Network adapter IBM X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT - dual RJ45 10GbE PCIe

IBM X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT network adapter (MPN 49Y7971-RFB) is a PCIe expansion card that provides two 10GbE RJ45 ports for high-speed wired connectivity. Designed for servers and workstations, the adapter supports 10GBase-T over copper cabling and is suitable for environments that require increased network throughput and reduced latency. The card is compatible with standard PCIe slots and integrates with common server operating systems and virtualization platforms used in enterprise and data center deployments.

Advantages

The IBM X540-T2 Dual Port 10GBaseT offers dual 10GbE RJ45 ports, allowing simultaneous high-bandwidth links through a single PCIe slot. Using copper-based 10GBase-T connectivity reduces the need for optical transceivers and enables backward compatibility with existing Cat6a/Cat7 cabling. The adapter delivers low latency and stable throughput for network-intensive tasks and supports industry-standard features for interoperability, manageability, and reliability in server environments.

Suitable for

• Virtualization hosts requiring high network throughput
• Storage servers and SAN connectivity over 10GBase-T
• High-performance computing clusters and data processing nodes
• Enterprise servers needing redundant or aggregated 10GbE links
• Workstations running network-intensive applications

Key specifications

• Manufacturer: IBM
• Model / MPN: X540-T2 / 49Y7971-RFB
• Interface: PCI Express (PCIe) x8/x4 compatible
• Ports: 2 × RJ45 10GBase-T
• Speed: up to 10 Gbps per port (10GbE)
• Cabling: Cat6a or Cat7 recommended for 10GbE over copper
• Use case: servers and workstations for enterprise and data center environments

How to use

Install the IBM X540-T2 into an available PCIe slot following the server or workstation manufacturer’s service manual and standard electrostatic discharge (ESD) precautions. Connect the RJ45 ports to the network switch or patch panel using appropriate Cat6a/Cat7 cables to achieve reliable 10GbE links. After hardware installation, load the appropriate IBM or vendor-supplied drivers for the target operating system and verify link status and speed through the OS network settings or management utilities. Configure link aggregation, VLANs, or other network features as required by your environment.

Usage recommendations

For optimal 10GbE performance, use Cat6a or Cat7 cabling and keep cable runs within recommended lengths. Verify firmware and driver versions are up to date to ensure compatibility and stable operation with server platforms and virtualization stacks. When deploying in redundant or aggregated link scenarios, confirm switch support for IEEE 802.3ad (LACP) if link aggregation is required.