10gb network interface suggestions

[Tim Judd]

Omer Faruk Sen wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I want to ask if anyone here in this list has any experience with
> 10gbE on FreeBSD? My questions:
>
> 1) Which 10gbE to use? I see that intel has a good support for 10gbE
> on FreeBSD with its own driver for FreeBSD:
>
> http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=2992&DwnldID=14688&lang=eng
>
> But also I am open to other brands. Especially If anyone has
> experience on that this matter would be very very helpful. I have seen
> that Sun has quad 10gbE adapters:
> http://www.sun.com/products/networking/ethernet/10gigethernet/index.xml
>  I am not sure if FreeBSD supports that?
>
> 2) Do you suggest fiber or copper?
>
> 3) Which bus option to use ? As far as I see intel has both (Pci
> Express and PCI-X not sure if their PCI Express cards are PCI Express
> 2.0 for pcie2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express shows
> significant performance boost)
> http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/products/server_adapters.htm?iid=nc+server#s1=10%20Gigabit%20Ethernet&s2=all&s3=all
>
> 4) Especially since I am new to 10gbE I also request if someone can
> suggest me 10gbE switch. There are lots switches but not sure. One of
> my colleague told me that enterasys is good ad 10gbE but not sure.
>
> Regards.

This was useful to find something to be used at work -- the fact that 
every device has a speed in terms of MHz, and a bandwidth, in terms of 
Mbit to use.  You can buy a 10gbE device, but if the bus does NOT 
support 10gbE, buying the device is pretty pointless....  you'll never 
reach 10gbE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_device_bandwidths

Enjoy.