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Re: NIC/Physical address problem

 
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Darijo
Frequent Advisor

NIC/Physical address problem

At my job place we use Open VMS 7.1 and I'm totaly new to this system (read noob).
I managed to lear some things (dir. structure, moving through directories, copy, rm, proccess managment...)
So problem is that I have NIC (digital eq.)with MAC addr. 08002bc4d66a and once I boot VMS, login as SYSTEM, then run UCX->sh int/full it shows some other MAC addr. like AA00040077e4. Why?
Second, I cant get the network running on that machine. I configured the interface on ucx$config, reboot but still cant ping anything. Switch cannot learn any MAC addr. on that port...?

Thx 4 support and sry 4 bad Englsih. :)


16 REPLIES 16
Volker Halle
Honored Contributor
Solution

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

Darijo,

welcome to the OpenVMS ITRC forum and the world of OpenVMS ;-)

Your system is also running DECnet Phase IV protocol and this protocol changes the MAC address of each LAN adapter, that it's started on to a fixed address based on the local nodes DECnet address. The DECnet address of your system should be 57.119 (confirm with $ SHOW NET command).

Does UCX SHOW INT show any send or received packets ?

Volker.
Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

It might help to see what you said to
ucx$config, and exactly what "cant ping
anything" means. Is the problem with
name-to-address look-up, bad routes, ...?
Can't say without seeing the actual command
and the actual results (or else a much better
description).

> Thx 4 support and sry 4 bad Englsih. :)

Spelling "sorry" and "thanks" would solve
the biggest problems there.
Darijo
Frequent Advisor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

That was quick responed!

THANKS for welcome. :)

I just came home from work so I cant tell, but I let you know tommorow as soon as I get there.

If I remeber clearly, there was no any traffic on command for ewa0 int.
....or there was only for SENT packages.
Well its logical since MAC address from ewa0 interface is not learned by switch.

No, I can't ping any IP address, nor I cant ping this VMS node from any station in the same LAN.

Also I checked with and it shows that its enabled and that its on...
I was working the whole day on that problem, replaceing eth.cards, configuring network, rebooting about 30 times and didnt come with any solution. Also it might help that led "LINK" on NIC is not blinking with any eth. card.

I'll try more stuff tommorow and see.
Thanks so much for helping. ;-)



Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

. [...] led "LINK" on NIC is not blinking [...]

That sounds like a problem. It should
probably be on. Blinking may depend on the
hardware, but off is bad. If we need to
start talking about hardware, it might help
to know things like:

System type/model
Did it ever work, or is it new?
NI card type (VMS compatible? Sounds ok.
How many LEDs does it have?)

Also:

Actual IP addresses and netmasks
"traceroute" results (if any)

(You say, "same LAN", but I want proof.)

I'd start with the LINK light, however.
Could be something simple, like a cable.
Andy Bustamante
Honored Contributor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

Steve's question applies did this ever work. When did it stop working?

Use $ MC LANCP SHOW DEVICE /CHAR to check the nic speed and duplex settings. Then verify the switch port matches these settings. Both should be set for the same speed/duplex or both should be set to autonegotiate.

Andy
If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over? Reach me at first_name + "." + last_name at sysmanager net
Darijo
Frequent Advisor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

"System type/model
Did it ever work, or is it new?
NI card type (VMS compatible? Sounds ok.
How many LEDs does it have?)"

I put one NIC from another node running VMS and it didnt work.
I also used same UTP cable wich works on another node-switch relation.
There are 3 LEDs on NIC. Only one is ON and it says "100" Probably for 100 Mbps, but the one saying "LINK" is always off.
Same thing happens when I switch cards of the same vendor.
NIC vendor is Digital so I guess the are compatible.

LAN network address: 10.21.2.0/24
Broadcast: 10.21.2.255
DecNet address: 57.118

Could it be that something is wrong with PCI bus or....?
Its my first time with Alpha systems so forgive me if I say something stupid.

Darijo
Frequent Advisor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

@Andy

Well, I freshly installed VMS and after I set up network and it didnt work.

Yeah, I'll try that when I get back to my work place. Thanks!
Steven Schweda
Honored Contributor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

Ok.

> Could it be that something is wrong with
> PCI bus or....?

Could be, but a bad cable or hub/switch would
be much more likely. The system is talking
to the NI card. The NIC is _not_ talking to
the network.

Three LEDs normally mean LINK, 100MHz, and
ACT(ivity). ACT should flash when data move.
LINK should be on. (100 is ok with me, if
it's ok with the hub/switch.) No LINK light
says bad cable or hub/switch, especially if
two NICs agree.

Plug the cable into some other computer and
see what _it_ does. Or steal a cable from a
working computer.
Colin Butcher
Esteemed Contributor

Re: NIC/Physical address problem

Hello,

What kind of Alpha is it? How many NICs does it have? Let's assume that it only has one 10/100 capable NIC for the moment.

Are the Alpha and the switch configured to have the same speed & duplex settings for the NIC(s)? Alphas are often set explicitly to 100 FDX at the SRM console level (the >>> prompt after power-up before booting).

A good start would be to type "set ewa0_mode fastfd" at the Alpha SRM console levl and set the corresponding switch port to 100 FDX if you can. If you can't do that then set the Alpha and the switch to auto-negotiate with "set ewa0_mode auto" at SRM console level. Depending on which Alpha and which NIC it is you might need to type "help" at the SRM console for the correct syntax of the "set ewa0_mode auto" command.


If you have time for some background reading about DECnet networking, try here: http://www.downloads.xdelta.co.uk/vmstjv5%20feb2005/decnet%20article%20vms%20tj%20v5%20feb2005.pdf and here: http://www.downloads.xdelta.co.uk/bootcamp%20jun2005/i220_decnet-plus_issue_1-1_10jun2004.pdf

Do try to get to the "bootcamp" if you can: http://h71000.www7.hp.com/symposium/index.html?jumpid=symposium.

Good luck!
Cheers, Colin (www.xdelta.co.uk).
Entia non sunt multiplicanda praeter necessitatem (Occam's razor).