Question 1

What network card comes standard in a Dell PowerEdge R740?

Accepted Answer

The Dell PowerEdge R740 ships with a Broadcom 5720 Quad-Port 1GbE rNDC (rack Network Daughter Card) by default. This is the integrated NIC that occupies the dedicated NDC slot on the motherboard. You can replace it with a 10GbE rNDC like the Intel X710 or Broadcom 57416 without using a PCIe slot.

Question 2

Can I use non-Dell NICs in a PowerEdge server?

Accepted Answer

Technically yes, but Dell servers will display a warning in iDRAC that the adapter is "not Dell certified." Non-Dell NICs also lack NPAR support, may not support iDRAC network monitoring, and can have firmware compatibility issues. For production environments, Dell-branded NICs are strongly recommended.

Question 3

What is the difference between rNDC and PCIe NICs in Dell servers?

Accepted Answer

An rNDC (rack Network Daughter Card) plugs into a dedicated slot on the motherboard and does not consume a PCIe slot. PCIe NICs use standard expansion slots. rNDCs are typically 2-port or 4-port 1GbE/10GbE and provide the base network connectivity, while PCIe NICs add additional ports for storage, backup, or VM traffic.

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