- 3com Network Interface Card User Guide
Table Of Contents
- About This Guide
- Introduction
- Overview
- 3CR990 NIC Features
- DynamicAccess LAN Agent
- Windows2000 Offload Features
- Installing and Connectingthe NIC
- Installing NICDrivers in Windows
- Installing DynamicAccess Software in Windows
- Overview
- Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent for a Client NIC
- Installing DynamicAccess Software for a Server NIC
- Configuring Groups and VLANs for a Server NIC
- Planning the Configuration
- Working With Server Features
- Creating a Group
- Adding NICs to a Group
- Specifying a Dedicated IP Address
- Changing an IP Address
- Creating a VLAN
- Specifying Traffic Priorities
- Saving the Configuration
- Disabling Load Balancing for a Group
- Changing the Primary NIC
- Removing a NIC from a Group
- Deleting or Editing a VLAN
- Displaying NIC Properties
- Displaying Group Properties
- Specifying Failover from Gigabit to 10/100 PCI
- Troubleshooting a Load Balancing Configuration
- Changing Windows2000 Property Settings
- Identifying Windows 2000 Miniport and LAN Connections
- Using Windows2000 Offload Features
- Installing DynamicAccess LAN Encryption Software
- Installing NetWare Client and ServerDrivers
- Overview
- Installing and Configuring the NetWare Server Driver
- Using the Latest Support Packs
- Obtaining NetWare Loadable Modules
- Server Software Installation Requirements
- Installing the NetWare 3.12 Server Driver
- Installing the Server Driver for NetWare 4.11 and 5.0 UsingINETCFG
- Installing the Server Driver and DynamicAccess Technology Using AUTOEXEC.NCF
- Installing Multiple Server NICs
- Verifying the PCI Slot Number
- Installing Server Features
- Configuring Groups
- Verifying the Installation and Configuration
- Changing NetWare Driver Configuration Parameters
- Maintaining Groups
- Configuring the NIC
- Configuring IP Security
- Troubleshooting the NIC
- Running NIC Diagnostics
- Obtaining Drivers
- Specifications and CablingRequirements
- Installing the 3ComDMIAgent
- EtherCD Content and Navigation
- Installing a 3Com NIC While Installing the NOS
- Technical Support
- Index
- FCC Class B Statement
- FCC Declaration of Conformity
- Industry Canada Class B Emission ComplianceStatement
- Avis de Conformité à la Réglementation d’IndustrieCanada
- VCCI Class B Statement
- 3Com End User Software License Agreement
- Product Registration
18 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Load Balancing
Load balancing maximizes bandwidth at the server through
the use of multiple parallel resilient server links (RSLs) that
share the network load.
An RSL consists of two or more NICs that form a virtual
NIC. Each virtual NIC has multiple physical NICs bound to it,
forming a group. Each NIC in a group uses the same
protocols and frame types. One NIC is designated the
primary NIC and the others secondary NICs.
Figure 2 Types of Load Balancing Arrangements
Self-Healing Drivers
Self-healing drivers (SHDs) are automatically installed with
the NIC software, and work together with RSLs to maintain
the network connection. An SHD monitors the NIC
continuously for error conditions and makes corrections.
These corrections can include resetting the NIC, rebuilding
software data structures, temporarily disabling features, or
transferring all network traffic to secondary NICs (termed a
failover event). An SHD can also continuously monitor the
status of the physical NICs in a virtual NIC group before and
after failover. Errors and actions are reported to the system
console and to the system log file. Error threshold values
can be configured at any time.
Failover
In addition to load balancing, RSLs provide failover fault
tolerance between a server and a switch—if one NIC in a
group fails, the others assume the network load of the
® ®
Clients
Bidirectional
Server
Primary
Secondaries
Transmit-only
Primary
Secondaries
Switch