United States
Q
What are Broadcom Server Expansion Cards?
A
Broadcom Server Expansion Cards are high-performance add-in cards that provide advanced networking, storage, and I/O acceleration over PCIe interfaces to enhance server throughput, scalability, and reliability.
Q
Which Broadcom Expansion Card models support NVMe storage?
A
Broadcom’s NVMe-optimized cards, such as the SAS 3458 and NVMe Express 3.0 series, deliver multi-lane PCIe Gen4/5 connectivity and end-to-end data integrity for enterprise flash arrays.
Q
How do I verify compatibility with my server motherboard?
A
Check your server’s PCIe slot generation and lane count against the Broadcom card datasheet, ensuring BIOS support for the required PCIe version, form factor, and power budget.
Q
Can Broadcom Expansion Cards improve virtualized workloads?
A
Yes. Broadcom cards feature SR-IOV and hardware offload engines, reducing CPU overhead and latency to boost VM density and performance in VMware, Hyper-V, and KVM environments.
Q
What operating systems are supported by Broadcom Expansion Cards?
A
Broadcom provides certified drivers for Windows Server, major Linux distributions (RHEL, SUSE, Ubuntu), VMware ESXi, and FreeBSD, with regular updates via the Broadcom support portal.
Q
How do I install a Broadcom Server Expansion Card?
A
Power down the server, insert the card into a compatible PCIe slot, secure it to the chassis, connect required cables, then boot and install the latest Broadcom driver and firmware.
Q
What management tools are available for firmware updates?
A
Use Broadcom’s SANnav, MegaCLI, or BCM Utility to view card status, apply firmware patches, and configure advanced features through CLI or web-based interfaces.
Q
Do Broadcom Expansion Cards support RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE)?
A
Yes. Select Broadcom CNA models offer RoCE v2 support with lossless Ethernet features to enable low-latency, high-throughput RDMA for HPC and AI workloads.
Q
What power requirements should I plan for?
A
Refer to each card’s technical specifications; typical PCIe Gen4 cards draw between 15W and 25W, while high-density NVMe adapters may require 35W–45W and auxiliary power connectors.
Q
How do Broadcom cards enhance storage performance?
A
By offloading RAID, NVMe virtualization, and data compression tasks to dedicated hardware engines, Broadcom cards deliver lower latency, higher IOPS, and improved CPU efficiency.
Q
Can I use Broadcom cards in cloud and hybrid environments?
A
Yes. Broadcom expansion cards are certified for major cloud stacks and support multi-tenant isolation, secure boot, and firmware attestation to meet enterprise compliance standards.
Q
What warranty and support does Broadcom offer?
A
Broadcom provides a limited lifetime warranty for hardware defects, plus 24/7 technical support, firmware updates, and access to online resources via the Broadcom Support Portal.
Q
How do I choose between Broadcom HBA and RAID expansion cards?
A
Select HBA cards for straight-through host-to-drive connectivity with minimal overhead; choose RAID cards for built-in data protection, caching, and advanced RAID level management.
Q
Are Broadcom Server Expansion Cards hot-pluggable?
A
No. PCIe expansion cards must be installed or replaced with the server powered off to ensure proper seating, system stability, and PCIe enumeration on reboot.
Q
Where can I purchase genuine Broadcom Expansion Cards?
A
Authorized Broadcom distributors and resellers list on the Broadcom website offer genuine cards, backed by warranty, technical support, and volume pricing options.
Q
How do I troubleshoot driver or firmware issues?
A
Download the latest drivers and firmware from Broadcom’s support portal, review release notes, use built-in diagnostic utilities, and check server logs for error codes.
