Dell Dual Port 16 Gbit PCIe 3.0 Host Bus Adapter

Overview

The Dell 0CK9H1 is a dual port host bus adapter designed to provide high-speed fibre channel connectivity for compatible Dell servers. It delivers two independent 16 Gbit per second fibre channel connections via a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, enabling low latency and high throughput for demanding storage workloads. This adapter is ideal for environments that require reliable and fast access to external storage networks, such as virtualized clusters, database operations, and media streaming.

Key features

• Two fibre channel ports that operate independently, allowing for redundant paths or balanced traffic distribution across separate switches
• PCIe 3.0 x8 host interface ensures fast data transfer rates and compatibility with modern server architectures
• Supports standard SFP+ optical transceivers, providing flexibility to use either multimode or single-mode fibre optics based on existing infrastructure
• Certified for Dell enterprise servers and storage arrays, ensuring seamless integration and reliable performance
• Enables multipath I/O, zoning, and fabric failover for enhanced data center resilience and management
• Helps maintain responsive shared datastores during live migrations and snapshot operations in virtualized environments
• Improves database log writing speeds and reduces backup windows for critical applications
• Supports streaming of large media files directly to SAN without dropped frames, benefiting media professionals

Key specs

• Fibre channel ports: 2 independent ports
• Port speed: 16 Gbit per second per port
• Host interface: PCIe 3.0 x8
• Optical transceiver compatibility: Standard SFP+
• Compatibility: Qualified for Dell enterprise servers and storage arrays

Connectivity and compatibility

This adapter connects through a PCIe 3.0 x8 slot, providing a high-bandwidth link to the server motherboard. It accepts standard SFP+ transceivers, which means you can choose the appropriate multimode or single-mode fibre optics to match your existing cabling infrastructure. The card is fully qualified for Dell enterprise platforms, ensuring that features like multipath I/O and fabric failover integrate smoothly with Dell management tools and storage fabrics.

Installation and setup

Installing the Dell 0CK9H1 is straightforward: simply insert the card into an available PCIe slot, secure the bracket, and install the Dell-certified driver. This process ensures that the adapter works reliably with Dell servers and storage arrays, supporting advanced SAN features without additional configuration complexity. The driver and firmware are optimized for Dell environments, reducing setup time and minimizing potential compatibility issues.

Ideal uses and environments

This host bus adapter is well suited to data centers and enterprise environments that demand consistent, high-speed access to storage networks. It fits well in virtualized clusters where maintaining datastore responsiveness during live migrations is critical. Database administrators will appreciate the faster log writing and shorter backup windows, while media professionals benefit from smooth streaming of large files to SAN storage. Its support for redundant paths and load balancing makes it a strong choice for setups that require high availability and predictable latency.