Failover For Redundant Ethernet; High Performance Ethernet Modes - IBM xSeries 200 Hardware Maintenance Manual

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 FDX. The controller
supports HDX and FDX modes at both speeds.
The Ethernet controller is integrated on the system board.
You do not need to set any jumpers or configure the
controller for your operating system before you use the
Ethernet controller. However, you must install a device
driver to enable your 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
adapters are optional, redundant network interface card
(NIC) adapters that you can install in your 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, the Ethernet traffic switches back
to the primary Ethernet controller.
High Performance Ethernet Modes: Your Ethernet
controller supports optional modes, such as teaming,
priority packets, and virtual LANs, which provide higher
performance and throughput for your server.
Teaming Mode: Your 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 your adapter. If the primary adapter fails,
the secondary adapter takes over. Adapter fault
tolerance supports from 2 to 4 adapters per team.
v Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) enables you to
balance the transmission data flow among 2 to 4
adapters. ALB also includes the AFT option. You can
use ALB with any 100BASE-TX switch.
v Cisco Fast EtherChannel (FEC) creates a team of 2 to
4 adapters to increase transmission and reception
throughput. FEC also includes the AFT option. You can
only use FEC with a switch that has FEC capability.
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Hardware Maintenance Manual: xSeries 200
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