Dell Brocade Adapters - Manual (Page 39)

Brocade Adapters Installation and Reference Manual 11
53-1002144-01
Converged network adapters
1
Server blades and blade system enclosures (mezzanine adapters)
Consider the following points when installing mezzanine adapters in blade servers and system
enclosures:
• For information on server blades and blade system enclosures that are compatible with
adapters, refer to the “Adapters Resources” section of
www.brocade.com/adapters .
• For information about enclosures, server blades, I/O modules, switch modules, and optional
devices that are compatible with this adapter, visit the manufacturer websites for these
products. You can also contact your server blades or blade system enclosure marketing
representative or authorized reseller.
• To support each I/O module that you install in the blade system enclosure, you may also need
to install a compatible adapter in each server blade that you want to communicate with the I/O
module. Also, the adapter may only support switch modules or blades in specific I/O bays of
the enclosure. For additional information, refer to installation and user guides and the
interoperability guides provided for the blade server and blade system enclosure.
• The Brocade mezzanine adapter is compatible with the following types of modules that install
in the supported blade system enclosure:
- Pass-through modules
- I/O modules
- Switch modules
NOTE
For detailed information about these modules, see the installation and user guides and
interoperability guides provided for these modules and the blade system enclosure.
• You may be able to install only one mezzanine adapter per server blades. The maximum
number of adapters that you can install in the blade system enclosure varies according to the
type of enclosure that you are using because each type of enclosure may support a different
number of server blades. For additional compatibility information, see the installation, user
guides and interoperability guides provided for the blade server and the blade system
enclosure.
PCI express connections
Brocade CNAs are compatible with PCI express (PCIe) connections that have the following
specifications:
• x8 lane or greater transfer interface.
• Gen1 (PCI Base Specification 1.0, 1.01a, and 1.1).
• Gen2 (PCI Express Base Specification 2.0).
• Gen3 (PCI Express Base Specification 3.0).
NOTE
Install CNAs in PCI express connectors with an x8 lane transfer interface or greater for best
performance. You cannot install CNAs in PCI or PCI-X connectors.