FLR vs FLB: The Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Right Option for You

by Davoud Teimouri · Published 11/11/2017 · Updated 13/07/2023

There are some types of adapters which installed on HPE servers such as FlexibleLOM, FLR and FLB. We are going to find out that meaning of each type.

On This Post:

What’s FlexibleLOM?

FlexibleLOM is a standard for HPE network interface cards that using on ProLiant Blade servers and ProLiant Rack Mount servers. LAN-On-Motherboard is an architecture for HPE network interface cards.

There is some benefits when FlexibleLOM is installed on HPE servers. The previous server generations (G7 and earlier) shipped with an integrated LOM and if customers needs to another type of NIC, they had to purchase another PCI NIC for the server. This was consuming mezzanine or PCI slots which reduced the flexibility to add other mezzanine cards or PCI cards.

What’s FLR?

FlexibleLOM for Rack Mount servers that be installed on G8 and newer generations.

FlexibleLOM technology uses a custom implementation of the PCIe 3.0 x8 interface. FlexibleLOM technology does not require additional CPU resources over standard LOM architecture and does not occupy a regular PCI slot.

FlexibleLOM - Rack Mount Servers
FLR — FlexibleLOM – Rack Mount Servers

What’s FLB?

FLB or FlexibleLOM for Blade servers that be installed on G8 and newer generations.

It uses PCI Express v2.0 (Gen 2) x8 interface. The FlexibleLOM Blade adapter installs as a daughter card on the server blade board, just like a mezzanine card.

FlexibleLOM - Blade Servers
FLB — FlexibleLOM – Blade Servers

External Links

difference between FLB or FlexibleLOM for Blade a… – Hewlett Packard Enterprise Community (hpe.com)

Davoud Teimouri

Professional blogger, vExpert 2015/2016/2017/2018/2019/2020/2021/2022/2023, vExpert NSX, vExpert PRO, vExpert Security, vExpert EUC, VCA, MCITP. This blog is started with simple posts and now, it has large following readers.

amin mehranfar says:

29/12/2018 at 7:39 pm

Thank you for the Subject

I dont now The difference between FLB (FlexibleLOM Blade) and Mezzanine .
can u help me.

Reply
- Davoud Teimouri says:
  
  30/12/2018 at 10:42 pm
  
  Hi,
  Thank you for comment.
  Mezzanine is like an expansion card and includes more options compare to FLB card.
  There is the below options are available for Blade server as mezzanine:
  Dual-port 20Gb FlexFabric, Dual-port 10Gb FlexFabric, and 10GbE options.
  Dual-port 16Gb Fibre Channel HBA for SAN connectivity.
  QDR and FDR InfiniBand for low latency and high bandwidth server interconnectivity.
  I/O accelerator mezzanine options for high transaction rate local storage.
  
  But FLB just offers you: Dual-port FlexFabric or Dual-port Ethernet.
  
  Reply
  - ibrahim says:
    
    25/09/2019 at 9:25 am
    
    Hi,
    
    for exactly what purpose we use FLB adapters and Mezzanine cards in server blade ?
    
    Thanks in advance.
    
    Reply
    - Davoud Teimouri says:
      
      25/09/2019 at 10:26 pm
      
      Hi,
      FLB is a FlexFabric adapter which can be used for network and storage connection (FC, FCoE, iSCSI)
      Mezzanine is a type of PCI cards with specific connection, it can be FlexFabric or converged adapter or HBA or other types.
      
      Reply
      - Ibrahim says:
        
        08/11/2019 at 10:50 am
        
        Thank You Davoud.
Davoud Teimouri says:

25/07/2019 at 6:03 am

Dears,
We have a problem on server and the new comments have been deleted.
So please ask your questions again.

Reply