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Description 15
Network Controllers
The server board includes two integrated onboard Network Interface Controllers (NICs).
One NIC is a 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX network solution based on the Intel 82550PM single-chip
Fast Ethernet PCI Bus Controller. As a PCI bus master, the controller can burst data at up to
132 MB/s. The controller contains two receive and transmit FIFO buffers that prevent data
overruns or underruns while waiting for access to the PCI bus. The controller has the following:
• 32-bit PCI bus master interface (direct drive of bus), compatible with PCI Bus Specification,
Revision 2.2
• Chained memory structure with improved dynamic transmit chaining for enhanced
performance
• Programmable transmit threshold for improved bus utilization
• Early receive interrupt for concurrent processing of receive data
• On-chip counters for network management
• Auto-detect and auto-switching for 10 or 100 Mbps network speeds
• Support for both 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps networks, capable of full or half duplex, with
back-to-back transmit at 100 Mbps
• Low-power +3.3 V device
• Alert on LAN functionality
The second NIC is an Intel 82544GC Gigabit Ethernet Controller capable of providing
10/100/1000 Mbps data rates. It is a single-chip device containing both the MAC and PHY layer
functions.
The 82544GC utilizes a 64-bit/100 MHz direct interface to the PCI-X bus. It is compliant with the
PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2. It also supports the PCI-X extension to the PCI Local
Bus, Revision 1.0a.
✏
NOTE
If you install a 32/64-bit, 33/66 MHz PCI card in Add-in card slots 1 or 2,
you will slow the PCI-X bus to the speed of the card you install. This will
also slow the 82455GC’s interface to the PCI-X bus.
Network Teaming Features
The network controller provides several options for increasing throughput and fault tolerance when
running Windows
†
2000 or NetWare
†
6.0 or newer:
• Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) - provides automatic redundancy for your adapter. If the
primary adapter fails, the secondary takes over. AFT works with any hub or switch.
• Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) - creates a team of 2 - 4 adapters to increase transmission
throughput. Also includes AFT. Works with any 10Base-TX or 100Base-TX switch.
• Fast EtherChannel
†
(FEC) - creates a team of 2, 3, or 4 adapters to increase transmission and
reception throughput. Also includes AFT. Requires an FEC-enabled switch.