Dell FastLinQ 41164 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

The Dell FastLinQ 41164 10Gigabit Ethernet Card is a quad-port PCIe network adapter engineered for servers demanding high bandwidth, reliability, and easy integration into existing data-center networks. This Base-T Ethernet PCI-Express NIC delivers robust 10 Gigabit performance across four RJ-45 ports, making it an ideal choice for virtualization, clustering, and dense workloads in Dell environments. Fully tested and validated on Dell systems, it offers enterprise-grade connectivity with Dell’s proven support and compatibility.

• Quad-port 10GbE connectivity: Four RJ-45 ports provide scalable uplinks and flexible deployment options for servers, storage nodes, virtualization hosts, and high-demand applications.
• 10GBASE-T over standard Ethernet cabling: Supports 10 Gigabit per second Ethernet over Cat6a/Category 7 cables, enabling quick integration into existing networks without new fiber infrastructure.
• PCIe expansion card for high throughput: A PCIe-based NIC designed to deliver ample bandwidth for simultaneous traffic, low latency, and smooth data transfers in multi-VM environments.
• Dell-validated enterprise reliability: Tested and validated on Dell servers, with ongoing Dell technical support to ensure compatibility, firmware updates, and driver availability.
• Ideal for virtualization and data-intensive workloads: Optimizes performance for virtual machines, databases, clustering, and other demanding workloads while reducing CPU load with hardware-accelerated features where available.

Technical Details of Dell FastLinQ 41164 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Product type: PCIe-based quad-port Ethernet adapter
• Ports: 4 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet Base-T (RJ-45)
• Speed per port: 10 Gbps per port (up to 40 Gbps aggregate across all ports)
• Interface: PCI Express expansion card
• Standards supported: 10GBASE-T; backward compatibility with 1G/100M networks depending on cabling and switch capabilities
• Driver and OS support: Dell-validated drivers with compatibility for Windows and Linux operating systems; Dell technical support available
• Cabling recommendations: Category 6a or better recommended to achieve full 10GBASE-T performance

How to install Dell FastLinQ 41164 10Gigabit Ethernet Card

• Power down the server and unplug it from all power sources.
• Open the chassis and locate an available PCI Express slot with enough clearance for a full-height or low-profile card, depending on your server model.
• Remove the slot cover and gently insert the Dell FastLinQ 41164 into the PCIe slot, ensuring it seats firmly and aligns with the slot connectors.
• Secure the card to the chassis with the retaining screw. Reassemble the chassis if needed and reconnect power.
• Power on the server and boot into the host operating system. Install the latest Dell-provided drivers for the FastLinQ 41164 from Dell’s support site, or use the OS’s native drivers if they include support.
• Configure each of the four NIC interfaces according to your network design. This may include creating bonds/teaming for redundancy, assigning IPs, or integrating with your virtualization platform’s virtual switches.
• Connect four 10GBASE-T cables to your switches or aggregation points, ensuring that the other ends are properly configured to support the desired network topology.
• Test connectivity and throughput using appropriate network utilities (for example, ping tests for basic reachability and iperf/ting tests for bandwidth verification) to confirm the card is operating as expected.

Frequently asked questions

• Q: What is the Dell FastLinQ 41164?

  A: It is a quad-port 10 Gigabit Ethernet PCIe network card (Base-T) designed for servers, delivering high-throughput connectivity across four RJ-45 ports.

• Q: How many ports does it have and what speeds are supported?

  A: It provides four 10 Gbps ports (10GBASE-T), with a total potential aggregate bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps depending on the network configuration and workloads.

• Q: Do I need special cables?

  A: For full 10GBASE-T performance, use Category 6a or better Ethernet cables. Cables and switches that support 10GBASE-T are recommended to realize the full speed potential.

• Q: Is this card Dell-validated?

  A: Yes. The FastLinQ 41164 is tested and validated on Dell systems and is supported by Dell Tech Support for compatible configurations and updates.

• Q: Which operating systems are supported?

  A: Dell provides drivers for Windows and Linux environments; check Dell’s support site for the latest drivers and OS compatibility for your specific server model.