United States
Q
What are HPE modules and cards?
A
HPE modules and cards are purpose-built hardware components that extend networking, storage and management capabilities in HPE ProLiant, Synergy and BladeSystem servers.
Q
Which types of network adapters does HPE offer?
A
HPE offers Ethernet adapters (1GbE to 100GbE), converged network adapters (CNA), fiber channel host bus adapters (HBA) and flexible LOM (FlexLOM) network modules for diverse performance and connectivity needs.
Q
How do I choose the right HPE network card for my server?
A
Select an HPE network card based on required bandwidth, form factor (PCIe, mezzanine or FlexLOM), protocol support (Ethernet, Fibre Channel) and compatibility with your server generation, as validated in the HPE QuickSpecs.
Q
Are HPE modules and cards hot-swappable?
A
Most HPE PCIe and FlexLOM network adapters require a server power-off cycle, while blade mezzanine and certain hot-plug I/O modules support hot-swap; always consult the server maintenance guide.
Q
How do I install an HPE mezzanine card?
A
Power off the server, release the blade tray, align the mezzanine card with the mezzanine slot, seat firmly until the retention latch clicks, then reassemble and power on.
Q
What is an HPE FlexLOM adapter?
A
An HPE FlexLOM adapter is a proprietary, hot-pluggable mezzanine-style network card that delivers flexible network bandwidth options and can be field-upgraded without changing the server backplane.
Q
Can HPE modules and cards be used across different ProLiant generations?
A
HPE modules and cards are optimized per server generation; always confirm cross-generation compatibility using HPE QuickSpecs or the HPE Server Options Matrix.
Q
How do I update firmware on HPE modules and cards?
A
Use HPE Service Pack for ProLiant (SPP) or HPE Intelligent Provisioning to apply validated firmware bundles to network, storage and management modules in a single operation.
Q
What performance benefits do HPE 10GbE adapters deliver?
A
HPE 10GbE adapters offer up to tenfold improvement in network throughput, reduced CPU overhead with TCP offload engines and advanced features like RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE).
Q
Do HPE network cards support SR-IOV?
A
Yes, many HPE Ethernet and Converged Network Adapters support Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) for direct VM network access and lower hypervisor overhead.
Q
How does HPE ensure compatibility of modules and cards?
A
HPE maintains compatibility through validated server-option matrices, rigorous interoperability testing and detailed QuickSpecs that list supported configurations.
Q
What warranty covers HPE modules and cards?
A
HPE modules and cards are covered under the server’s standard warranty or optional warranty upgrades, typically offering one- to three-year parts and labor coverage.
Q
How can I optimize HPE network cards for virtualization?
A
Enable SR-IOV, VM-direct passthrough and traffic steering features in the HPE adapter firmware and configure switch-level settings for network segmentation and QoS.
Q
Where can I find HPE module and card part numbers?
A
Locate part numbers in the HPE QuickSpecs, server maintenance guide or HPE Parts Store online by searching your server model and desired module type.
Q
What latency can I expect from HPE Fibre Channel modules?
A
HPE Fibre Channel modules deliver sub-microsecond latency for block-level storage traffic, ensuring consistent high-performance SAN connectivity.
Q
How do I monitor the health of HPE modules and cards?
A
Use HPE Integrated Lights-Out (iLO) or HPE OneView to view real-time status, firmware versions, error logs and performance metrics for all installed modules and adapters.
