1U Supermicro Server 6x 10GBE RJ45 X10SLH-LN6TF LGA 1150 H3 X10SLH-N6-ST031

[kapone]

Once upon a time...I used to plug my WAN directly into the router/firewall...and then the LAN...and then the Wifi/AP...and then the OOB network...and then the "break glass" port...and...

Now...everything except break glass is terminated on my core switches. The router/firewall needs just one port (if you don't count the break glass port).

Edit: I should have specified...it does need a layer 3 managed switch.

 

[luckylinux]

I have one a few feet away from me with pfSense installed. What do you want to know?

I can create a thread on these detailing all the hardware, but it might take me a few days.

Please do, I'm not in a hurry .

I Looked quickly on eBay and it seems to be > 700 USD so WAY more expensive than I would like.

Right now my Homelab is 10gbe and WAN is barely 1gbe (more like 700mbps-800mbps), so I feel like this is way overkill.

The Supermicro X10SLL-F let alone the Supermicro X11SSL-F / Fujitsu TX1320 M3 coupled with a 10gbps NIC (Intel X710 / Intel XXV710 / Mellanox ConnectX-4 LX) should be able to handle all inter-LAN Routing without Issues. Let alone the WAN.

Fan Noise ?

 

[kapone]

I never got it under 50W idle even when jumpering the x540 NICs off.

And there's the Mellanox SX6036 with 36x 10/40/56gbe ports and with ALL of them populated (DACs)....still uses ~60w.

 

[josh]

Just saw this thread and am looking for a router with multiple 10GbE ports to replace my EdgeRouter-X. Is this board still relevant in 2025 as a pfsense box or is there something better/smaller these days? Don't really feel like running a 1U chassis for it

 

[nexox]

but it also depends on which NIC I can grab at reasonable Prices AND if QSFP28 Transceivers/DACs will support 40gbps Infiniband / 40 gbe Ethernet when connected to that Switch ... because if QSFP28 falls back to 10gbe then it's pointless.

Most 100G QSFP28 NICs (not sure about 50G QSFP28) will do 40G just fine (though I read about an Intel card that doesn't, dig around the forums for the details,) but QSFP cards are so much cheaper while 100G is dropping in price rapidly, it makes sense to just start with 40G and upgrade NICs when you get a 100G switch. QSFP28 DACs will do 40G just fine (56G is the weird rate that requires specific cables,) and most transceivers are pretty dumb and will happily transmit just about anything lower than their rated bandwidth, though I'm sure there are exceptions.

 

[UhClem]

Remember the x16 (x8 electrical) slot on this board is connected through the PLX switch that the 10G NICs use, that means the bifurcation configuration will be different than almost any other board.

In that case, a modification of the eeprom for the PLX8747 might be in order.

See here: PCIE switch, oculink, nvme and sata
and here: PEX 8747 | 48-Lane, 5-Port PCI Express (8 GT/s) Switch

@Zombielinux , looks like you don't get the basics of PCIe switches. [For the PEX8747,] "5-Port" means [a max of] 4 target devices. I.e., re-configuring for 2x [x4 M.2] devices (targets) in the x8 slot means eliminating access to one (of 3) X540 chip.

 

[Cruzader]

Those are separate generations Speeds: (Q)SFP28 i.e. 100gbe/25gbe vs (Q)SFP+ i.e. 40gbe/10gbe, so not quite sure what "common Setting" if any exists between the two Worlds and if it's something "standardized".

They are backwards compatible, a QSFP28 4x25/100 can be used as QSFP 4x10/40.

Connectx3 does 56/50/10
Connectx4 EN does 100/56/50/40/25/10/1
Connectx5 EN does 100/50/40/25/10/1

For my last QSFP cables ive been buying QSFP28 to not have to replace them later.

 

[Zombielinux]

@Zombielinux , looks like you don't get the basics of PCIe switches. [For the PEX8747,] "5-Port" means [a max of] 4 target devices. I.e., re-configuring for 2x [x4 M.2] devices (targets) in the x8 slot means eliminating access to one (of 3) X540 chip.

