Configuring The Ethernet Controller; Failover For Redundant Ethernet - IBM xSeries 240 81Y Hardware Maintenance Manual

Configuring the Ethernet controller

The xSeries 240 server comes with an Ethernet controller
on the system board. The Ethernet controller provides
10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX support through the RJ-45
connector on the back of the server. 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. 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).
This process is also known as auto-negotiating. This
auto-negotiation occurs without requiring software
intervention. The controller supports half-duplex (HDX)
and full-duplex (FDX) modes at both speeds.
Note
The 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet standard requires that
the cabling in the network be Category 5 or higher.
The Ethernet controller is a PCI device, and is therefore, a
Plug and Play device. You do not have 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 (refer to the ServerGuide
information provided with the server section of this Server
Library or to the operating-system documentation).
For troubleshooting information, see "Troubleshooting the
Ethernet controller" on page 54.
If you need additional Ethernet connections, you can install
an Ethernet adapter, such as the IBM 10/100 PCI Ethernet
adapter. Review the network-adapter documentation for
any additional configuration requirements and for
troubleshooting information.

Failover for redundant Ethernet

The xSeries 240 has an integrated Ethernet controller.
The IBM Netfinity 10/100 Fault Tolerant Adapter is an
optional redundant network interface card (NIC adapter)
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
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
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xSeries 240 HMM