IBM Netfinity 6000R, User Reference Manual

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Chapter 6. Installing options
111
Failover for redundant Ethernet
The IBM Netfinity 10/100 Fault Tolerant Adapter is an optional redundant network
interface card (NIC adapter) that you can install in your server. If you install this NIC
adapter and connect it to the same logical LAN segment as the primary Ethernet
controller, you can configure the server to support a failover function. You can
configure either the integrated Ethernet controller or the NIC adapter as the primary
Ethernet controller. In failover mode, if the primary Ethernet controller detects a link
failure, all Ethernet traffic associated with it is switched to the redundant (secondary)
controller. If the appropriate device drivers are installed, this switching occurs
without any user intervention. When the primary link is restored to an operational
state, the Ethernet traffic switches back to the primary Ethernet controller. The switch
back to the primary Ethernet controller can be automatic or manually controlled,
depending on the setup and operating system.
Note that 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.
Note: Your 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.
Considerations when combining failover and hot-plug
functions:
If your operating system supports hot-plug PCI adapters and the optional
redundant NIC adapter is installed in a hot-plug PCI slot, you can replace the NIC
adapter without powering off the server — even if it is the primary Ethernet
controller. Disconnecting the Ethernet cable from the primary Ethernet controller will
cause the Ethernet traffic to switch automatically to the secondary Ethernet controller.
This can be very useful if a faulty adapter causes a network problem, or if you want to
upgrade the primary adapter hardware.
Note: If you hot-replace the primary adapter while the Ethernet traffic is being
handled by the secondary Ethernet controller, the traffic does not
automatically switch back to the primary adapter when the primary adapter
comes back online. See “Configuring for failover”.
Configuring for failover: The failover feature currently is supported by Windows
NT Server and IntraNetWare. The setup required for each operating system follows.
Windows NT Server:
IBM offers hot-plug support for Windows NT Server Version 4.0. Failover can work
in conjunction with hot-plug support or independently. If you are not using hot-plug
support, go to “Windows NT Server failover setup” on page 112.
Windows NT Server hot-plug setup:
IBM Netfinity Hot Plug PCI for Windows NT Server 4.0 package is available for
download from the IBM Web site at:
http://www.pc.ibm.com/support
Enter the brand type of Server, click on Downloadable files and look for Hot Plug.
The IBM Netfinity Hot Plug PCI for Windows NT Server 4.0 package uses the Intel
Desktop Management Interface (DMI) to control hot-plug support for the Ethernet
controllers. The Ethernet controller in your computer is DMI compliant. Download
and install the following software in the order listed:
1. IBM Netfinity PCI Hotplug for Windows NT 4.0 Failover DMI Agent
2. IBM Netfinity PCI Hotplug for Windows NT 4.0 Solution
3. IBM Netfinity 10/100 Fault Tolerant Adapter device drivers