Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2

The Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2 is a purpose-built 25 Gigabit Ethernet (25GbE) NIC engineered to deliver blistering performance for modern data centers, enterprises, and virtualization environments. Featuring dual 25GbE ports and built on Intel’s renowned Ethernet 700 Series technology, this adapter is designed to accelerate your most demanding workloads while maintaining smooth interoperability with legacy 1GbE and 10GbE networks. With a focus on efficiency, scalability, and advanced offloads, the XXV710-DA2 is the smart choice for servers that demand high throughput, low latency, and reliable connectivity for cloud, database, storage, and HPC workloads. This NIC is ideal for hyper-converged infrastructures, virtualization hosts, and any deployment where maximizing bandwidth per server port matters—and it does so without forcing a complete network upgrade all at once.

• Outstanding 25GbE performance and scalability: The XXV710-DA2 delivers dual 25GbE ports that unlock substantial headroom for modern workloads such as large-scale databases, real-time analytics, AI-driven pipelines, and high-speed storage networks. Each port can push data at up to 25 gigabits per second, enabling faster backups, quicker data transfers, and more responsive virtualized environments. The dual-port design allows you to scale out bandwidth across servers, balance traffic across multiple queues, and reduce bottlenecks in congested data-center cores. This makes it an excellent choice for rack- and blade-server deployments where space and power efficiency are as critical as raw speed.
• Backward compatibility with 1/10GbE: A standout feature of the XXV710-DA2 is its seamless backward compatibility with legacy 1GbE and 10GbE networks. This ensures a smooth transition path for organizations upgrading to 25GbE, enabling gradual migration of servers, switches, and cabling without forcing a full-scale, disruptive network refresh. Auto-negotiation and compatibility modes allow older devices to operate effectively while you phase in higher-speed links. The result is a future-proof solution that protects existing investments while delivering immediate performance benefits on your new 25GbE-ready servers.
• Intel Ethernet 700 Series technology for efficiency and features: Built on the robust Intel® Ethernet 700 Series platform, the XXV710-DA2 leverages industry-leading offloads, virtualization support, and reliability features that data-center operators expect. Hardware offloads help reduce CPU utilization, freeing processor cycles for application workloads. Advanced virtualization capabilities—such as SR-IOV and virtualization-friendly queuing—enable near-native performance for virtual machines and containers. In addition, the adapter supports quality-of-service (QoS) features, traffic shaping, and packet offloads that contribute to stable performance in multi-tenant environments and latency-sensitive applications.
• Industry-leading reliability and ease of integration: The adapter is designed for high-availability deployments, supporting robust driver and firmware update paths, scalable management, and broad OS compatibility. Its PCIe 4.0 x8 interface ensures a high-bandwidth, low-latency connection to the host CPU while remaining compatible with a wide range of server architectures. Whether you’re building a new data center fabric or refreshing a portion of your fleet, the XXV710-DA2 integrates cleanly with existing infrastructure, enabling straightforward deployment alongside other Intel Ethernet adapters and data-center networking gear.
• Flexibility for diverse deployments and environments: Whether you’re targeting virtualization, cloud-native workloads, or storage-centric use cases, the XXV710-DA2 adapts to your environment. The dual SFP28 interfaces riddle the path to high-capacity fiber networking, while the hardware offloads and virtualization features provide predictable performance under heavy, mixed traffic. This adapter is particularly well-suited for servers running hypervisors, containers, or software-defined storage, where maximizing network throughput per host translates directly into faster service delivery and improved application responsiveness. From edge to core to cloud, this NIC scales with your ambitions.

Technical Details of Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2

• Form factor and interface: PCIe 4.0 x8 host interface for high-bandwidth connectivity to modern servers.
• Ports and speed: Dual 25GbE network ports (SFP28) enabling up to 25Gbps per port and flexible uplink/downlink configurations.
• Backward compatibility: Supports interoperability with 1GbE and 10GbE networks to ease migration and hybrid deployments.
• Core technology: Based on Intel® Ethernet 700 Series, delivering optimized throughput, low latency, and robust offloads for data-plane processing.
• Virtualization and offloads: Includes hardware offloads and virtualization features such as SR-IOV and VMQ to improve efficiency in multi-tenant and VM-dense environments.
• Management and drivers: Broad OS support with standard vendor-specific and open-source drivers to simplify deployment and ongoing maintenance.
• Power and efficiency: Designed for data-center efficiency, balancing performance with sensible power usage in high-density server environments.
• Transceivers and optics: Uses SFP28 optics; compatibility with a range of 25GBASE-SR/LR/ER transceivers depending on your fiber infrastructure and switch capabilities. (Transceivers typically purchased separately.)

How to install Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2

• Prepare the server: Power down the server, unplug the power cables, and ground yourself to prevent static discharge. Remove the chassis cover to access the PCIe slots.
• Insert the adapter: Locate an appropriate PCIe 4.0 x8 (or compatible) slot. Gently insert the XXV710-DA2 into the slot until it is firmly seated, then secure the bracket with a screw.
• Connect networking optics or cables: Attach the appropriate SFP28 transceivers and fiber cables or direct attach copper cables to the switch fabric, ensuring the links are routed to the intended network segments.
• Power on and install drivers: Reassemble the chassis, power up the server, and install the latest drivers and firmware for the XXV710-DA2 from the operating system vendor or Intel’s official sources. Follow on-screen prompts to complete the installation and firmware update if prompted.
• Configure network settings: Use your preferred network management tools or OS networking utilities to configure IP addresses, VLANs, bonding or teaming (where applicable), and 25GbE link policies. Verify connectivity with test traffic and monitor performance metrics to ensure optimal operation.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What speeds does the Intel® XXV710-DA2 support? A: It provides dual 25GbE ports (25Gbps per port) with backward compatibility to 1GbE and 10GbE networks for flexible migration paths.
• Q: What type of ports does this adapter use? A: The XXV710-DA2 uses two 25GbE SFP28 ports, designed for high-density fiber or copper connections depending on the optics you install.
• Q: Does the adapter support virtualization features? A: Yes. It includes hardware offloads and virtualization capabilities such as SR-IOV and VMQ to enhance multi-tenant performance and reduce CPU overhead.
• Q: Which operating systems are supported? A: The adapter is designed for broad OS compatibility and supports common Windows and Linux distributions with vendor-provided drivers and firmware updates.
• Q: Is this NIC suitable for a hyper-converged or cloud environment? A: Absolutely. With its high bandwidth, low latency, and virtualization-ready features, the XXV710-DA2 is well-suited for hyper-converged infrastructures, virtualized workloads, and cloud-scale deployments.
• Q: Do I need to buy optics separately? A: Yes. The SFP28 optics are typically sold separately to match your switch, fiber type, and distance requirements.

With the Intel® Ethernet Network Adapter XXV710-DA2, you gain a high-performance, future-proof network card that can help you unlock the full potential of 25GbE within your data center. Its dual-port design provides flexible bandwidth aggregation, while backward compatibility ensures that older networking gear can continue to function during a staged upgrade. The combination of the Intel® Ethernet 700 Series architecture and advanced virtualization offloads translates into improved CPU efficiency, lower overall latency, and better performance for a wide range of workloads—from latency-sensitive financial applications to large-scale data analytics and storage solutions. Whether you are upgrading a handful of servers or refreshing an entire rack, the XXV710-DA2 delivers the speed, reliability, and manageability you need to stay ahead in today’s competitive IT landscape.