Will a HP FlexFabric dual 10gig card work in a normal pci-e slot?

[arglebargle]

Two weeks ago I jumped into this subject and failed to get my FlexLOM card working in a PCIe slot, but I wasn't able to cross-test to prove it wouldn't work. Since then I got a DL360 Gen9, and was able to both positive and negative cross-test the 560FLR FlexLOM and 560SFP+ PCIe cards in the FlexLOM and PCIe slots. This FlexLOM card will NOT work in a PCIe slot, even though it physically lines up in the slot.

Yeah, whatever they're doing with pin assignment on the FlexLOM cards definitely isn't in the normal order. If someone happened to have PCIe diagnostic tools and the time and know-how to sort out which signal is on which pin it could totally be viable to make an adapter cable (or riser.) Until that happens it's an exercise in futility plugging these things into a normal slot.

 

[Aterfax]

I can confirm that these Flexible LOM cards do indeed have a different pinout - however there is an adaptor that works - TobleMiner/HPE-FlexibleLOM-adapter

As tested by me with a HP 561FLR-T :

Adapter confirmed working with HP 561FLR-T - we might want a compatibility list? · Issue #3 · TobleMiner/HPE-FlexibleLOM-adapter

I have installed a HP 701525-001 ETHERNET 10GB 2-PORT 561FLR-T ADAPTER 700699-B21 700697-001 today into my Windows 10 Machine (x370 mobo) and confirmed basic functions are working fully. I may even...

github.com

 

[megabug]

Nice adapter! Just ordered PCBs and parts for them, thanks for the link.

So if someone needs adapters (in germany), just send me a message.

 

[penrhos]

As a side question - anyone know if the 530FLR LOM will work OK in a DL380 Gen9 or do I need to buy a 560FLR and leave the 530 in my old Gen8 DL360?

Also are they SFP+ locked or can I get away with any old SFP? - I know Cisco DAC cables work fine as that's what I'm linking my QNAP-670 pro to the DL360 Gen8 with - but I'm looking at a 30M OM4 fibre run between the new server and the QNAP.

 

[Jelzik]

Nice adapter! Just ordered PCBs and parts for them, thanks for the link.

So if someone needs adapters (in germany), just send me a message.

Hi! I need one. Can you send it to Berlin?

 

[brankko]

I recently bought HP 533FLR-T 2-Port 10GbE network card for cheap (less than 20 EUR)



Also got the PCI-E adapter (available as DIY parts or assembled via eBay and AliExpress)



When assembled it look like a regular PCI card with standard back plate bracket...




But I am still afraid to put it in my home server

Will have to assemble some cheap test bench from old components just to try it. Hope it works with Unraid.

 

[prdtabim]

I recently bought HP 533FLR-T 2-Port 10GbE network card for cheap (less than 20 EUR)

View attachment 28840View attachment 28841

Also got the PCI-E adapter (available as DIY parts or assembled via eBay and AliExpress)

View attachment 28842View attachment 28843

When assembled it look like a regular PCI card with standard back plate bracket...

View attachment 28844View attachment 28845
View attachment 28846

But I am still afraid to put it in my home server

Will have to assemble some cheap test bench from old components just to try it. Hope it works with Unraid.

I have a lot of these flexlom cards installed with adapters in pcie slots. The only concern is air flow to keep the card cool/warm.
HP
331FLR ( BCM5719 ) 4x1Gb/s baseT
533FLR-T ( BCM57810 ) 2x10Gb/s baseT
530FLR-SFP ( BCM57810 ) 2x10Gb/s SFP+
556FLR-SFP ( Emulex XE-102 ) 2x10Gb/s SFP+
561FLR-T ( Intel X540 ) 2x10Gb/s baseT
544+FLR-QSFP ( Mellanox ConnectX-3 pro ) 2x40Gb/s QSFP

All works without problems if keep them cool.

 

[brankko]

@prdtabim That is reassuring.
I build a case with great airflow so that should not be a concern. I was afraid of burning my motherboard

 

[prdtabim]

@prdtabim That is reassuring.
I build a case with great airflow so that should not be a concern. I was afraid of burning my motherboard

One extra caution is the pcie gen and availability of lanes.
Examples
533FLR-T is pcie 2.0 x8 ( needs all to full bandwidth of both ports )
556FLR-SFP is pcie 3.0 x8 ( works perfectly using pcie 3.0 x4 )
544+FLR-QSFP is pcie 3.0 x8 ( 80Gb/s using both ports limited by 63Gb/s of bandwidth at pcie )
331FLR is pcie 2.0 x4 ( needs only pcie 2.0 x1 to almost saturate the 4 x 1Gb/s ports )

 

[brankko]

This is a real good point. Luckily, I do have a full PCI-E 3.0 x16 port as my current 2.5GbE card is stuck there.

I was thinking of adding an additional SAS card (in IT mode so I can connect more SATA drives) so I have to check how many lanes are needed for it. My Mini-ITX mainboard has only that one x16 PCI-E slot and additional M.2 port that could be converted to x4 slot, if I got it right. SAS card I found is with 8 ports and it's PCIe 2.0 x8. Some other cards with 4 ports are using PCI-e 2.0 x4. I would definitely have to do some PCI lane calculations

What I would try is to add a SAS card to x16 slot and 533FLR-T to x4 slot (if that is what comes out of M.2 riser) and test if it would work because I need only one working port.

Also wandering how much is this card gonna increase the idle power consumption (if it's that hot) from current 30-35W.