Compaq Network Teaming Driver Failure

[Ayman Altounji]

Would somebody (preferably from Compaq) please explain why my "Compaq Network Teaming" drivers seem to disappear on an unexplained basis? This is specifically with my Gigabit card teams, which is *REALLY* weird, as my 100MB card teams have no trouble.

I have six Windows 2000 Servers running in one of three configurations (two machines per config.), which are detailed below. What happens, is that I will notice that a machine is no longer communicating within the group. If I attempt to bring up "My Network Places -> Properties" the process hangs, ditto if I attempt to run CPQTEAM. Running IPCONFIG will show me my TCP/IP settings for my Fast Ethernet team, but it does not show my Gigabit team whatsoever. Typically, I then need to reboot the machine, and immediately re-apply the SupportPaq (v5.04a). This will in turn tell me that "Compaq Network Teaming" is not installed, and offers for me to install it. (Obviously, this right here is a little odd, as my Fast Ethernet team is running at the time, but whatever.) I then receive a message that tells me that "Compaq Network Teaming" was not previously, but has now been successfully installed, and that I need to reboot. I do, and 8 times out of 10, my Gigabit team is back and working. The other 2 times, I repeat the process once or twice, and it finally seems to get it.

Again, *ONLY* my Gigabit teams seem to be effected. Configurations 1 and 2 exhibit this behavior often, whereas Config. 3 has seldom, if ever, had this happen.

!ANY INFORMATION RELATING TO THIS WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!

Config 1.
Compaq Smart Switch Team
(2) NC6134 Gigabit NICs
Cisco Fast EtherChannel Team
(2-ports on 1) NC3134 Fast Ethernet NIC

Config 2.
Compaq Smart Switch Team
(2) NC6134 Gigabit NICs
Compaq Smart Switch Team
(1) NC3123 Fast Ethernet NIC
(1) NC3163 Fast Ethernet (on-board)

Config 3.
Compaq Smart Switch Team
(2) NC6134 Gigabit NICs
Compaq Smart Switch Team
(2-ports on 1) NC3131 Fast Ethernet NIC

All machines are running Windows 2000 Server (or Advanced Server) Service Pack 1, Compaq Support Paq v5.04a, Compaq Network Teaming v1.0.0.21, Compaq Gigabit Ethernet NIC Driver v1.37.138.0 and Compaq Fast Ethernet NIC Driver v5.29.4.67.

-Mark Brown
Reliance Software Systems Inc.
mbrown@relware.com

[Ayman Altounji]

When updating Compaq Network Teaming and Configuration Version
1.0.0.21 for Windows 2000 using Compaq Support Paq Version 5.04A for
Windows 2000, the following error message will be displayed before
installation begins:

"Component is not installed but is supported for installation."

After the message appears, the installation utility prompts to install
the component instead of updating it. The utility will perform the
installation or update correctly, but displays the wrong installation
status at the beginning of the update.

This issue does not affect new installations of Compaq Network
Teaming.

Any Compaq server running Microsoft Windows 2000 and Compaq Network
Teaming and Configuration Version 1.0.0.21 for Windows 2000 using
Compaq Support Paq Version 5.04A for Windows 2000.

To work around this issue, select "install" to update Compaq Network
Teaming.

A permanent resolution to this issue will be included with Compaq
Support Paq Version 5.08A for Windows 2000, which will be available
on SmartStart for Servers Release 5.00 due Feb 200

[Ayman Altounji]

Orion_Quest brings up the point of whether you are "updating" or "installing" the teaming drivers... Do you remember which way it was done?