Network adapter Dell Intel X540 DP 10GbE Dual Port — Dual-port 10Gb Ethernet PCIe

The Dell Intel X540 DP 10GbE Dual Port — Dual-port 10Gb Ethernet PCIe network adapter (MPN 540-11131-RFB) is a dual-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet PCI Express card designed to add high-speed wired connectivity to compatible servers and workstations. The adapter uses Intel X540 controller technology to deliver two independent 10GbE ports over a standard PCIe interface, supporting common operating systems and network stacks. It is intended for environments that require increased throughput, reduced latency and consistent wired performance for virtualization, storage access and other bandwidth-intensive tasks.

Advantages

The adapter provides two 10GbE ports in a single PCIe card, enabling higher aggregate bandwidth and link redundancy without requiring multiple expansion slots. Intel X540-based implementation offers well-documented driver support and hardware offloads for networking tasks, which can reduce CPU overhead. The card fits into standard PCIe slots, allowing straightforward installation in many server and workstation platforms. Its design targets consistent wired throughput and low latency for demanding network applications.

Suitable for

• Virtualized environments hosting multiple VMs with heavy network I/O
• Direct-attached or networked storage access requiring high throughput
• High-bandwidth application servers and database servers
• Network aggregation, bonding or redundancy configurations
• Workstations used for media editing, large file transfers or backup tasks

Key specifications

• Brand: Dell
• Model/MPN: 540-11131-RFB
• Controller family: Intel X540
• Interface: PCI Express (compatible with standard PCIe slots)
• Ports: Dual 10 Gigabit Ethernet ports (2 × 10GbE)
• Form factor: Low-profile/standard bracket options may apply depending on configuration
• Use case: Server and workstation wired networking for high throughput and low latency

How to use

Install the card into an available PCIe slot on the target server or workstation following the system vendor’s guidelines for handling and ESD precautions. Secure the bracket to the chassis and connect appropriate SFP+ or copper 10GbE cables to each port as supported by the card and transceiver options. After physical installation, power on the system and install or enable the correct drivers for the Intel X540 controller on the host operating system. Configure network settings, link aggregation or VLANs as required by your network design and verify link status and throughput with standard network tools.

Usage recommendations

For optimal performance, use compatible 10GbE cabling and transceivers, ensure firmware and drivers are up to date, and confirm the host system BIOS and PCIe slot support required lane widths. When deploying in virtualized hosts or storage servers, consider offload features and tuning parameters provided by the Intel drivers to reduce CPU utilization and improve sustained throughput.