C H A P T E R 2 |
This chapter explains how to download and install the nxge driver. This chapter contains the following sections:
The nxge Gigabit Ethernet driver (nxge[7D]) is a multithreaded, loadable, clonable, GLD-based STREAMS driver. The nxge driver is managed by the dladm(1M) command-line utility, which allows VLANs to be defined on top of nxge instances and for nxge instances to be aggregated. See the dladm(1M) man page for more details on configuring the data-link interfaces and link aggregations.
If your system uses the Solaris 10 8/07 Operating System, the nxge device driver is bundled with the operating system. However, you must download and install patches for Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module support.
This section lists the latest required patches.
Note - Always check for the latest revision of the patch, -01, -02, and so on. |
Patch ID | Description |
---|---|
119255-53 | Prerequisite patch for Kernel Patch 127128-11 |
126424-03 | Prerequisite patch for Kernel Patch 127128-11 |
127756-01 | Prerequisite patch for Kernel Patch 127128-11 |
127128-11 | Kernel patch for Solaris 10 8/07 OS |
138049-02 | x86 hot swap support for the Sun Blade 6000 10GbE Multi-fabric Network Express Module |
Download the driver RPM for your operating system:
https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=Sunx8Exp-EAD-1.0-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI
For example, the file will look similar to the following:
sun_10_Gigabit_Ethernet_driver_update_xx.zip |
Discover the network interfaces before adding the package by using the ifconfig -a command:
# ifconfig -a | grep eth eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DC eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DD eth2 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DE eth3 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DF |
Use the rpm tool to install the driver on SuSe and RedHat Linux.
# rpm -ivh nxge-2.6.9-55.ELsmp-2.1-1.x86_64.rpm Preparing... ########################################### [100%] 1:nxge-2.6.9-55.ELsmp ########################################### [100%] |
Ensure that the driver is loaded after the RPM installation, enter the following:
# lsmod | grep nxge |
Verify the new network interface instances corresponding to the Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module:
# ifconfig -a | grep eth eth0 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DC eth1 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DD eth2 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DE eth3 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:20:F1:DF eth4 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:6C:78:E8 eth5 Link encap:Ethernet HWaddr 00:14:4F:6C:78:E9 |
The Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module instances, eth2 and eth3, appear in the third and fourth lines of the output.
Use the ethtool command to check the parameter configurations that apply to the nxge driver:
(For 10G) # ethtool -i eth2 driver: nxge version: 2.1.1 firmware-version: RFEM PXE1.49 FCode 3.16 bus-info: 0000:0d:00.0 |
To remove the driver packages from a Linux platform use the rpm -e command.
# rpm -e nxge-2.6.9-55.ELsmp-2.1-1 |
If driver package removal is attempted when the driver is not loaded, the removal could fail. For example:
# rpm -e nxge-2.6.16.46-0.12-smp-2.1-1.x86_64 ERROR: Removing ’nxge’: No such file or directoryerror: %postun(nxge-2.6.16.46-0.12-smp-2.1-1.x86_64) scriptlet failed, exit status 255 |
In the case of such failure, use the --noscripts option as follows.
# rpm -e --noscripts nxge-2.6.16.46-0.12-smp-2.1-1.x86_64 |
The Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module supports the Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition 32/64-bit miniport driver. For additional Windows driver release information, refer to the Sun Multithreaded 10GbE and QGC Networking Cards Specification for Windows xxx Drivers document.
Note - Installing the Windows OS driver changes the hot-swapping procedure for the Sun Blade 6000 10 GbE Multi-Fabric Network Expansion Module. See . |
The Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module must be installed before you install the Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Edition miniport driver. Without the Sun Dual 10GbE Fabric Expansion Module installed, the Windows OS driver will not install correctly.
To download the Windows OS driver and documentation, go to: https://cds.sun.com/is-bin/INTERSHOP.enfinity/WFS/CDS-CDS_SMI-Site/en_US/-/USD/ViewProductDetail-Start?ProductRef=Sunx8Exp-EAD-1.0-G-F@CDS-CDS_SMI
The zip file looks similar to the following:
sun_10_Gigabit_Ethernet_driver_update_xx.zip |
After unzipping this file, go to Windows directory, which contains the documents and driver:
Readme.txt User Manual.pdf Release Notes.txt windows_2008_Releasepackage.zip Sun MulitThreaded 10GbE and QGC Installer.msi |
Note - Multiple VLANs are not currently supported with the Windows OS driver. |
This section explains how to remove an existing 10GbE Multi-Fabric NEM and install another in its place.
If an Multi-Fabric NEM fails, you will need to replace it.
Caution - The NEM should be replaced immediately after it fails. |
The Multi-Fabric NEM is a Customer Replaceable Unit (CRU). You replace the entire module. There are no subcomponents that you can replace.
You can remove and replace a 10GbE Multi-Fabric NEM from a powered-on chassis using a hot-swap operation, as well as from a powered-off chassis.
Caution - Before you remove the NEM from the chassis, you should pause or shut down any active I/O that passes through the NEM. |
Double-click the Safely Remove Hardware icon located at the bottom right of the GUI.
Select the device Sun Muiltithreaded 10GbE & QGE Networking Cards #.
When the GUI reports that it is safe to remove the hardware, click OK.
Label all the cables so you can reconnect them in the same location.
Press together and hold the ejector buttons on both the right and left ejector levers.
Open the ejector levers by extending them outward until they stop.
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