Ethernet Port - IBM 8646 - Eserver xSeries 220 Hardware Maintenance Manual

Ethernet port

The server comes with an integrated Ethernet controller. This controller provides
an interface for connecting to 10-Mbps or 100-Mbps networks and provides
full-duplex (FDX) capability, which enables simultaneous transmission and
reception of data on the Ethernet local area network (LAN).
To access the Ethernet port, connect a Category 3, 4, or 5 unshielded twisted-pair
(UTP) cable to the RJ-45 connector on the rear of the server.
Note: The 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet standard requires that the cabling in the
Configuring the Ethernet controller
When you connect the server to the network, the Ethernet controller automatically
detects the data-transfer rate (10 Mbps or 100 Mbps) on the network and then sets
the controller to operate at the appropriate rate. In addition, if the Ethernet port
that the server is connected to supports auto-negotiation, the Ethernet controller
will set the appropriate duplex state. That is, the Ethernet controller will adjust to
the network data rate, whether the data rate is standard Ethernet (10BASE-T), Fast
Ethernet (100BASE-TX), half duplex (HDX), or full duplex (FDX). The controller
supports half-duplex (HDX) and full-duplex (FDX) modes at both speeds.
The Ethernet controller is a PCI Plug and Play device. You do not need to set any
jumpers or configure the controller for the operating system before you use the
Ethernet controller. However, you must install a device driver to enable the
operating system to address the Ethernet controller. The device drivers are
provided on the ServerGuide CDs.
Failover for redundant Ethernet
The IBM 10/100 Ethernet Adapter or the IBM 10/100 Etherjet PCI family of
adapters are optional redundant network interface cards (NIC adapters) that you
can install in the server. If you install this NIC adapter and connect it to the same
logical segment as the primary Ethernet controller, you can configure the server to
support a failover function. You can configure either the integrated Ethernet
controller or the NIC adapter as the primary Ethernet controller. In failover mode,
if the primary Ethernet controller detects a link failure, all Ethernet traffic that is
associated with it is switched to the redundant (secondary) controller. This
switching occurs without any user intervention. When the primary link is restored
to an operational state, the Ethernet traffic switches back to the primary Ethernet
controller.
High-performance Ethernet modes
The Ethernet controller supports optional modes, such as teaming, priority packets,
and virtual LANs, which provide higher performance and throughput for the
server.
Teaming Mode: The Ethernet controller provides options, called teaming options.
These options increase throughput and fault tolerance when running with
Windows NT 4.0 or NetWare 4.1x or later.
v Adapter fault tolerance (AFT) provides automatic redundancy for the adapter. If
v Adaptive load balancing (ALB) enables you to balance the transmission data
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Hardware Maintenance Manual: xSeries 220 Type 8646
network be Category 5 or higher.
the primary adapter fails, the secondary adapter takes over. Adapter fault
tolerance supports from two to four adapters per team.
flow among two to four adapters. ALB also includes the AFT option. You can
use ALB with any 100BASE-TX switch.