Intel STL2 - Server Board Motherboard Product Manual page 14

General Configuration Notes
1. Windows NT versions prior to 4.0 don't support Adapter Teaming options.
2. Adapter Teaming options require NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4.0 or Service Pack 3.0 and Hotfix.
3. In Windows NT, teaming options cannot be implemented on adapters that have been
configured for VLANs. NetWare can support teaming options and VLANs on the same
adapters.
Adapter Fault Tolerance
Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) is a simple, effective, and fail-safe approach to increase the
reliability of server connections. AFT gives you the ability to set up link recovery to the server
adapter in case of a cable, port, or network interface card failure. By assigning two PRO/100
Intelligent Server adapters as a team, AFT enables you to maintain uninterrupted network
performance.
AFT is implemented with two PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapters: a primary adapter and a
backup, or secondary, adapter. During normal operation, the backup will have transmit disabled. If
the link to the primary adapter fails, the link to the backup adapter automatically takes over.
Preferred Primary Adapter
With multiple adapters installed, you can specify one as the Preferred Primary adapter. For
example if you have a server with a PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapter as the primary adapter and
a PRO/100+ adapter as the secondary, you would want the PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapter to be
the preferred primary. In this scenario, if the PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapter fails, the
PRO/100+ will take over. Then when the PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapter is replaced, it will
automatically revert to being the primary adapter in the team.
If a Preferred Primary is not selected, PROSet will attempt to select the best adapter, based on
adapter model and speed.
Mixed Adapter Teaming
AFT supports up to four PRO/1000 or PRO/100 adapters per team, in any mix.
Adaptive Load Balancing
Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) is a simple and efficient way to increase your server's transmit
throughput. With ALB you group PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapters in teams to provide an
increased transmit rate (up to 400 Mbps) using a maximum of four adapters. The ALB software
continuously analyzes transmit loading on each adapter and balances the rate across the adapters as
needed. Adapter teams configured for ALB also provide the benefits of AFT. Receive rates remain
at 100 Mbps.
To use ALB, you must have two, three, or four PRO/100 Intelligent Server adapters installed in
your server or workstation and linked to the same network switch.
14 Intel Server Board STL2 Product Guide