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Product Overview
Chapter 1
6
Product Overview
Gigabit Ethernet is a high-performance Ethernet networking solution for HP servers
and workstations.
The LAN adapters are data link adapters that support the IEEE 802.3z standard for
1000Base-SX operation over multimode fiber, and the IEEE 802.3ab standard for
1000Base-T operation over 4-pair Cat-5 or Cat-5E UTP copper wiring.
The Gigabit Ethernet intelligent adapters are designed to maximize host CPU efficiency
by performing functions such as TCP/IP checksum, interrupt coalescing, and byte
swapping. Bulk data transfers can be optimized with the use of Jumbo Frames; the large
9000 byte maximum transfer unit (MTU) improves system efficiency.
1000Base-T brings high bandwidth with 10, 100, and 1000 Mbps speeds, whch makes
more processing power available for applications. The tri-speed adapter supports
autonegotiation and autosensing. It operates in full-duplex mode at 10, 100, and 1000
Mbps or in half-duplex mode at 10 and 100 Mbps.
1000Base-SX supports full-duplex point-to-point or back-to-back (via switch to adapter
or adapter to adapter) operations only. The adapters do not support half-duplex and do
not speed negotiate (1000 Mbps operation only), but do perform autonegotiation for other
link parameters.
A6847A supports PCI only. Older 1000Base-SX adapters support HSC/PCI. 1000Base-T
supports PCI only.
The PCI adapters require a single slot in the host system and support all PCI bus
configurations: 32-bit, 33/66 MHz and 64-bit, 33/66 MHz. (Note: A6794A, A6847A, and
A6825A support 64-bit only.)
Features
Features of Gigabit Ethernet include:
• 1000Base-T features:
— Triple speed 10/100/1000 Mbps
— Full duplex operation at 10/100/1000 Mbps and half-duplex operation at 10/100
Mbps (no half-duplex support for 1000 Mbps)
— Autonegotiation and autosensing to the highest available link speed
• 1000Base-SX features:
— 1000 Mbps
— Full-duplex operation
• Supports IEEE 802.1Q VLAN tagging and IEEE 802.1p Priority Queuing (HP-UX
11i)
• Minimized host CPU utilization
— Protocol offloading through on-board TCP, UDP, and IP checksum calculations
— Adaptive interrupt coalescence based on traffic load