[K12OSN] configure and optimize network cards in K12LTSP?
Mike Lichtenwalner
mll at mtwp.net
Mon Oct 9 12:21:34 UTC 2006
Jim Kathan wrote:
> My school uses HP Procurve switches that give all sorts of CRC alignment
> errors if they are not set to automatic uplink/downlink connection speed
> (10/100, etc.), and if flow control is set to anything other than
> off/disabled. Interestingly enough, these picky switches also want
> _whatever’s connected on the other end_ (NIC card, jet-direct printer,
> etc.) to be set _the exact same way_, or you also get errors.
I also use Procurve switches - great bang for the buck! The behavior you
described is not specific to Procurve only - that's how all switches
behave. If you do not have the ports set to auto-negotiate, you must
configure the NIC on the other end of the cable with the same settings
as the switch. If you do not configure the NIC, it will automatically
default to 10Mb half-duplex - the lowest common denominator. And then
watch the errors fly!
> Getting to the point; I was wondering if there are any
> configurations/customizations/tweaks that I can do for my NIC cards
> within K12/Fedora? I am wondering how they are set be default, and what
> I can change. I looked around but didn’t see much of anything. I know
> K12 is designed for most situations to work “out of the box”, but my
> situation warrants further optimizing for the NIC, if it’s possible.
I believe the default NIC setting is also auto. To make life easy, I
would set the ports on the switch to auto then allow the NICs to
auto-negotiate the connection. (I only stray from this is very special
circumstances.)
Mike
_________________________________
Mike Lichtenwalner
Technology Specialist
Manheim Township School District
Lancaster, PA
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