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One of the major hosting companies is offering us to install Intel X520-DA2 dual 10Gb network cards in some of the servers we are about to rent. A few of them are supposed to run Windows Server 2022, and I would like to confirm if this card is really supported in the most recent server version of Windows.

This document states that there is no more support, starting from Windows Server 2022 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025890/ethernet-products.html

Here the said NIC is mentioned in the list of supported hardware covered by the drivers intended for Windows Server 2022 https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/706171/intel-network-adapter-driver-for-windows-server-2022.html

Both sources are official and contradict to each other. So where is the truth?

If anybody had practical experience with this combination, please share.

Mooh
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1 Answers1

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They’re NOT compatible and will NOT work. Installing old drivers won’t succeed, but even if you’d manage to find a workaround good luck getting support from Microsoft on ANYTHING. They will find out about incompatible hardware and point you out to fix the issue before you’ll move forward.

TL;DR: It’s a BAD idea. Go supported Mellanox NICs. They’re rock solid, and you get RDMA as a bonus.

Supported Operating Systems for Retail Intel® Ethernet Adapters.

https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/articles/000025890/ethernet-products.html

Under section Windows support for Intel® Ethernet 500 Series Network Adapters you can see that X520-DA2 is using IXN windows driver and not compatible for Windows Server 2022.

BaronSamedi1958
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