Model
Module differentiator
Port speed
Protocol support
Media types
*The Dell FC FlexIO module uses NPIV Proxy Gateway (NPG) technology, which provides the capability to use converged FCoE inside
the M1000e chassis while maintaining traditional unconverged Ethernet and native Fibre Channel outside of the M1000e. With the FC
FlexIO module, the MXL provides bridging capabilities between Ethernet and Fibre Channel via FCoE. The MXL manages the following
items when the FC FlexIO module is installed:
1. DCB (PFC, ETS and DCBx)
2. FIP discovery and initialization
3. FLOGI and FDISC conversion process
4. FIP keep alives
For communication outside the chassis, the MXL directs all Ethernet traffic out the external Ethernet ports (these ports can be in DCB or
non-DCB mode) and convert all FCoE packets to native FC packets and directs them out the native Fibre Channel ports of the FC FlexIO
module(s). The MXL acts as an NPG connecting the converged network adapters (CNAs) in the servers to the external Fibre Channel
fabric. When the FC FlexIO module is installed, the MXL appears as an FCF to the CNAs while the FC FlexIO ports appear as NPIV N_
ports (i.e. HBA ports) to the external Fibre Channel Fabric.
Note: The MXL NPIV Proxy Gateway does not currently provide fabric services.
4-port FC module
Designed to deliver four
ports of 8Gb Fibre Channel
bandwidth (NPG mode
only).
NPIV Proxy Gateway*
(NPG) offering gateway
capabilities to existing SAN
fabrics.
2/4/8/Gb
Native Fibre Channel
2/4/8Gb FC SFP+ Optics
4-port SFP+ module
Provides 4 ports of SFP+
10Gb connectivity. Supports
optical and DAC cable
media.
10Gb/1Gb
Ethernet
Optical Tranceivers SFP+
10Gb: SR, LR
SFP 1 GBE: SX, LX
SFP to RJ45 converter
10000Base-T (only capable
of 1Gbps)
SFP+ Direct Attach Cable
(Twinax)
4-port 10GBASE-T module
Provides 4 ports of
10GBASE-T connectivity.
Supports copper media
over relatively longer
distance.
Maximum of one
10GBASE-T module per
MXL (other module bay can
be populated).
100Mb/1Gb/10Gb (supports
auto negotiation)
Ethernet
RJ45/Cat6a Copper
2-port QSFP+ module
Provides 2 ports of QSFP+
connectivity for 2 40Gb
connections.
When the ports are in
breakout mode, it provides
8 ports of 10Gb Ethernet
while only using 2 cables.
10Gb/40Gb
Ethernet
QSFP+ to 4xSFP+ Breakout
Cables 5m Passive Copper
QSFP+ to QSFP+ Direct
Attach 1m and 5m, Passive
Copper
Optical Transceivers SFP+
40Gb: SR only
QSFP+ to QSFP+ Fiber
Cables
QSFP+ to 4xSFP+ Fiber
Breakout Cables