, or bond the links for aggregated throughput. Each port draws power independently, and the card's total power envelope sits well under 25 watts maximum—modest enough that thermal management in modern server platforms is not a constraint. Network engineers and infrastructure architects value Intel adapters precisely because the driver and firmware ecosystem is mature, documentation is comprehensive, and interoperability testing with major switching vendors (Cisco, Arista, Juniper, Mellanox) has been done at scale.

From a physical standpoint, the XL710-QDA2 occupies a standard full-height, full-length PCIe card slot. It connects to your server's PCIe 3.0 bus at x8 lanes, which provides sufficient bandwidth for dual 40GbE streams without bottlenecking. The operating range spans 0°C to 55°C, suitable for both air-cooled and some liquid-cooled server environments, and the card tolerates ambient humidity between 10 and 90 percent non-condensing. In practice, this means the adapter works in standard data-centre conditions and does not require exotic environmental controls. Installation is straightforward: slot the card, secure it to the chassis, connect QSFP+ optics (typically QSFP+-SR transceivers for short-reach deployments), and configure the Intel drivers in your operating system. Support for current Linux kernels, Windows Server editions, and hypervisor platforms like VMware and KVM is well-established, so you are unlikely to face driver gaps when deploying into production.

The decision to standardize on Intel XL710 adapters often flows from system architects and network engineers who are evaluating total cost of ownership and operational risk. When you are provisioning hundreds of servers for a data-centre refresh or spinning up an AI inference cluster, choosing a mature, widely-supported adapter card reduces the risk of driver issues, firmware surprises, or compatibility problems with your switch infrastructure. The Intel XL710-QDA2 pairs well with 40GbE switches from vendors like Cisco Nexus 5000 or 9000 series, Arista 7050 series, or Juniper QFX platforms. Storage architects also favour Intel adapters when building high-speed NAS or block-storage appliances because the RoCE support enables microsecond-level latency improvements over standard Ethernet, which directly improves application performance in database and analytics workloads. If you are a sysadmin responsible for network provisioning, or a storage architect evaluating hardware for your next-generation infrastructure, the XL710-QDA2 is a proven, vendor-neutral choice that ships with enterprise-grade support from Intel and strong ecosystem backing.

Omnixon Global stocks the XL710-QDA2 and maintains inventory of Intel networking adapters across our Dubai hub and regional distribution partners throughout the UAE, GCC, and beyond. We serve data-centre operators, system integrators, AI infrastructure teams, and enterprise IT departments who require reliable, documented, and immediately available hardware for production deployments. If you are planning a network upgrade, expanding capacity, or refreshing your server fleet, we invite you to request a formal quotation and discuss your specific requirements with our technical team. Contact us with your Bill of Materials, deployment timeline, and any special requirements, and we will provide competitive pricing, technical clarification, and lead-time confirmation.

Interface & Connectivity Specifications

• Dual QSFP+ ports rated for 40GbE, short-reach SR optics with 100-metre reach over OM4 fibre
• PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface; compatible with current-generation and legacy Intel Xeon server platforms
• Supports Ethernet, RoCE v1 and v2, and iWARP protocols for flexible fabric deployment
• Maximum power consumption 25 watts; operates within 0°C to 55°C ambient temperature range
• Standard full-height PCIe card form factor; no special mounting hardware or thermal solutions required
• Mature driver and firmware support across Linux, Windows Server, VMware vSphere, KVM, and Hyper-V platforms
• Production-validated compatibility with major switch vendors including Cisco, Arista, Juniper, and Mellanox fabric platforms