IBM-AUSTRIA - PC-HW-Support    30 Aug 1999

Failover for Redundant Ethernet

 Only one controller in the redundant pair is active  at any given time. For example, if the primary  Ethernet controller is active, then the secondary  Ethernet controller cannot be used for any other  network operation.
1.  The operating system determines the maximum  number of IBM Netfinity 10/100 Fault Tolerant  Adapters that you can install in your server. See  the documentation that comes with the adapter  for more information.

The failover feature currently is supported by OS/2, Windows NT, and IntraNetWare. The setup required for each operating system follows.

Configuring Failover on OS/2

1.  Install the redundant NIC adapter according to the  instructions provided with the adapter and in 'Installing or Removing Adapters'
2.  Use the ServerGuide CDs to install the AMD PCNet  Ethernet Family adapter device driver.
3.  Using the MPTS utility program, select the driver from  the list and select the Edit button.

   NOTE: Only one driver instance needs to be loaded for  each redundant pair of Ethernet controllers.

4.  Change the PermaNet Server Feature keyword to  TRUE and specify the Primary and Standby slots that  contain the redundant pair. Refer to 'System Board Illustration' for the locations and slot  numbers of the PCI slots.  The integrated controller is located in slot 9.
5.  To enable the writing of messages to the  IBMCOM\LANTRAN.LOG file when a failover occurs:
   1.  Copy the file PCNETOS2.EXE from the OS2 directory of the diskette created by the  ServerGuide program to your hard disk drive.
   2.  Add the following statement to the CONFIG.SYS file:

        Run=d:\path\PCNETOS2.EXE

    where d and path are the drive and path to which you copied PCNETOS2.EXE.

6.  Restart the server.

Configuring Failover on Windows NT

1.  Install the redundant NIC adapter according to the  instructions provided with the adapter and in 'Installing or Removing Adapters'.
2.  Use the ServerGuide CDs to install the AMD PCNet Ethernet Family adapter device driver.
3.  From the NT desktop, select Control Panel, then select the Network icon, then the Adapters tab.
4.  Highlight one of the adapters that will be in the redundant pair and then select the Properties... button.
5.  Check the Grouping box. This will show the possible combinations for redundant pairs.
6.  Select the adapter pair you want and then select OK.  Note that the integrated Ethernet controller is located at PCI bus 0, slot 9.
7.  Select Close to exit from the Network setup.

    When you restart the server, the failover function will be in effect.

Configuring Failover on IntraNetWare

1.  Install the redundant NIC adapter according to the instructions provided with the adapter and in 'Installing or Removing Adapters'
2.  Load the device driver by using the following command:

     LOAD d:\path\PCNTNW.LAN PRIMARY=x SECONDARY=y

    where d and path are the drive and path where the  driver is located, and x and y are the PCI slot  numbers where the redundant pair is located.

    The slot number associated with the integrated  Ethernet controller can vary depending upon the  configuration of the server. To determine the slot  number, load the driver with no parameters. The  driver will display the available slot numbers. The slot  number that is greater that 10000 will be the slot  number of the integrated Ethernet controller. When  the slot number of the integrated Ethernet controller is  determined, reload the driver with the appropriate  parameters.

3.  When the driver is loaded, bind it to a protocol stack.

The failover function is now enabled. If a failover occurs:

•  A message is generated to the operating system console.
•  The custom counters for the device driver contain variables that define the state  of the failover function and the location of the redundant pair.

   You can use the NetWare Monitor to view the custom counters.

Please see the LEGAL  -  Trademark notice.
Feel free - send a   for any BUG on this page found - Thank you.