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Installing options 93
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
network be Category 5 or higher.
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.
• Adapter fault tolerance (AFT) provides automatic redundancy for the adapter. If
the primary adapter fails, the secondary adapter takes over. Adapter fault
tolerance supports from two to four adapters per team.
• Adaptive load balancing (ALB) enables you to balance the transmission data
flow among two to four adapters. ALB also includes the AFT option. You can use
ALB with any 100BASE-TX switch.