Introducing the AEWIN NCT404: Advanced 10GbE Network Expansion Module

AEWIN has unveiled the NCT404, the latest addition to its Network Expansion Module lineup. Designed for high-performance networking, the NCT404 leverages two of Intel’s newest E610-XAT2 Ethernet controllers to deliver four 10GbE RJ45 ports, each supporting Gen 3 bypass for enhanced network resilience. This full-height, half-length PCIe CEM card utilizes PCIe Gen 4 x8 connectivity, ensuring high bandwidth and compatibility with both AEWIN platforms and a wide range of off-the-shelf systems.

Key Features of the NCT404 Network Expansion Module

  • Quad 10GbE RJ45 Ports: Supports demanding network environments with four high-speed Ethernet ports.
  • Gen 3 Bypass: Two pairs of bypass functionality for improved network reliability and failover support.
  • PCIe Gen 4 x8 Interface: Delivers fast data transfer rates and broad compatibility with modern server architectures.
  • Flexible Integration: Compatible with AEWIN and third-party systems for versatile deployment options.

Intel E610-XAT2: Power Efficiency and Long-Term Support

At the heart of the NCT404 are Intel’s E610-XAT2 controllers, which offer over 50% lower power consumption compared to the previous generation X710-AT2. This significant reduction in energy usage helps organizations lower operational costs while maintaining high network performance. Intel’s commitment to a 10-year support lifecycle ensures that the NCT404 is an ideal choice for projects requiring long-term stability and reliability.

Enhanced Security and Virtualization Capabilities

Security is a top priority in modern networking, and the NCT404 addresses this with hardware-based Root of Trust (RoT) for firmware resiliency, provided by the Intel E610-XAT2. This feature helps safeguard network infrastructure against firmware-level threats.

The NCT404 also supports Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV), allowing a single network interface card to be shared among multiple virtual machines. This enhances scalability and flexibility for virtualized environments. Additionally, Virtual Machine Device Queues (VMDq) enable the network controller to offload traffic handling, presenting a single NIC port as multiple virtual ports for individual VMs. This results in improved virtualization performance and efficient resource allocation.

Conclusion

The AEWIN NCT404 Network Expansion Module stands out as a robust solution for organizations seeking high-speed, energy-efficient, and secure networking. With advanced features such as quad 10GbE ports, Gen 3 bypass, SR-IOV, and VMDq, the NCT404 is well-suited for modern data centers and enterprise environments that demand reliability, scalability, and long-term support.