Advanced Windows Server 2003 Configuration for GbE Devices

The default GbE device driver configuration for the GbE NEM should satisfy most user requirements. Once the driver is installed, if you wish to modify the GbE device driver configuration, use the Microsoft Windows Device Manager to do so. For instructions on using Device Manager, refer to the Help facility provided with Device Manager. To configure networking properties for each GbE NEM or EM port, right-click the corresponding Network icon found under Network Connections in the Windows Control Panel, then select Properties to modify the network settings.

Intel Advanced Networking Services (ANS) Overview

A number of advanced networking features are available for the GbE NEM that include teaming, load balancing, and fault tolerance.

These features are provided with the installation of the NEM device driver and Intel Advanced Networking Services (ANS). Teaming of Ethernet ports and/or controllers is possible with Intel Express Teaming or Intel Advanced Networking Services. Express Teaming is immediately available after installing the Microsoft Windows operating system and the NEM device driver. Intel ANS is installed separately once Windows and the NEM device drivers are installed. Intel ANS provides even more advanced teaming and networking functionality.

An Express Team contains all ports of a single multi-port adapter. Teaming the ports of an adapter results in better performance for the adapter because all ports on a single adapter are being used by the system to pass network traffic. However, Express Teams support only Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) teams and do not support VLANs.

An Advanced Networking Services (ANS) Team contains two or more ports. The ports may be on one or more adapters. The type of ANS Team dictates how these ports work together to increase performance and maintain connectivity.

Note

A multi-port adapter cannot be part of an ANS Team and an Express Team at the same time.

Express Team

ANS Team

Required Software

Only the current NEM (Intel) drivers are required.

Intel® PROSet and Advanced Network Services.

Supported Team Types

Adaptive Load Balancing.

Adapter Fault Tolerance, Switch Fault Tolerance, Adaptive Load Balancing, Static Link Aggregation, IEEE 802.3ad Dynamic Link Aggregation.

Device Manager Display

The ports are displayed as a single item in Device Manager.

The team and all member ports are displayed in the Windows Device Manager.

Setting Up Express Teaming

Express Teaming is a quick way to team together all the ports of a multi-port adapter. To set up an Express Team find the NEM network adapter in the Windows Device Manager. Right-click the adapter icon and select Properties. Select the Advanced tab. Set the property to Express Teaming and the value to Express Team Ports.

When an Express Team is created, only the initiator port remains visible. All other member ports are hidden. When the team is created, the settings for the secondary ports are saved and the settings for the initiator port are propagated throughout the team. When the team is disbanded, the primary port retains the settings made for the team and the secondary ports have their pre-team settings restored.

Once the team has been created, when you change a setting, it is changed for all ports in the team. The only exception is Locally Administered Address. This is a port-specific setting and is not propagated through the team.

Express Teaming is based on Load Balancing technology supplied by Microsoft. An Express Team supports Receive Load Balancing (RLB).

When you create an Express Team, all ports for the adapter are automatically added to the Express Team. Each port in an Express Team displays an event log message about its link state. The link of the team is displayed in the system tray or in the Network Control Panel. If none of the ports are linked, then the link status for the team is displayed as no link.

Configuration Notes

  • If an adapter is configured for Express Teaming, performing hot-plug operations with that adapter is not supported. The adapter becomes disabled.

  • VLANs cannot be created on an Express Team, even if ANS are installed.

  • Diagnostics are not supported for an Express Team.

  • You cannot access the individual ports in an Express Team.

Setting Up ANS Teaming

Advanced Networking Services (ANS) Teaming allows one to multiple adapters in a system into a team. ANS Teams offer features such as load balancing, increased throughput, and fault tolerance.

Before you can set up ANS Teaming you must install Intel Advanced Networking Services.

Once Intel Advanced Networking Services software is installed, select the “Team with other Adapters” radio button on the adapter's Teaming tab to set up ANS Teams.

The network configuration will influence which team types can be set up on the NEM. Review the information on the ANS Team Types found below for an overview of team requirements and capabilities.

All teaming options are supported on the Ethernet controllers found in the NEM. If an adapter appears in the New Team Wizard or on the Modify Team tab, it can be included in a team. Teams must include an Intel server adapter or network connection.

ANS Team Types

Networking supports these Advanced Networking Services (ANS) team modes:

  • Adapter Fault Tolerance

  • Adaptive Load Balances

  • Static Link Aggregation

  • Switch Fault Tolerance

Adapter Fault Tolerance

Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) provides automatic redundancy for a server's network connection. In the case of switch port, cable, or adapter failure, you can maintain network connectivity.

Adapter Fault Tolerance is implemented with a primary adapter and one or more backup, or secondary, adapters. During normal operation, the backup adapters are in standby. If the link to the primary adapter fails, the link to the secondary adapter automatically takes over.

Configuration Notes

  • AFT supports two to eight adapter ports per team.

  • All adapters in the team must be linked to the same switch or hub.

  • This teaming mode works with any switch or hub.

Adaptive Load Balancing

Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) provides load balancing for routable transmit traffic and adapter fault tolerance for a team of two to eight adapters connected to the same switch. The software analyzes the send and transmit loading on each adapter and balances the rate across the adapters based on destination address.

ALB teams have Receive Load Balancing (RLB) enabled by default. With RLB enabled, the team also balances IP receive traffic.

Configuration Notes

  • ALB does not balance non-routed protocols such as NetBEUI and some IPX* traffic.

  • ALB teams can contain adapters running at different speeds. However, teaming 100-Mbps adapters with 10-GbE adapters is not supported. The load is balanced according to the adapter's capabilities and bandwidth of the channel.

  • This teaming mode works with any switch or hub.

Static Link Aggregation

Static Link Aggregation is a performance technology developed by Cisco to increase throughput between switches. This mode works with:

  • Cisco FEC-capable and GEC-capable switches using the Port Aggregation (PAgP) protocol

  • Intel switches capable of Link Aggregation

  • Other switches capable of static 802.3ad

The transmission speed will never exceed the adapter base speed to any single address (per specification). Teams can contain two to eight adapters, but must match the capability of the switch. Adapter teams configured for Static Link Aggregation also provide the benefits of fault tolerance and load balancing. You do not need to set a primary adapter in this mode.

You must add an adapter to this type of team with link down. Otherwise, the adapter may lose its connection to the network. The reason for adding the adapter in this way is due to the way traffic is handled between a switch and a Static Link Aggregation team. If there is link down and the adapter is added to the switch channel before being added to the team, the switch begins forwarding traffic before the adapter is configured. Conversely, if the adapter is added to the team before being added to the switch channel, the adapter begins sending traffic before the switch is configured. You must also remove an adapter with link down.

Configuration Notes

  • The switch must be set up for Static Link Aggregation teaming before the team is created.

  • All adapters in the team must be configured for full duplex.

  • All adapters in the team must be configured for the same speed.

This teaming mode works with any switch.

Switch Fault Tolerance

ANS Teaming cannot coexist with Express Teaming on multi-port adapters. If the ports on a multi-port adapter are grouped into an Express Team, none of the ports on the adapter are available for ANS Teaming.