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Linus Torvalds1da177e2005-04-16 15:20:36 -07001Linux* Base Driver for the Intel(R) PRO/100 Family of Adapters
2==============================================================
3
4November 17, 2004
5
6
7Contents
8========
9
10- In This Release
11- Identifying Your Adapter
12- Driver Configuration Parameters
13- Additional Configurations
14- Support
15
16
17In This Release
18===============
19
20This file describes the Linux* Base Driver for the Intel(R) PRO/100 Family of
21Adapters, version 3.3.x. This driver supports 2.4.x and 2.6.x kernels.
22
23Identifying Your Adapter
24========================
25
26For more information on how to identify your adapter, go to the Adapter &
27Driver ID Guide at:
28
29 http://support.intel.com/support/network/adapter/pro100/21397.htm
30
31For the latest Intel network drivers for Linux, refer to the following
32website. In the search field, enter your adapter name or type, or use the
33networking link on the left to search for your adapter:
34
35 http://downloadfinder.intel.com/scripts-df/support_intel.asp
36
37Driver Configuration Parameters
38===============================
39
40The default value for each parameter is generally the recommended setting,
41unless otherwise noted.
42
43Rx Descriptors: Number of receive descriptors. A receive descriptor is a data
44 structure that describes a receive buffer and its attributes to the network
45 controller. The data in the descriptor is used by the controller to write
46 data from the controller to host memory. In the 3.0.x driver the valid
47 range for this parameter is 64-256. The default value is 64. This parameter
48 can be changed using the command
49
50 ethtool -G eth? rx n, where n is the number of desired rx descriptors.
51
52Tx Descriptors: Number of transmit descriptors. A transmit descriptor is a
53 data structure that describes a transmit buffer and its attributes to the
54 network controller. The data in the descriptor is used by the controller to
55 read data from the host memory to the controller. In the 3.0.x driver the
56 valid range for this parameter is 64-256. The default value is 64. This
57 parameter can be changed using the command
58
59 ethtool -G eth? tx n, where n is the number of desired tx descriptors.
60
61Speed/Duplex: The driver auto-negotiates the link speed and duplex settings by
62 default. Ethtool can be used as follows to force speed/duplex.
63
64 ethtool -s eth? autoneg off speed {10|100} duplex {full|half}
65
66 NOTE: setting the speed/duplex to incorrect values will cause the link to
67 fail.
68
69Event Log Message Level: The driver uses the message level flag to log events
70 to syslog. The message level can be set at driver load time. It can also be
71 set using the command
72
73 ethtool -s eth? msglvl n
74
75Additional Configurations
76=========================
77
78 Configuring the Driver on Different Distributions
79 -------------------------------------------------
80
81 Configuring a network driver to load properly when the system is started is
82 distribution dependent. Typically, the configuration process involves adding
83 an alias line to /etc/modules.conf as well as editing other system startup
84 scripts and/or configuration files. Many popular Linux distributions ship
85 with tools to make these changes for you. To learn the proper way to
86 configure a network device for your system, refer to your distribution
87 documentation. If during this process you are asked for the driver or module
88 name, the name for the Linux Base Driver for the Intel PRO/100 Family of
89 Adapters is e100.
90
91 As an example, if you install the e100 driver for two PRO/100 adapters
92 (eth0 and eth1), add the following to modules.conf:
93
94 alias eth0 e100
95 alias eth1 e100
96
97 Viewing Link Messages
98 ---------------------
99 In order to see link messages and other Intel driver information on your
100 console, you must set the dmesg level up to six. This can be done by
101 entering the following on the command line before loading the e100 driver:
102
103 dmesg -n 8
104
105 If you wish to see all messages issued by the driver, including debug
106 messages, set the dmesg level to eight.
107
108 NOTE: This setting is not saved across reboots.
109
110 Ethtool
111 -------
112
113 The driver utilizes the ethtool interface for driver configuration and
114 diagnostics, as well as displaying statistical information. Ethtool
115 version 1.6 or later is required for this functionality.
116
117 The latest release of ethtool can be found at:
118 http://sf.net/projects/gkernel.
119
120 NOTE: This driver uses mii support from the kernel. As a result, when
121 there is no link, ethtool will report speed/duplex to be 10/half.
122
123 NOTE: Ethtool 1.6 only supports a limited set of ethtool options. Support
124 for a more complete ethtool feature set can be enabled by upgrading
125 ethtool to ethtool-1.8.1.
126
127 Enabling Wake on LAN* (WoL)
128 ---------------------------
129 WoL is provided through the Ethtool* utility. Ethtool is included with Red
130 Hat* 8.0. For other Linux distributions, download and install Ethtool from
131 the following website: http://sourceforge.net/projects/gkernel.
132
133 For instructions on enabling WoL with Ethtool, refer to the Ethtool man
134 page.
135
136 WoL will be enabled on the system during the next shut down or reboot. For
137 this driver version, in order to enable WoL, the e100 driver must be
138 loaded when shutting down or rebooting the system.
139
140 NAPI
141 ----
142
143 NAPI (Rx polling mode) is supported in the e100 driver.
144
145 See www.cyberus.ca/~hadi/usenix-paper.tgz for more information on NAPI.
146
147Support
148=======
149
150For general information, go to the Intel support website at:
151
152 http://support.intel.com
153
154If an issue is identified with the released source code on the supported
155kernel with a supported adapter, email the specific information related to
156the issue to linux.nics@intel.com.
157
158
159License
160=======
161
162This software program is released under the terms of a license agreement
163between you ('Licensee') and Intel. Do not use or load this software or any
164associated materials (collectively, the 'Software') until you have carefully
165read the full terms and conditions of the LICENSE located in this software
166package. By loading or using the Software, you agree to the terms of this
167Agreement. If you do not agree with the terms of this Agreement, do not
168install or use the Software.
169
170* Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.