difference between "server" and "desktop" NICs?

venm11

2[H]4U
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Oct 6, 2004
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Honestly? Stick with one made by Intel. Best drivers, best performance. The "direct from asia" ones are on my shit list as of late.
 
Intel or Broadcom controllers work fine, server adapters usually have better hardware offload which may/may not help depending on workload. That said, you're usually better off getting a pulled HP/IBM/Sun-branded card from eBay.
//Danne
 
Difference is in hardware off load capabilites, certification and at the higher end...features like paravirutlization and channelized virtual adapter support, in addition to even more offload support modules.

If you are talking a sub $400 adapter....not much.


I prefer Intel adapters, especially at the cheap end of the spectrum, although the newest stuff from broadcom works well for most applications.
 
I thought all cards offloaded CRC checks. What else could be handled up by the NIC ?
 
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