Broadcom Limited LPE15004-M8

Overview

LPe15004-M8 from Emulex is a quad-port 8Gb Fibre Channel Host Bus Adapter with PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, supporting auto-negotiated 8GFC/4GFC/2GFC link speeds, T10 Protection Information (T10 PI) data integrity offload, and GreenState™ power efficiency-designed for high-density virtualized server deployments connecting to SSD-based SAN storage.

For engineers reviewing the LPe15004-M8 datasheet, pinout, applications, or equivalent options, key selection considerations include verified 8GFC quad-port I/O density, hardware-accelerated end-to-end data integrity, PCIe 3.0 backward compatibility, and OneCommand Manager–enabled centralized management across VMware vSphere, Windows Server, and Linux environments.

Technical Context

The LPe15004-M8 implements Emulex's 4th Generation Service Level Interface (SLI™) architecture with an XE201 (Lancer™) I/O Controller, enabling a single driver model across Emulex HBA families on each OS platform. It supports N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV), FC-SP authentication, and MSI-X interrupt scaling for optimized host CPU utilization in multi-VM workloads.

Its vScale™ engine delivers 255 virtual functions (VFs), 1024 MSI-X vectors, and 8192 concurrent logins-enabling up to 4× higher VM density than competing 8GFC quad-port HBAs-while ExpressLane™ provides per-application QoS prioritization for mission-critical SAN traffic.

Key Specifications

Pinout & Package

Package: Short, low-profile MD2 form factor (167.64 mm × 68.91 mm) with standard low-profile bracket; designed for slot-constrained 1U/2U servers.

Key Features

Applications

Equivalent & Alternatives

The following parts are listed as comparable options for similar Fibre Channel HBA applications.

Compared with QLE2564 and BR-815, the LPe15004-M8 delivers 50% higher IOPS, 75% better IOPS/watt, and hardware-enforced T10 PI-making it optimal for green-data-center initiatives, Oracle RAC, and VMware environments requiring centralized, policy-driven FC management.

Availability

LPe15004-M8 is available at Aetrix Electronics and suitable for virtualized data centers, enterprise database SANs, cloud infrastructure deployments, and mission-critical backup systems requiring stable component supply and long-term lifecycle support.

Supply support for LPe15004-M8 includes scheduled delivery planning, volume procurement assistance, BOM continuity management, traceable sourcing, and lifecycle availability coordination for OEM customers, industrial embedded developers, connected-device designers, and electronics production programs.

Manufacturer

Emulex Corporation, acquired by Broadcom in 2015, is a pioneer in Fibre Channel and converged networking silicon and software, headquartered in Costa Mesa, California.

The LightPulse® product line delivers high-density, feature-rich Fibre Channel HBAs engineered for virtualized, cloud, and mission-critical enterprise storage environments-with emphasis on I/O scalability, data integrity, and unified management.

FAQ

What operating systems does the LPe15004-M8 support?

The LPe15004-M8 supports Windows Server, Linux distributions (RHEL, SLES, Ubuntu), Solaris, VMware vSphere, and Windows Hyper-V. Its SLI™ driver model ensures binary compatibility across Emulex HBA generations on each OS, eliminating per-model driver updates. The LPe15004-M8 also receives ongoing firmware and driver updates directly from Broadcom's Emulex support portal.

Does the LPe15004-M8 support boot from SAN?

Yes, the LPe15004-M8 supports boot from SAN via UEFI and Legacy BIOS modes using its universal boot capability, which automatically detects and loads the appropriate boot environment. This feature reduces system management overhead and increases uptime by eliminating local disk dependencies. The LPe15004-M8 stores boot configuration in on-board EEPROM and supports secure boot workflows in enterprise environments.

How does T10 Protection Information work on the LPe15004-M8?

The LPe15004-M8 implements hardware-accelerated T10 PI end-to-end data integrity, generating and verifying 8-byte protection information per 512-byte sector at line rate. This offload prevents silent data corruption without consuming host CPU cycles-validated in Oracle Unbreakable Linux environments. The LPe15004-M8 enforces PI checking across the entire I/O path, from host memory to storage array, ensuring bit-level fidelity for mission-critical databases.

Can the LPe15004-M8 be managed centrally across a large data center?

Yes, the LPe15004-M8 is fully managed via Emulex OneCommand Manager, which provides centralized discovery, monitoring, reporting, and firmware/driver updates for all Emulex adapters-local or remote. It supports role-based administration integrated with LDAP and Active Directory, scriptable CLI, web browser access, and a VMware vCenter Server plug-in. The LPe15004-M8 leverages open standards like SMI-S and common HBA APIs for seamless integration into enterprise management suites.

What is the physical form factor and thermal envelope of the LPe15004-M8?

The LPe15004-M8 uses a short, low-profile MD2 card (167.64 mm × 68.91 mm) with standard low-profile bracket, designed for 1U/2U servers with space constraints. It operates within 0°–55°C ambient temperature and features rock-solid thermal characteristics validated for 24/7 operation in mission-critical deployments. Power is drawn from +3.3V and +12V PCIe rails; no auxiliary power connector is required.