540-BCOW: Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Network Adapter
Also listed as: 0VFXT1, VFXT1, E810XXVDA2OCPV3 · made by Intel
The Dell 540-BCOW is a Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Network Adapter delivering 25GbE network connectivity across 2x 10/25GbE SFP28 ports via PCIe 4.0 x8 OCP 3.0. Built with Intel controller architecture, the 540-BCOW provides hardware offload acceleration and virtualization support for R750, R650, R760, R660 enterprise servers.
Specifications
| Part number | 540-BCOW |
|---|---|
| Brand | Dell |
| Made by | Intel |
| Type | OCP adapters |
| Other numbers | 0VFXT1, VFXT1, E810XXVDA2OCPV3 |
| Status | current |
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 OCP 3.0 |
| Ports | 2x 10/25GbE SFP28 ports |
| Speed gbps | 25 |
| Form factor | OCP NIC 3.0 Small Form Factor (SFF) |
| Features | RoCEv2, iWARP, Dynamic Device Personalization (DDP), Application Device Queues (ADQ) |
About the 540-BCOW
The Dell 540-BCOW is a Dell Intel E810-XXV Dual Port 10/25GbE SFP28 OCP 3.0 Network Adapter engineered to deliver 25GbE network transmission across 2x 10/25GbE SFP28 ports over PCIe 4.0 x8 OCP 3.0. Powered by Intel controller architecture on the 540-BCOW, it executes hardware-level protocol processing, RoCE, and SR-IOV virtualization while maintaining a thermal envelope of approximately 15W. In Dell's networking portfolio, 540-BCOW provides dedicated high-bandwidth fabric connectivity for clustered virtualization, network storage, and enterprise database hosts.
Compatibility
Engineered for Dell PowerEdge servers including R750, R650, R760, R660, the 540-BCOW mounts directly into OCP NIC 3.0 Small Form Factor (SFF) locations. The 540-BCOW slides into the rear OCP 3.0 mezzanine bay with an ejection latch, preserving PCIe riser slots. Cabling the 540-BCOW requires 25GbE-rated media, including direct attach copper twinaxial assemblies, optical transceivers, or patch leads matched to its physical ports. Supported operating systems on the 540-BCOW include VMware ESXi, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and Windows Server with native Dell drivers.
How to identify a genuine unit
Authentic Dell 540-BCOW units carry an identification label displaying DP/N 0VFXT1 and Intel model code E810XXVDA2OCPV3 along with Dell regulatory marks. In iDRAC Network Devices inventory, the card registers under part number 540-BCOW with active link state, port MAC addresses, negotiated speed, and certified Dell firmware. Onboard physical indicators on the 540-BCOW provide link status and port activity monitoring.
Buying used
When purchasing a pre-owned 540-BCOW, examine the gold edge connector fingers for scratches, peeling contacts, or missing surface-mount capacitors. Ensure that the 540-BCOW OCP pull-latch mechanism is intact and properly aligned for chassis installation. Validate in iDRAC Lifecycle Controller that the 540-BCOW is recognized with certified Dell firmware and passes diagnostics under sustained 25GbE network traffic.
Fits these models
Works together
How the Dell 540-BCOW 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
Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerStore 1000T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 1000X 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 1200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 3000T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 3200T 2U rack
Dell PowerStore 5000T 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
- Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-ON 1U rack
Storage
Dell PowerScale A300 4U
Dell PowerScale F200 1U rack
Dell PowerScale F600 1U rack
Dell PowerScale H700 4U- Dell PowerStore 1000T 2U rack
- Dell PowerStore 1200T 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
- Dell PowerSwitch S5212F-ON 1U rack
- Dell PowerSwitch S5224F-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 E810-XXVDA2 OCP Intel Ethernet Network Adapter E810-XXV-DA2 OCP 3.0
FAQ
What RDMA protocols does the Intel E810 support?
It supports both RoCEv2 (RDMA over Converged Ethernet) and iWARP, giving administrators complete fabric flexibility.
Does the Intel E810 support PCIe Gen4?
Yes, it connects over PCIe 4.0 x8, providing full 50 Gbps bidirectional throughput with low CPU overhead.
Buying or selling 540-BCOW?
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 E810 OCP 3.0 Details, checked 2026-10-27