I see. The documentation I was reading referenced the chip here: PCIe to SFF-8643, PCIe 3.0 x16 to eight-port SFF-8643 NVMe expansion card, which has 18 configurable ports.

I guess we'd be stuck adding an additional switch if we need more ports.

 

[UhClem]

I see.

NO, you don't.

The documentation I was reading referenced the chip ...

That was not documentation. That was amateurish speculation.
Real documentation is what you did link to in your post (which I quoted in my reply), that being the Broadcom technical product brief for the PEX8747.
And you clearly did not understand that documentation.

 

[Zombielinux]

NO, you don't.

That was not documentation. That was amateurish speculation.
Real documentation is what you did link to in your post (which I quoted in my reply), that being the Broadcom technical product brief for the PEX8747.
And you clearly did not understand that documentation.

I think we're talking past each other a bit. The card I linked specifies the 8747 as its PCIe expander. I read & linked the wrong product brief from Broadcom. The 8747 has 18 ports, but isn't on this motherboard.

The 8749 IS on this motherboard and only has 5.

Regardless, a product brief is not documentation. But unless someone is willing to break an NDA, we probably won't see the real datasheets for either chip.

 

[UhClem]

... The 8749 IS on this motherboard and only has 5.

NO. This motherboard has the PEX8747--and (as I pointed out in my initial reply) the limits of that chip's configurability made your post (to which I was replying) totally irrelevant.

Regardless, a product brief is not documentation.

Yes, it is. For sake of this discussion, it provides the necessary and sufficient technical info (FIVE ports), and it IS from a reliable source, the manufacturer.

 

[acesea]

Not true, I updated yours with the newest microcode (so things like meltdown and spectre fixed) and someone else added in nvme support.

Microsoft OneDrive

1drv.ms

sorry for keeping this thread and notifications alive.

the url to 1drv.ms file is dead. anyone have that file or any newer bios versions with the nvme and other mitigation additions for X10SLH-N6-ST031? please provide link to download

also btw has anyone had success finding or installing newer bios than v3.2 onto X10SLH-N6-ST031 ?

much appreciated.

thank you!!

 

[luckylinux]

And there's the Mellanox SX6036 with 36x 10/40/56gbe ports and with ALL of them populated (DACs)....still uses ~60w.

You are tempting me ... but it also depends on which NIC I can grab at reasonable Prices AND if QSFP28 Transceivers/DACs will support 40gbps Infiniband / 40 gbe Ethernet when connected to that Switch ... because if QSFP28 falls back to 10gbe then it's pointless.

Those are separate generations Speeds: (Q)SFP28 i.e. 100gbe/25gbe vs (Q)SFP+ i.e. 40gbe/10gbe, so not quite sure what "common Setting" if any exists between the two Worlds and if it's something "standardized".

 

[Bert]

I must have the files somewhere. When I find I will share. If I forget ping me.

 

[Bert]

I searched my machines and couldn't find the file Before giving it up, did anyone have the exact file name? IIRC, it contained redfish.

 

[sporkman]

Hello this is Justin from Unix Surplus, we have the BIOS and unlock all the boards and systems for you guys now, you can see we have updated all the listings it let me know if you have any questions, TO THE ADMINS DELETE MY POST IF NOT ALLOWED to put the links. thanks don't want to impose.

Just a heads-up to anyone looking to buy from these guys, as of 12/2025 they are still selling Supermicro stuff without disclosing its custom firmware stuff that can't be updated. They also don't seem to want to answer any questions from buyers. I note Justin here hasn't been around in a few years on these forums either.

 

[Fritz]

It's profits before the customer always.

 

[luckylinux]

They are backwards compatible, a QSFP28 4x25/100 can be used as QSFP 4x10/40.

Connectx3 does 56/50/10
Connectx4 EN does 100/56/50/40/25/10/1
Connectx5 EN does 100/50/40/25/10/1

Nice . Are those Figures with DAC only or also Transceivers ?

For my last QSFP cables ive been buying QSFP28 to not have to replace them later.

That was also my Plan .