Configure N-1170 / N-1200 (BCM957508) from 2 × 100G to 1 × 200G

Q: Configure N-1170 / N-1200 (BCM957508) from 2 × 100G to 1 × 200G

Applies to: N-1170 / N-1200 (Broadcom BCM957508 2 × 100G Ethernet Adapter)

A: UEFI Settings :

N-1170 or N-1200 refers to a BCM957508 network interface card configured as a 2-port device, where each port supports up to 100G.

To use 200G link speed, you must reconfigure the device as a 1-port device and enable the 200G link speed.

Method 1: UEFI Configuration (Auto-Negotiation)

1. Enter the UEFI HII Menu.
2. Set the Autodetect Speed Exclude Mask to 0.
3. Navigate to the Port Enablement menu and Disable port 2.
4. Save and reboot.

Method 2 : UEFI Configuration (Forced 200G)

1. Enter the UEFI HII Menu for the adapter.
2. Navigate to the Link Configuration menu.
3. Set the Port Speed to 200Gbps PAM-4.
4. Navigate to the Port Enablement menu.
5. Set the configuration to Disable port 2.
6. Save changes and reboot the server.

Linux Settings :

On Linux, you can use the niccli tool to set the link speed to 200G, and hide the second network port using the following commands.

Method 1: Linux Configuration (niccli)

You can use the niccli utility to configure the link speed and hide the second port.

1. Open the terminal and use the niccli tool.
2. Execute the commands to set the default link speed to 200G for both the driver and firmware (PXE).
3. Execute the command to hide the 2nd network port.
4. Reboot the system for the changes to take effect.

Examples:

1. Configure link speed: 2 × 100G to 1 × 200G

1.1 Check link/port status

Bash:

root@stlab-X570-AORUS-ELITE:/home/stlab# niccli -i 1 nvm -getoption port_hide

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIC CLI v233.0.150.0 - Broadcom Inc. (c) 2025 (Bld-106.52.39.138.16.0)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

port_hide = P2 - Valid for 2 port adapter

1.2  Set link

Bash:

root@stlab-X570-AORUS-ELITE:/home/stlab# niccli -i 1 nvm -setoption port_hide -value 0x00

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIC CLI v233.0.150.0 - Broadcom Inc. (c) 2025 (Bld-106.52.39.138.16.0)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

port_hide is set successfully

Please reboot the system to apply the configuration

reboot.

2. Configure link speed: 1 × 200G to 2 × 100G

2.1 Check link/port status

Bash:

root@stlab-X570-AORUS-ELITE:/home/stlab# niccli -i 1 nvm -getoption port_hide

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIC CLI v233.0.150.0 - Broadcom Inc. (c) 2025 (Bld-106.52.39.138.16.0)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

port_hide = None

2.2  Set link

Bash:

root@stlab-X570-AORUS-ELITE:/home/stlab# niccli -i 1 nvm -setoption port_hide -value 0x01

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NIC CLI v233.0.150.0 - Broadcom Inc. (c) 2025 (Bld-106.52.39.138.16.0)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

port_hide is set successfully

Please reboot the system to apply the configuration

reboot.

P.s

Niccli Utility Download:

The Niccli utility can be downloaded from the Broadcom website under “N2100G - 2 x 100GbE OCP 3.0 Adapter” -> “Broadcom NetXtreme-E Niccli Utility - Linux Interface.”

Link: https://www.broadcom.cn/products/ethernet-connectivity/network-adapters/n2100g