Network Cards

Server network cards (NICs) are specified by port speed, port count, and connector type. 1GbE remains adequate for management and lighter workloads; 10GbE is now the common baseline for production server traffic; 25GbE and above suit storage networks, high-throughput virtualization hosts, and clustered workloads. Dual- and quad-port cards allow for link aggregation (higher combined throughput) or active/passive failover, which is standard practice for production servers where network uptime matters. Connector type matters too: RJ45 (copper) is simpler to cable but limited in reach and speed compared with SFP+/SFP28 (fibre or DAC), which most 10GbE-and-above deployments use.