HPE Synergy 6820C 25/50GB CNA - P02054-B21

HPE P02054-B21 Dual-Port 25/50Gb Converged Network Adapter

The HPE P02054-B21 is a high-speed converged network adapter (CNA) designed for HPE Synergy 6820C compute modules and similar enterprise platforms. This mezzanine-form adapter delivers dual-port 25/50Gb connectivity over a single PCIe Gen3 x16 interface, making it the right choice when you need dense, low-latency network I/O for virtualized workloads, storage traffic, or surveillance-grade data collection without consuming additional slot real estate.

Key Features

• Dual-Port 25/50Gb Throughput: Each port supports 25Gb or 50Gb operation, meaning you can push roughly 100Gb aggregate bandwidth per adapter — critical when consolidating network and storage fabric onto one card in blade or modular systems where slots are precious.
• PCIe Gen3 x16 Interface: Wired directly to the host compute module's PCIe Gen3 x16 slot, avoiding fabric bottlenecks. This bus delivers up to ~16GB/s theoretical bandwidth, more than enough to sustain 50Gb line rate on both ports simultaneously without host CPU saturation.
• Mezzanine Form Factor: Fits HPE Synergy compute modules and compatible enterprise blades; compact 21.49 × 24.69 × 6.2 cm footprint means no external card trays, no additional cabling, no separate rack space — the adapter is soldered or inserted directly into the compute module's mezzanine slot.
• Converged Architecture: Consolidates Ethernet and storage (FC/iSCSI) onto one network path, reducing port count requirements on top-of-rack switches and simplifying cabling — particularly valuable in surveillance backend clusters running NVR appliances or media servers that handle both live ingest and archive replication.
• Low-Latency Performance: Direct PCIe attachment with no intermediate fabric overhead ensures microsecond-scale latency for real-time video stream ingestion and command-response paths — important when managing multi-gigabit surveillance streams across dozens of cameras simultaneously.
• Modular Deployment Flexibility: HPE Synergy's composable infrastructure means you can mix and match these adapters with compute, storage, and fabric modules on demand, then redeploy hardware when surveillance system architecture changes (e.g., adding DVR capacity, migrating to edge analytics, scaling NVR redundancy).

Integration and Compatibility

The P02054-B21 integrates directly into HPE Synergy 6820C compute modules and other compatible mezzanine slots. Because it is a converged network adapter, it requires firmware that supports both Ethernet and storage protocols (typically iSCSI or Fibre Channel over Ethernet depending on configuration). Enterprise surveillance platforms — whether Milestone XProtect, Genetec Security Center, or vendor-neutral ONVIF-based systems — connect to the adapter via standard Ethernet interfaces exposed on the host OS. The dual-port design allows physical redundancy: one port carries live camera ingest, the second carries inter-NVR replication or archival write operations, ensuring that a single cable failure does not interrupt critical surveillance functions.

Physical and Environmental

Weight is 0.26 kg, making installation and module swapping trivial. The mezzanine form factor is sealed within the compute module enclosure, so environmental ratings (dust, humidity, temperature) are governed by the parent Synergy module, not the adapter itself. This architecture is ideal for climate-controlled data centers and telecom huts where surveillance backend consolidation reduces footprint and operational complexity.

What's in the Box

Package contents for the P02054-B21 are not specified in available documentation. Contact the vendor or HPE directly to confirm what mounting hardware, brackets, or documentation is included with your purchase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the maximum throughput on the P02054-B21?

A: The adapter supports up to 50Gb per port (dual port), for a theoretical combined throughput of 100Gb. The PCIe Gen3 x16 interface has sufficient bandwidth to sustain this rate without bottlenecking the host CPU.

Q: Is the P02054-B21 compatible with non-Synergy compute modules?

A: The P02054-B21 is designed as a mezzanine card for HPE Synergy 6820C and compatible modules. Compatibility with other vendor platforms or non-mezzanine slots is not supported. Verify your compute module documentation before ordering.

Q: Can I use both ports simultaneously for surveillance ingest?

A: Yes. The dual-port design allows you to split ingest and replication traffic, or run active-active ingestion from separate camera clusters, as long as your surveillance management software and network topology support it.

Q: What kind of warranty does the P02054-B21 include?

A: Warranty terms are determined by HPE's service agreement for the Synergy platform. Consult your purchase documentation or HPE support to confirm coverage.

Q: Does the P02054-B21 require additional drivers or firmware?

A: Yes. The adapter requires firmware loaded on the Synergy module and potentially driver packages for your operating system (Linux, Windows, ESXi). These are supplied by HPE and integrated into Synergy management tools.

Q: What is the physical form factor constraint?

A: The P02054-B21 is a mezzanine card measuring 21.49 × 24.69 × 6.2 cm. It inserts into the mezzanine slot on the Synergy 6820C and similar compute modules; no separate mounting brackets are required beyond the module's built-in slot.

Eden Phillips

The HPE P02054-B21 is built for surveillance data-center architects running composable infrastructure who need to consolidate network and storage I/O without burning additional card slots. The mezzanine design and dual-port 25/50Gb capability mean you can architect a compact, high-throughput backend for NVR clusters, media servers, or edge analytics appliances — and then recompose the infrastructure when your next generation of cameras demands it.

Technical Highlights:

• 50Gb Dual-Port Throughput: Each port delivers 50Gb, so a single P02054-B21 can sustain roughly 100Gb aggregate bandwidth — enough for 20–30 concurrent 4K camera streams at 10Mbps each plus inter-NVR replication traffic, all without saturating the pipe.
• PCIe Gen3 x16 Direct Attachment: No fabric overhead, no switch-to-module latency. The adapter connects directly to the compute module's PCIe slot, meaning sub-microsecond response times for real-time video ingest commands and no jitter in playback.
• Mezzanine Form Factor (21.49 × 24.69 × 6.2 cm): Integrates directly into the Synergy 6820C module without external trays, cabling, or additional rack footprint — a huge space and power-budget win in dense surveillance backend clusters.

Deployment Considerations:

• The P02054-B21 is module-bound; it only works in Synergy 6820C or compatible mezzanine slots. Verify your compute module revision before purchasing — older blades may use different adapter standards.
• Converged adapters require firmware and driver coordination with the host operating system. HPE provides these via Synergy management tools, but plan for firmware updates as part of your change-management window — they can't be done in-place without downtime.

Deploy the P02054-B21 when you are consolidating multi-camera surveillance backend onto HPE Synergy composable infrastructure and need to minimize card count, maximize throughput, and maintain the flexibility to redeploy the platform for next-gen analytics or archival workloads.