To Avoid Losing TCP/IP Parameter Changes

Add the parameter change to a run control script in the /etc/rc2.d directory, similar to the following example:

#!/sbin/sh
# Local kernel modifications
#
case "$1" in
'start')
	echo "Setting local kernel parameters...\c"
	ndd -set /dev/tcp tcp_rexmit_interval_max 60000
	echo ""
	;;
'stop')
	echo "No kernel parameters changed."
	;;
*)
	echo "Usage: $0 {start|stop}"
	;;
esac
exit 0

To Force Network Speed Between 10 Mbps and 100 Mbps

1. At the ok prompt, use the show-devs command to list the system devices.

   You should see the full path names of the qfe devices, similar to the following examples:

   For Sun Quad FastEthernet PCI adapter:

   ---

   /pci@1f,2000/pci@2/SUNW,qfe@0,1
   /pci@1f,2000/pci@2/SUNW,qfe@1,1
   /pci@1f,2000/pci@2/SUNW,qfe@2,1
   /pci@1f,2000/pci@2/SUNW,qfe@3,1

   ---

   For Sun Quad FastEthernet SBus adapter:

   ---

   /sbus@1f,0/SUNW,qfe@1,8c30000
   /sbus@1f,0/SUNW,qfe@1,8c20000
   /sbus@1f,0/SUNW,qfe@1,8c10000
   /sbus@1f,0/SUNW,qfe@1,8c00000

   ---

2. Type:

   ---

   ok nvedit
   

   ---

3. Type the following, pressing the Return key at the end of line 0:

   ---

   0: probe-all install-console banner
   1: apply transfer-speed=10 full_ path_name_of_a_
   qfe_device
   

   ---

   ---

   Note -

   If you already have commands in NVRAM, append these lines to the end of the file.

   ---

4. Press Control-C after typing full_ path_name_of_a_qfe device.

   Perform Steps 2 to 4 to set the network speed for each qfe network interface.

   ---

   Note -

   In the preceding example, the speed is forced to 10 Mbps. To force the speed to 100 Mbps, replace 10 with 100.

   ---

5. At the ok prompt type:

   ---

   ok nvstore
   ok setenv use-nvramrc? true
   

   ---

6. Reboot your system.

   See "Setting Forced Mode" for more information on forcing network speed.

Auto-Negotiation

A key feature of the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter is auto-negotiation. The auto-negotiation protocol, as specified by the 100BASE-T standard, selects the operation mode (half-duplex or full-duplex), and the auto-sensing protocol selects the speed (10 Mbps or 100 Mbps) for the adapter.

The link speed and modes supported by the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter are listed as follows in decreasing order of priority:

• 100 Mbps, full-duplex

• 100 Mbps, half-duplex

• 10 Mbps, full-duplex

• 10 Mbps, half-duplex

When the system is booted, the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter advertises these capabilities to the link partner at the other end of the link [a hub, switch, or another network interface card (NIC) in a host system]. If the link partner also supports auto-negotiation, it advertises its capabilities over the link. The common highest priority mode supported by both sides is selected for the link operation.

If the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter is connected to a remote system or interface that is not capable of auto-negotiation, your system automatically selects the speed and half-duplex mode.

If the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter is connected to a link partner with which the auto-negotiation protocol fails to operate successfully, you can configure the device to not use this protocol and force the driver to set up the link in the mode and speed of your choice.

local-mac-address Property

Each of the network interfaces of the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter has been assigned a unique Media Access Control (MAC) address, which represents the 48-bit Ethernet address for that network interface. The OpenBoot(TM) firmware reports this MAC address via the local-mac-address property in the device nodes corresponding to the network interfaces.

A system is not obligated to use this assigned MAC address if it has a systemwide MAC address. In such cases, the systemwide MAC address applies to all network interfaces on the system.

The device driver, or any other adapter utility, can use the network device's MAC address (local-mac-address) while configuring it. A network interface's MAC address can be used when booting over the network.

The mac-address property of the network device specifies the network address (systemwide or local-mac-address) used for booting the system. To start using the MAC addresses assigned to the network interfaces of the Sun Quad FastEthernet adapter, set the NVRAM configuration variable local-mac-address? to true.

ok setenv local-mac-address? true