Connect directly X710 to XL710 with QSFP Breakout Cable

[KPist]

Hello!

I have a question regarding to the direct connectability of NICs without any switch.

I have a computer equipped with Intel ethernet CNA X710-DA4FH (4x10gbps) and another computer with Intel ethernet CNA XL710-QDA1 (1x40gbps). They are connected directly using Intel X4DACBL3 Ethernet QSFP 40G QSFP+ to 4x10G Breakout Cable. Theoretically, is it a possible setup? Unfortunately, I could not make it work.

Thanks in advance!

Best regards

[idata]

Hi Qweee,

Thank you for posting in Wired Communities. I will further check for you and can you also share what is the operating system used? Thanks,Sharon

[KPist]

Hello Sharon!

Thank you for the quick reply!

I have freshly installed Debian stretch x64 systems.

# cat /proc/version

Linux version 4.9.0-4-amd64 (mailto:debian-kernel@lists.debian.org debian-kernel@lists.debian.org) (gcc version 6.3.0 20170516 (Debian 6.3.0-18) ) # 1 SMP Debian 4.9.51-1 (2017-09-28)

The drivers are also up to date.

X710-DA4FH

# ethtool -i ens6f0

driver: i40e

version: 1.6.16-k

firmware-version: 6.01 0x800034af 1.1747.0

expansion-rom-version:

bus-info: 0000:02:00.0

supports-statistics: yes

supports-test: yes

supports-eeprom-access: yes

supports-register-dump: yes

supports-priv-flags: yes

On the other machine (XL710-QDA1):

# ethtool -i enp4s0f0

driver: i40e

version: 2.3.6

firmware-version: 6.01 0x800034a3 1.1747.0

expansion-rom-version:

bus-info: 0000:04:00.0

supports-statistics: yes

supports-test: yes

supports-eeprom-access: yes

supports-register-dump: yes

supports-priv-flags: yes

Thank you for your help!

[idata]

Hi Qweee,

Thank you for the information. You may need to use a a QSFP to SFP cable. Aside from that, did you try using the QCU tool to convert the XL710 40Gb ports to 10 GB? You may download the tool at https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/25851/Intel-QSFP-Configuration-Utility-Linux- and refer to the user guide https://downloadmirror.intel.com/25116/eng/qsfp-configuration-utility-quick-usage-guide.pdfThanks,Sharon

[KPist]

Dear Sharon,

Thank you for your help. This tool made it! It works!

I would share my output from QCU tool after I set it up in 4x10GB mode.

# ./qcu64e

Intel(R) QSFP+ Configuration Utility

QCU version: v2.30.16.08

Copyright(C) 2014 - 2017 by Intel Corporation.

Software released under Intel Proprietary License.

NIC Seg:Bus Ven-Dev Mode Adapter Name

=== ======= ========= ======== =================================================

1) 000:004 8086-1584 4x10 Intel(R) Ethernet Converged Network Adapter XL710

Again, thanks!

All the best,

Qweee

[idata]

Hi Qweee,

Thank you for the update and glad the tool made it works for you. Please feel free to update me if you still have other inquiries. Thank you.Regards,Sharon