StarTech.com MR12GI-NETWORK-CARD - Network Interface Card, Red

The StarTech.com MR12GI-NETWORK-CARD 1-Port 2.5GbE M.2 2280 adds high-speed wired connectivity directly to a PC or server motherboard. Using a standard M.2 PCIe interface with a B+M-Key design, this internal adapter provides a dedicated network link for small-form-factor systems that lack an available full-size expansion slot. The single RJ-45 port delivers data transfer rates up to 2500 Mbit/s over standard copper cabling. Based on NBASE-T technology, the card supports 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet speeds over existing Cat5e or Cat6 cables. Note that this module is for wired networking only and does not include Wi-Fi or Bluetooth capabilities.

Built using the Intel I225-V chipset, the M.2 Ethernet card handles network traffic while drawing typically 2.3 W of power. It supports network management and isolation through built-in VLAN tagging and full-duplex operation. Installation is straightforward thanks to plug-and-play functionality on modern platforms. The card is compatible with Windows 10 and 11, Windows Server 2019 and 2022, Linux, and VMware ESXi 7.0. LED indicators show the physical link and activity status.

• Auto MDI/MDI-X and autonegotiation handle cable pairing and speed scaling across 10, 100, 1000, and 2500 Mbit/s segments.
• Support for jumbo frames (up to 9000 bytes) improves large file transfers and reduces processing overhead on enterprise servers.
• Wake-on-LAN support allows administrators to power on the host system remotely for off-hours maintenance.
• TAA compliance makes the hardware suitable for government and institutional procurement.