HP UX 11:00 Additional LAN Card Gigbit Ethernet

[LG Porter]

I have a N4000 Class server that is scheduled to have a Gigbit Ethernet card installed as a additional lan with a different IP, subnet and route information that the presently configured lan cards (lan0, lan1, lan2). Once installed and after configuring the card with the ifconfig, will the second route have to be added to the /etc/rc.config.d/netconf in addition to the default route?

[Sridhar Bhaskarla]

Hi,

As long as the other systems that you intend to talk to are on the same subnet as of the gigabit card, then you don't need to add any routes.

But if they are not on the same subnet and are to be accessed through a router on the same subnet, then you will need to add appropriate route statement.

So, the answer is - it depends.

-Sri

[Michael Tully]

Hi,

Yes it will. Also make sure that you have the correct lan card card conf file used for this card. The file is /etc/rc.config.d/hpgelanconf

HTH
Michael

[Brian M Rawlings · Accepted solution]

Hi. If you set up the /etc/rc.config.d/netconf file and the hpgelanconf file, you won't have to ifconfig, it will be set up and started from boot-up (or with this sequence):

/sbin/init.d/net stop
/sbin/init.d/net start

Note that there is also an "init" function for the Gig-E LAN card, using the standard 'S' (start) and 'K' (kill) links to the actual script in /sbin/init.d:

/sbin/init.d/hpgelan (Gig-E init script)
/sbin/rc2.d/S308hpgelan (Start link for run level 2)
/sbin/rc1.d/k692hpgelan (Kill link for run level 1)

Check that these are in place and enabled, I believe that they normally are with 11i, not sure with 11.0.

Regards, --bmr

[LG Porter]

The Gigbit Lan card a4926a was purchased through third party reseller and contains no documentation. Is there any available pdf or html docs available on product? I need to configure it for 100 Full Duplex. Is 100-half duplex the default configuration for this card? What is the best method of configuring this card? That is "ifconfig" command or edit the /etc/rc.config.d/netconf file? Thanks

[Sridhar Bhaskarla]

Hi,

A4926A does not support anything other than 1 GB. If you need 100MB interface, then either you have to go for 100bt cards or A4929A which is copper.


If you are willing to configure 1 GB, then do the following.

Edit /etc/rc.config.d/netconf and put the following entries.

INTERFACE_NAME[x]="lan#"
IP_ADDRESS[x]="##.##.##.##
SUBNET_MASK[x]="###.###.###.0"
DHCP_ENABLE[x]=0

Look for other entries and make sure x is unique. Replace IP and SUBNET_MASKs with the actual entries. In the place of "lan#" keep the lan device corresponding to your gelan card (from lanscan)


Then run /sbin/init.d/net start and it should add the IP address.

But prior to that, do an ioscan -f and search for "gelan". If not found, then search for UNKNOWN. This means the driver is not there. Add the driver from App1 CD (it says A4959A). This will reboot the box.

-Sri

[rick jones]

Indeed the A4926A GbE NIC is a _fibre_ NIC and only does 1Gbit operation. If you needed copper the reseller should have sold you (iirc) an A4929A, which was the original HP 9000 GbE NIC with the copper RJ45 connector and which can do 10/100/1000 Mbit/s operation.

The reseller should have also told you that you will (iirc) need to install a driver - the gelan driver - which depending on the age of the HP-UX 11 bits on your system may or may not already be there. IIRC, later HP-UX 11 install media did include the gelan driver, but some of the very first did not.

Also, FWIW, the A4926A/A4929A have been/are in the process of being replaced by newer-generation NICs with product numbers starting A6NNN. Depending on your needs though the A4926A/A4929A should be more than adequate in an N4000.

[Brian M Rawlings]

FYI, the newer cards are:

Copper/UTP/TX RJ-45 A6825A
Fiber (SC-connector) A6847A

These are supposed to be much more efficient (packets per second, sustained data rates, etc) than the earlier version, at the same price as the old ones. Any current orders are apparently being converted to these cards, HP is trying to make the old ones go away ASAP.

Regards, --bmr