Intel OCP 3.0 - QSFP28 x 1 Ethernet Network Adapter

Overview

The Intel E810CQDA1OCPV3 is an OCP 3.0 Ethernet network adapter designed to provide a single server with up to 100 gigabits per second of bandwidth through one QSFP28 port. It is built for modern data centers that require handling heavier traffic, larger datasets, and diverse applications without sacrificing performance. Featuring the Intel Ethernet Controller E810 and a PCIe 4.0 host interface, this adapter ensures fast packet transfer between the network and server CPUs or GPUs, reducing I/O bottlenecks in virtualization hosts, high-performance storage nodes, and AI inference systems.

Key features

• Delivers up to 100 Gbps Ethernet bandwidth to support traffic-heavy and data-intensive applications
• Single QSFP28 port compatible with direct-attach copper, active optical cables, and optical transceivers for flexible cabling options
• PCIe 4.0 interface reduces latency and maximizes throughput for demanding workloads
• Intel Ethernet Controller E810 provides consistent and reliable network performance
• Supports RDMA via iWARP and RoCEv2 to offload data movement, lowering CPU usage and improving response times
• Dynamic Device Personalization allows fine-tuning of packet handling to optimize network traffic for specific protocols
• Application Device Queues assign dedicated queues to critical workloads, maintaining low jitter and predictable throughput even under heavy multi-tenant or containerized environments
• OCP 3.0 form factor enables tool-less, hot-swap installation in compatible server sleds for easy deployment and maintenance
• Compatible with iSCSI and NFS protocols to facilitate fast storage fabrics over Ethernet without additional hardware

Key specs

• Bandwidth: up to 100 Gbps
• Port type: 1 x QSFP28
• Host interface: PCIe 4.0
• Controller: Intel Ethernet Controller E810
• RDMA support: iWARP and RoCEv2
• Form factor: OCP 3.0
• Supported protocols: iSCSI, NFS

Connectivity and compatibility

This network adapter supports a variety of cabling options through its QSFP28 port, including direct-attach copper cables, active optical cables, and optical transceivers. This flexibility allows it to integrate seamlessly into different data center cabling strategies. The PCIe 4.0 interface ensures compatibility with modern server platforms, providing high-speed connectivity to CPUs and GPUs. Additionally, support for iSCSI and NFS protocols enables the adapter to be used in storage over Ethernet deployments, making it suitable for building fast and efficient storage fabrics.

Performance and reliability

The combination of the Intel Ethernet Controller E810 and PCIe 4.0 host interface delivers low latency and high throughput, essential for environments where performance consistency is critical. RDMA support via iWARP and RoCEv2 offloads data transfer tasks from the CPU, reducing processing overhead and improving response times for real-time analytics, distributed databases, and AI workloads. Features like Dynamic Device Personalization and Application Device Queues help maintain predictable network performance by optimizing packet handling and isolating critical workloads, even in complex multi-tenant or containerized setups.

Installation and setup

The OCP 3.0 form factor allows for straightforward installation without tools, sliding easily into compatible server sleds. This design supports hot-swap capabilities, minimizing downtime during upgrades or replacements. Once installed, the adapter integrates with existing network and storage infrastructures, supporting common protocols like iSCSI and NFS to simplify storage fabric deployment over Ethernet. This ease of setup makes it a practical choice for data centers aiming to scale or refresh their networking hardware efficiently.

Ideal uses and environments

This network adapter is well suited to data centers and enterprise environments that demand high bandwidth and low latency. It fits particularly well in virtualization hosts, cloud platforms managing multi-tenant workloads, AI training clusters, and high-performance computing (HPC) setups. Its ability to handle large datasets and diverse applications without performance degradation makes it a strong choice for organizations focused on scaling compute-intensive tasks while maintaining network efficiency and reliability.