Allied Telesis AT-29M2/LC-AF TAA FEDERAL 1000SX/LC M.2 GIGABIT FIBER ADAPTER CARD NIC

Product Overview

The Allied Telesis AT-29M2/LC-AF is a TAA-compliant Allied Telesis dual-port gigabit PCIe NIC with LC fiber connector, designed for servers, workstations, and embedded computing platforms requiring 1000Base-SX multimode fiber connectivity via an M.2 host interface. The /LC-AF suffix confirms the LC duplex connector variant of the 29M2 series — distinct from the AT-29M2/SP-BA-901, which uses an SFP slot for flexible optic selection. Network engineers deploying fiber-attached servers in government, defense, or agency environments will note the TAA compliance (Trade Agreements Act) designation, which satisfies federal acquisition regulations. This card delivers reliable 1 GbE fiber NIC performance with 1000Base-SX (850 nm multimode) connectivity in a compact M.2 form factor suitable for space-constrained server platforms.

Product Description

The Allied Telesis AT-29M2/LC-AF provides server platforms with a native 1000Base-SX fiber network interface using the M.2 expansion slot, avoiding the need for a full-height PCIe slot where space or slot count is at a premium. The LC duplex connector is the industry-standard fiber connector for 1G and 10G SX/LX links, offering a compact, latching connection that resists accidental disconnection in rackmount server environments. The 1000Base-SX standard operates at 850 nm over multimode fiber, supporting distances up to 550 m on 50/125 µm OM2+ or OM3 fiber — appropriate for intra-datacenter and inter-rack connections. With the /AF suffix designating the Allied Telesis Federal (TAA) product variant, this NIC is specifically qualified for US government, defense, and federal contractor server builds where domestic-origin compliance is mandatory. The M.2 interface provides a direct host bus connection with low latency and reliable data transfer, making it suitable for applications that require consistent fiber NIC performance without the overhead of USB or external adapters. This card is purpose-built for fiber-only network environments where copper RJ-45 connectivity is deliberately excluded for security, distance, or EMI reasons. Compared to the AT-29M2/SP-BA-901 (SFP-based variant), the /LC-AF features a fixed 1000Base-SX LC connector — a straightforward choice when multimode fiber is the standard and optic interchangeability is not required. TAA compliance is confirmed by the manufacturer part number AT-29M2/LC-AF.

Key Features

• M.2 Host Interface — Fits M.2 expansion slots in servers, embedded systems, and compact platforms; avoids consuming a full PCIe slot.
• 1000Base-SX LC Fiber (850 nm) — Fixed LC duplex connector; multimode fiber up to 550 m on OM2+/OM3; no optic selection or SFP cost required.
• 1 GbE Gigabit Ethernet Performance — Full-duplex gigabit throughput for server-to-switch and server-to-server fiber connectivity.
• TAA Compliant (/AF Federal Variant) — Meets Trade Agreements Act requirements; eligible for US federal, DoD, and government procurement programs.
• Optical Fiber Media Only — No copper RJ-45 port; purpose-built for fiber-only server environments requiring physical layer isolation.
• Compact, Low-Profile Design — M.2 form factor enables installation in space-constrained rackmount or blade server platforms.

Typical Applications

• US federal government and DoD server builds requiring TAA-compliant 1 GbE fiber NIC hardware
• Data center server-to-switch fiber connections within 550 m using existing OM2+/OM3 multimode infrastructure
• Security-sensitive environments where copper connectivity is excluded and fiber provides physical layer isolation
• Compact and embedded server platforms with M.2 slots but limited full-height PCIe availability
• Industrial and telecommunications servers requiring reliable fiber NIC connectivity with a fixed LC connector
• Organizations standardizing on Allied Telesis fiber NICs across server and storage platforms

Technical Specifications

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What does the /AF suffix mean on the AT-29M2/LC-AF?

The /AF suffix designates the Allied Telesis Federal variant of the 29M2 NIC. This confirms TAA (Trade Agreements Act) compliance, meaning the product meets domestic-origin requirements for US federal government, DoD, and agency procurement contracts.

Q: What is the difference between the AT-29M2/LC-AF and the AT-29M2/SP-BA-901?

Both are M.2 1 GbE fiber NICs in the 29M2 series. The /LC-AF uses a fixed 1000Base-SX LC duplex connector (multimode fiber, 850 nm) — a permanent, low-cost choice when multimode LC is the site standard. The /SP-BA-901 features an SFP slot, allowing the optic type to be changed — providing flexibility to use multimode, single-mode, or BiDi transceivers. Choose /LC-AF for simplicity; choose /SP-BA-901 when optic interchangeability is needed.

Q: What fiber cable type does the AT-29M2/LC-AF require?

The 1000Base-SX standard requires multimode fiber. 50/125 µm OM2+ or OM3 cable supports distances up to 550 m. 62.5/125 µm (OM1) cable is supported at shorter distances (up to approximately 275 m). Single-mode fiber is not compatible with the SX transceiver.

Q: Does the AT-29M2/LC-AF fit standard PCIe server slots?

No. This is an M.2 form factor card. It requires an M.2 expansion slot on the server motherboard or an M.2 to PCIe adapter carrier card. Verify that your server platform provides an M.2 slot before ordering.

Q: Is the AT-29M2/LC-AF suitable for government procurement?

Yes. The TAA-compliant /AF variant satisfies federal acquisition requirements for US government, DoD, and agency server deployments. Contact Creation Networks for government pricing and procurement support.

Q: What operating systems and drivers are supported?

Driver and OS compatibility details are available in the Allied Telesis product documentation. Consult the Allied Telesis support portal or contact Creation Networks for specific OS compatibility confirmation prior to ordering.

Q: Where can I purchase the AT-29M2/LC-AF?

The AT-29M2/LC-AF is available through Creation Networks, an authorized Allied Telesis reseller with expertise in fiber NIC, media converter, and TAA-compliant networking solutions.