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Document ID: DDSE-426NHL

Netfinity 5000 - Failover for Redundant Ethernet

Applicable to: World-Wide

Failover for Redundant Ethernet
Your Netfinity 5000 has an integrated Ethernet controller. 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 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. This switching occurs without any user intervention. Applications with active sessions do not experience any data loss. When the primary link is restored to an operational state, the Ethernet traffic automatically switches back to the primary Ethernet controller.

Notes 1. 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. 2. 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.

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:

a. Copy the file PCNETOS2.EXE from the OS2 directory of the diskette created by the ServerGuide program to your hard disk drive.

b. 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.

The failover function is now enabled.

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.

If a failover occurs, a message is written to the NT Event Viewer log. If the DMI instrumentation code for the integrated Ethernet controller is active (PCNET.EXE was run), a pop-up message is generated also.

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.

	Search Keywords
	Document Category	Networking
	Date Created	12-11-98
	Last Updated	12-11-98
	Revision Date	12-11-99
	Brand	IBM PC Server
	Product Family	Netfinity 5000
	Machine Type	8659
	Model	ALL
	TypeModel
	Retain Tip (if applicable)
	Reverse Doclinks and Admin Purposes