StarTech PEX1000SFP2 PCIe Gigabit SFP Network Card – Open SFP Slot PCIe x1

Overview :

The StarTech PEX1000SFP2 is a high-performance PCI Express fiber-optic network interface card (NIC) designed to provide a secure and reliable fiber connection directly to a workstation or server. It is utilized by network administrators, security-conscious government agencies, and industrial facilities that require the EMI (Electromagnetic Interference) immunity and long-distance capabilities of fiber-optic networking.

Technically, the card features an “open” SFP slot, which provides the flexibility to use any MSA-compliant 1Gbps SFP transceiver (Multi-Mode or Single-Mode) depending on the specific distance and fiber type required for the installation. It utilizes a native PCIe x1 chipset to ensure a high-bandwidth connection to the motherboard while maintaining low power consumption. The card supports advanced features such as 9K Jumbo Frames, Layer 2 Priority Encoding (802.1p), and 802.1Q VLAN Tagging, allowing for efficient traffic management and network segmentation.

Deployment is versatile, as the card includes both a full-profile bracket for standard towers and a low-profile/half-height bracket for small-form-factor (SFF) computers. Because it uses fiber optics, it is ideal for environments where copper cabling (RJ45) would be susceptible to interference or where a secure link is needed that cannot be easily tapped. The card is fully “plug-and-play” on most modern operating systems, facilitating quick integration into existing fiber-to-the-desk (FTTD) infrastructures.

Key Features :

• Open SFP slot supports both Multi-Mode and Single-Mode 1Gbps transceivers.

• Fiber-to-the-desk connectivity provides total immunity to EMI and RFI.

• Supports 802.1Q VLAN tagging for secure and organized network traffic.

• Includes both full-profile and low-profile brackets for universal installation.

• High-performance 9K Jumbo Frame support for reduced CPU overhead.