Ethernet Support Guide (for HP-UX 11i v1, 11i v2)

Introduction to Technology
Gigabit Ethernet Overview
Chapter 1
15
Gigabit Ethernet Overview
Gigabit Ethernet is a high-performance, Ethernet networking solution for HP servers
and workstations.
The Local Area Network cards are data link cards that support the IEEE 802.3z
standard for 1000Base-SX operation over multimode fiber, and the IEEE 802.3ab
standard for 1000Base-T operation over 4-pair Cat-5 or Cat-5E UTP copper wiring.
1000Base-T brings high bandwidth with 10, 100 and 1000 Mbit/s speeds, which makes
more processing power available for applications.
Features
Gigabit Ethernet features include the following:
• 1000Base-T features:
— Triple speed 10/100/1000 Mbit/s
— Full-duplex operation at 10/100/1000 Mbit/s and half-duplex operation at 10/100
Mbit/s (no half-duplex support for 1000 Mbit/s)
— Autonegotiation and autosensing to the highest available link speed
• 1000Base-SX features:
— 1000 Mbit/s
— Full-duplex operation
• Minimized host CPU utilization:
— Protocol off loading through on board TCP, UDP, and IP checksum calculations
— Adaptive interrupt coalesce is based on traffic load
• The IEther-00 driver software bundle (iether driver) and the GigEther-01 driver
software bundle (igelan driver) provide:
— Starting with the May 2005 release of HP-UX 11i v1 and v2, you have the ability
to turn on or off the receive and send sides of the card’s Checksum Offload
(CKO). See details in “Checksum Offload Changes for the iether and igelan
Gigabit Ethernet Drivers” on page 17. This capability is not supported on the
gelan or btlan drivers.
— Starting with the May 2005 release of HP-UX 11i v1 and v2, the iether and igelan
drivers support 1000FD mode of switches (Table 1-1, row 2). Gigabit Ethernet
cards in autonegotiation mode will now support 1000FD manual/fixed mode on
the link partner (such as a switch). All supported configurations are shown in
(Table 1-1) including those where the gigabit Ethernet card and the link partner
also have the same settings.