Description 13
The network controller provides several options for increasing throughput and fault tolerance when
running Windows NT
†
4.0, Windows
†
2000 , NetWare
†
4.1x or newer, or Linux
†
:
• 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 - 8 adapters to increase transmission
throughput. Also includes AFT. Works with any 10Base-TX or 100Base-TX switch.
• Fast EtherChannel
†
(FEC) or Intel
®
Link Aggregation - creates a team of up to 8 adapters to
increase transmission and reception throughput. Also includes AFT. Requires a FEC-enabled
switch.
To set up an option, read the instructions in the Windows NT 4.0 or NetWare 4.1x readme files.
General Configuration Notes
1. Windows NT versions prior to 4.0 do not support Adapter Teaming options.
2. Adapter Teaming options require NT 4.0 with Service Pack 4.0 or Service Pack 3.0 and the
Windows Hot Fix
†
.
3. In Windows NT, teaming options cannot be implemented on adapters that have been
configured for VLANs. NetWare can support teaming options and VLANs on the same
adapters.
Adapter Fault Tolerance
Adapter Fault Tolerance (AFT) is a simple, effective, and fail-safe approach to increase the
reliability of server connections. AFT gives you the ability to set up link recovery to the server
adapter in case of a cable, port, or network interface card failure. By assigning two server adapters
as a team, AFT enables you to maintain uninterrupted network performance.
AFT is implemented with two server adapters: a primary adapter and a backup, or secondary,
adapter. During normal operation, the backup will have transmit disabled. If the link to the
primary adapter fails, the link to the backup adapter automatically takes over.
Preferred Primary Adapter
With multiple adapters installed, you can specify one as the Preferred Primary adapter. For
example if you have a server with a PRO/1000 server adapter as the primary adapter and a
PRO/100+ adapter as the secondary, you could configure the PRO/1000 server adapter to be the
preferred primary. In this scenario, if the PRO/1000 server adapter fails, the PRO/100+ will take
over. Then when the PRO/1000 server adapter is replaced, it will automatically revert to being the
primary adapter in the team.
If a Preferred Primary is not selected, PROSet will attempt to select the best adapter, based on
adapter model and speed.
Mixed Adapter Teaming
AFT supports up to eight server adapters per team, in any mix.
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