Upgrading server access from 10G to 25G is already being done by many data centers. But upgrading is not as simple as replacing a network card: the switch port capabilities, network cards and drivers, optical modules or cables must be matched at once. If any layer fails to keep up, the link will only run at a low speed. The matching method is given below in three steps.

Step 1: Check the access switch

First confirm that there are a sufficient number of SFP28 (25G) ports on the access side of the switch, and that the switching capacity matches the ratio of the upstream 100G ports to avoid deterioration of the convergence ratio after the upgrade. If the existing network only has 10 Gigabit ports, replacement of switches or addition of downstream boards must be included in the budget. This step determines the baseline for all subsequent model lists.

Step 2: Select network card and driver

• Dual-port link aggregation can be seenPCI-EX8 25G dual optical port fiber optic network card (Intel XXV710 chip);
• High-density or virtualization scenarios optionalPCI-EX16 25G four-port optical fiber network card (Intel E810 chip);
• For old systems, be sure to check the operating system version and driver list supported by the manufacturer before placing an order;
• Features such as SR-IOV and link aggregation are turned on uniformly in the deployment specifications to avoid rework one by one.

Step 3: Arrange cables and modules according to distance

The 25G DAC can be used directly within five meters of the cabinet, with low power consumption and cost; it can be used across the cabinet at a level of 100 meters.25G AOC active optical cableOr multi-mode plus single-mode 25G module; for long distance between buildings, order the model number according to the attenuation budget. For the same batch of purchases, if the three lengths are marked separately and allocated by cabinet, the on-site opening will be much smoother.

By checking the port first, then deciding on the network card, and then configuring the cable module, you can control the pace of the upgrade: first pilot it on one or two servers, run it for a week without errors, and then roll it out in batches. This is safe and the budget is controllable. EB-LINK's 25G network cards and modules can be coded for free according to Cisco, Huawei, H3C and other brands. They are tested one by one before leaving the factory. If you are not sure about the matching list, you can call 0755-83179002 to check.