540-BBPA: Dell Intel X550 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter
Also listed as: 01D89P, 1D89P · made by Intel
The Dell 540-BBPA is a Dell Intel X550 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter delivering 10GbE network connectivity across 2x 10GBASE-T RJ45 via PCIe 3.0 x4 OCP 3.0 SFF. Built with Intel controller architecture, the 540-BBPA provides hardware offload acceleration and virtualization support for R740, R640, R750, R650 enterprise servers.
Specifications
| Part number | 540-BBPA |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dell |
| Made by | Intel |
| Type | OCP adapters |
| Other numbers | 01D89P, 1D89P |
| Status | current |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x4 OCP 3.0 SFF |
| Form factor | OCP 3.0 Small Form Factor |
| Ports | 2x 10GBASE-T RJ45 |
| Speed | 10GbE |
| Tdp (W) | 13 |
About the 540-BBPA
The Dell 540-BBPA is a Dell Intel X550 Dual Port 10GBASE-T RJ45 OCP 3.0 Adapter engineered to deliver 10GbE network transmission across 2x 10GBASE-T RJ45 over PCIe 3.0 x4 OCP 3.0 SFF. Powered by Intel controller architecture on the 540-BBPA, it executes hardware-level protocol processing, RoCE, and SR-IOV virtualization while maintaining a thermal envelope of approximately 13W. In Dell's networking portfolio, 540-BBPA provides dedicated high-bandwidth fabric connectivity for clustered virtualization, network storage, and enterprise database hosts.
Compatibility
Engineered for Dell PowerEdge servers including R740, R640, R750, R650, the 540-BBPA mounts directly into OCP 3.0 Small Form Factor locations. The 540-BBPA slides into the rear OCP 3.0 mezzanine bay with an ejection latch, preserving PCIe riser slots. Cabling the 540-BBPA requires 10GbE-rated media, including direct attach copper twinaxial assemblies, optical transceivers, or patch leads matched to its physical ports. Supported operating systems on the 540-BBPA include VMware ESXi, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Windows Server with native Dell drivers.
How to identify a genuine unit
Authentic Dell 540-BBPA units carry an identification label displaying DP/N 01D89P and Intel model code 1D89P along with Dell regulatory marks. In iDRAC Network Devices inventory, the card registers under part number 540-BBPA with active link state, port MAC addresses, negotiated speed, and certified Dell firmware. Onboard physical indicators on the 540-BBPA provide link status and port activity monitoring.
Buying used
When purchasing a pre-owned 540-BBPA, examine the gold edge connector fingers for scratches, peeling contacts, or missing surface-mount capacitors. Ensure that the 540-BBPA OCP pull-latch mechanism is intact and properly aligned for chassis installation. Validate in iDRAC Lifecycle Controller that the 540-BBPA is recognized with certified Dell firmware and passes diagnostics under sustained 10GbE network traffic.
Fits these models
- Dell PowerEdge R740
- Dell PowerEdge R640
- Dell PowerEdge R750
- Dell PowerEdge R650
- Dell PowerEdge R540
- Dell PowerEdge R440
Works together
How the Dell 540-BBPA connects to servers, storage and the network: 3 ways, with the hardware on each path.
iSCSI and NVMe/TCP over Ethernet
Keep the speed the same at all three points: a 25GbE server, a 25GbE switch port and a 25GbE array port. Mixed speeds work but the slowest link sets the pace.
Switches
Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerStore 500T 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME5012 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME5024 2U rack
Dell PowerVault ME5084 5U rack
Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Optics
File storage (NFS and SMB)
Front-end ports face the clients; back-end ports (on scale-out systems) connect the nodes to each other and need their own switch pair.
Switches
- Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerScale A300 4U
Dell PowerScale F200 1U rack- Dell PowerStore 500T 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 380F 2U rack
- Dell Unity XT 380XT 2U rack
Dell Unity XT 480F 2U rack
Optics
Hyperconverged cluster
Plan at least two 25GbE ports per node to two switches; all-NVMe clusters often move to 100GbE.
HCI nodes
Lenovo ThinkAgile VX650 V2 2U rack
Lenovo ThinkAgile HX3320 1U rack
Switches
- Dell PowerSwitch S4128F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S4148F-ON 1U rack
Optics
Plan and size it
- Draw this setup in the topology planner mrplanb.com
- Add up rack power and space rack-density.com
- iSCSI explained mrplanb.com
- Virtualization storage Ledger: scored storage platforms mrplanb.com
- Network monitoring tools compared mrplanb.com
- Dell E-Lab Navigator (Dell interoperability) dell.com
Equivalent part numbers
- Intel X550 OCP 3.0 Intel Ethernet Network Adapter X550-T2 for OCP 3.0
FAQ
Can I replace an SFP+ OCP card with this 10GBASE-T card?
Yes, OCP 3.0 slots are standardized and accept any certified OCP 3.0 network mezzanine.
Does this card generate extra chassis heat?
10GBASE-T controllers run warm; iDRAC adjusts internal fan curves automatically to provide adequate rear airflow across the OCP bay.
Buying or selling 540-BBPA?
New, refurbished or used. Tell us the quantity and condition and we connect you with a vetted reseller in your region, usually within one working day.
Sources
- Dell Intel X550 Dual Port 10GBASE-T OCP 3.0 Adapter Specifications, checked 2026-10-27