P26253-B21 is an HPE enterprise Ethernet network adapter designed for HPE ProLiant servers. It’s a dual-port 10 GbE BASE-T adapter based on the Broadcom BCM57416 controller, providing high-speed copper networking over standard twisted-pair cabling for demanding server workloads.
Why buyers pick P26253-B21 (plain English)
High-speed 10 Gb over copper Delivers 10 GbE performance using familiar RJ-45 cabling (Cat6a/Cat7), avoiding the need for fiber optics while still reaching 10 Gb bandwidth.
Dual ports for flexibility Two independent 10 GbE BASE-T links support redundancy, link aggregation, or segmentation of traffic without extra hardware.
Broadcom BCM57416 silicon Modern controller with robust offloads and low CPU overhead — ideal for virtualization, web servers, and storage networks using copper infrastructure.
Enterprise validation Drivers and firmware are tested and supported by HPE for predictable operation and stability on ProLiant platforms.
Easy copper deployment Leverages existing data center or office copper cabling to deliver 10 GbE without rewiring.
Use case High-speed server networking, virtualization uplinks, storage networks over copper.
Where it fits (and when to choose something else)
Perfect for:
ProLiant servers needing 10 GbE over copper
Environments with existing Cat6a cabling
Virtualization and high-throughput workloads
Redundant or aggregated 10 Gb links without fiber
Choose something else if:
You need fiber or long-reach connectivity → SFP+ optics
You need multigigabit rate flexibility → 1/2.5/5/10 Gb BASE-T NICs
You need higher speeds → 25 GbE or 100 GbE adapters
TL;DR
P26253-B21 is HPE’s Broadcom BCM57416 dual-port 10 GbE BASE-T adapter: a reliable enterprise NIC that delivers 10 GbE speeds over standard copper cabling with dual-port flexibility for modern ProLiant server networks.
Key specifications
Feature
Specification
Device Type
Network adapter
Part Number
P26253-B21
Form Factor
Plug-in card / Stand-up
Interface (Bus) Type
PCI Express (PCIe) 3.0 x8
Ports
Dual ports (2 x RJ-45)
Data Transfer Rate
Supports 1 Gigabit Ethernet and 10 Gigabit Ethernet (up to 10 Gbps)
Reduced CPU utilization:It supports RDMA over Converged Ethernet (RoCE v1 and v2), offloading network tasks from the server's processor and improving overall performance.
Enhanced security:The firmware is authenticated through a root-of-trust architecture to prevent the installation of malicious software.
Virtualization support:The adapter is fully compatible with virtualization technologies and features like Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) and Network Partitioning (NPAR).
