C H A P T E R 8 |
This chapter describes how to configue NIC teaming on systems equipped with the Windows operating system.
This chapter includes the following sections:
Using Intel PROSet for Windows Device Manager to Configure NIC Teaming
Using Network Access Manager (NAM) to Configure NVIDIA NIC Teaming
The procedures in this chapter assume that you have already done the following:
Installed the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Windows Server 2008 operating system.
Ran InstallPack_x_x_x.exe to install supplemental software on the server, or for Windows Server 2008, downloadeded and installed the contents of the Tools and Driver ISO image.
Note - The _x_x_x number identifies the version of the package (for example, InstallPack_1_1_4.zip). |
To access to the NVIDIA Network Access Manager (NAM) command-line interface, install the CLI program onto your computer. For more information see:
This chapter describes how to configure NIC teaming on systems equipped with Intel and NVIDIA Ethernet network interfaces.
Sun supports Intel and NVIDIA network interfaces. Some systems have both Intel and NVIDIA network interface ports.
Both Intel and NVIDIA provide tools for managing the network interface ports.
The Intel® PROSet for Windows Device Manager supports teaming Intel and NVIDIA network interface ports.
The NVIDIA Network Access Manager (NAM) manages NVIDIA network interface ports. It does not allow you to team NVIDIA and Intel ports. See Using Network Access Manager (NAM) to Configure NVIDIA NIC Teaming for details.
Intel PROSet for Windows Device Manager is an extension to the Windows Device Manager. When you install the NIC Teaming supplemental software for your Sun server, Intel PROSet software configuration tabs are automatically added to the network adapters listed in Device Manager.
The Multi-Vendor Teaming (MVT) feature allows teaming with a combination of Intel and non-Intel adapters. This feature is currently available under Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.
For example, the Sun Fire X4100 M2 and X4200 M2 have both Intel and NVIDIA Ethernet network interface ports. The order in which the server’s BIOS detects these ports during boot-up are as follows:
The device naming for the Ethernet ports differ according to the OS. For example, Windows identifies these ports for the Sun Fire X4100 M2 and X4200 M2 as shown in FIGURE 8-1.
Note - To identify the ports in your server, refer to the Service Manual. |
For servers running Windows, adapters that appear in the Intel PROSet teaming wizard can be included in a team.
During the configuration of a multi-vendor team, please note the following rules:
In order to use MVT, you must have at least one Intel server adapter in the team, which must be designated as the primary adapter.
A multi-vendor team can be created for any team type, but not for VLANs.
All members in a MVT must operate on a common feature set (this can mean using the lowest common denominator if a higher performance feature/setting is not offered on all adapters in the team).
For MVT teams, manually verify that the frame settings for the non-Intel adapter are the same as the frame settings for the Intel adapter.
Expand the Network adapters group and select the first adapter.
Right-click the selection and click Properties.
The adapter properties screen is displayed.
To setup NIC teaming, click the Teaming tab.
The teaming options are displayed (see FIGURE 8-2).
Select Team with other adapters and then click New Team.
The New Team Wizard is displayed.
Click Next. The Adapter Selection screen is displayed.
Select the adapters to be included in the team from the list of installed adapters and then click Next.
The wizard guides you through the configuration and setup of your team.
For more information on setting up NIC teaming for your environment, refer to the Intel Connectivity web page on “Advanced Networking Services—Teaming” at:
http://support.intel.com/support/network/sb/CS-009747.htm
Additionally, you may download the complete set of Intel Network Connections User Guides for your server’s network adapters at:
This section describes how to use the NVIDIA Network Access Manager to configure teaming of NVIDIA network interface ports on systems equipped with the Windows 2003 and Windows 2008 operating systems.
If you elect to do a custom installation of Sun supplemental software, you can select NVIDIA Network Access Manager (NAM) to be installed on your Sun server. When installed, you can use NAM features to optimize your server’s network performance, increase its network bandwidth and provide for optimal throughput in case one of your network adapters stops functioning.
The NVIDIA Network Access Manager software includes:
Ethernet setup: This tool allows you to configure the settings for your NVIDIA integrated network interfaces to best conform to your network configuration.
Teaming: This tool allows you to combine all the NVIDIA Ethernet interfaces on your system to form a team, resulting in increased bandwidth and network fail-over redundancy. In addition, you have the capability to configure TCP/IP acceleration that off-loads the processing of TCP/IP network traffic from your computer’s CPU to its NVIDIA hardware resulting in greatly improved system performance.
FirstPacket: This tool allows you to manage the traffic on your server and improve the performance of user-specified applications, such as networked games, Voice-over-IP (VoIP), and other applications that are sensitive to network delay (latency).
Note - You can not use both NVIDIA FirstPacket and NVIDIA Teaming at the same time. You can only configure your server to use one or the other. |
To access the functions available for your server’s network interface, do the following at your server once NAM has been installed:
From your Windows taskbar, click Start, and then click Programs.
Open the NVIDIA Corporation program group, click the Network Access Manager folder, and then click Web-based Interface.
The Network Access Manager screen appears (FIGURE 8-5). You can use it to setup teaming for two or more network interface ports.
For example, if you wanted to set up NIC teaming, you would click the Teaming link.
Select Enable from the Teaming Configuration drop-down menu, and then click Apply. Refer to FIGURE 8-6.
The unpopulated Teaming Table appears in the Network Access Manager screen.
To select the network interfaces to team, and configure the teaming options, click the Create Team button.
The wizard displays the network interfaces available for teaming (see FIGURE 8-7) in the Network Access Manager screen.
From the available list of Ethernet Interface Names, add available interfaces to the team by clicking the Add icon. You can have two or more interfaces in a team.
After selecting the interfaces to be teamed, click the Next button (located at the bottom of the screen).
The wizard guides you through the configuration and setup of your team.
Note - Once you confirm the team to be created, you must restart the server’s network interface and Network Access Manager to configure the new settings. |
For more information about using NVIDIA networking options through either the web-based or CLI interface, refer to the documentation and online help installed with the product.
If you elect to do a custom installation of Sun supplemental software, you can select NVIDIA Network Access Manager (NAM) to be installed on your Sun server. When installed, you can use NAM features to optimize your server’s network performance, increase its network bandwidth and provide for optimal throughput in case one of your network adapters stops functioning. For Windows Server 2008, NVIDIA Ethernet settings are done through the NVIDIA Control Panel.
The NVIDIA Control Panel software is used to set up network interface Teaming. This tool allows you to combine all the NVIDIA Ethernet interfaces on your system to form a team, resulting in increased bandwidth and network failover redundancy.
To access the functions available for your server’s network interface, do the following at your server once NAM has been installed:
From your Windows taskbar, click Start, and then click Programs.
Open the NVIDIA Corporation program group, click the NVIDIA Control Panel folder, and then click Control Panel. The NVIDIA Control Panel appears.
The program prompts you to select the Standard or Advanced interface. You can setup teaming for two or more network interfaces. An example of the Advanced interface is shown in FIGURE 8-8.
For example, if you wanted to set up NIC teaming and select your On settings, instead of the using the optimal defaults, you would select Use Custom Teaming Configuration.
The Custom Teaming Configuration wizard starts and displays the network interfaces available for teaming (see FIGURE 8-9).
Select the network interfaces you wish to team, and then click
The wizard guides you through the configuration and setup of your team.
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