HPE P26262-B21 Dual-Port 10/25GbE SFP28 PCIe Network Adapter
Overview
The HPE P26262-B21 is a dual-port 10/25GbE network adapter built around the Broadcom BCM57414 chipset. It drops into PCIe Gen3 x8 slots and presents two SFP28 ports — giving servers that currently top out at 10GbE a direct path to 25GbE without a platform swap. The stand-up form factor fits standard full-height PCIe slots. For environments running high-density PoE switches or NVR uplinks where 10GbE is becoming a bottleneck, this adapter extends the useful life of existing server hardware at a fraction of a full-server refresh cost.
The Broadcom BCM57414 is a well-established silicon choice for enterprise 25GbE — widely supported across Linux and Windows Server driver stacks, which matters in mixed-OS environments or when you need to avoid proprietary driver dependencies. At 25Gb per port, each SFP28 interface delivers roughly 2.5× the throughput of a 10GbE port, meaningful when aggregating camera streams, NAS traffic, or iSCSI storage paths across the same uplink. PCIe Gen3 x8 provides up to 64 Gb/s of host bandwidth, so neither port will be CPU-bus constrained at line rate.
Compatibility
The P26262-B21 is engineered for HPE ProLiant server platforms — specifically validated for ProLiant Gen10 and Gen10 Plus rack and tower servers that include a PCIe Gen3 x8 or wider mechanical slot. Compatible host systems include the ProLiant DL360 Gen10, DL380 Gen10, ML350 Gen10, and equivalent Gen10 Plus variants. Verify your server's PCIe slot inventory and power budget before ordering; HPE's SPP (Service Pack for ProLiant) firmware bundles include updated drivers for this adapter. SFP28 transceivers are sold separately — confirm DAC cable or optical transceiver compatibility with your switch infrastructure before deployment.
Installation Notes
Install requires a full-height PCIe Gen3 x8 slot (x16 mechanical slots are electrically compatible). The stand-up card orientation means the SFP28 cage faces the rear of the chassis — standard for rack servers. HPE recommends applying the latest SPP firmware bundle post-installation to ensure driver and firmware parity. No additional power connectors are required beyond the PCIe slot.
