SysKonnect SK-9E21D - Manual (Page 33)

SysKonnect SK-9E21D 10/100/1000Base-T Adapter PCI Express
Virtual LAN (VLAN) support 35
Redundant Switch Failover
Beyond the features required for link aggregation in the IEEE 802.3ad standard, SysKonnect
drivers support an additional failover feature, the so-called Redundant Switch Failover (RSF).
If a switch fails completely, RSF can move the link to a different switch which then takes over
the traffic.
At the moment, this feature is implemented in the driver package for Windows 2000,
Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 but will be available for other operating systems in
the future. The standard requires that all links of a link aggregation group (team) are connect-
ed to the same partner (usually a switch supporting 802.3ad). With SysKonnect’s link aggre-
gation driver, one team (group of logical links) can comprise several aggregators (sub-group
beneath team level). If a team has several aggregators, which are connected to separate
switches, the failover feature is utilized. Data is transferred via one aggregator, and is, if this
aggregator fails, automatically switched over to another aggregator in the same team.
For more information on RSF, refer to the white paper “Link Aggregation according to IEEE
802.3ad”, which can be found on the SysKonnect installation CD-ROM and on our web site.
PCI Express Hot-Plug
As a member of the PCI Special Interest Group, SysKonnect has a long experience in the
standardization of the insertion and removal of PCI computer cards during normal operation.
The SysKonnect SK-9E21D 10/100/1000Base-T Adapter, PCI Express, provide native Hot-
Plug Support according to the PCI Express 1.0a and Advanced Configuration and Power In-
terface Specification Revision V2.0.
Hot-Plug enables the replacement of failed devices in a running system. The following condi-
tions have to be met in order for Hot-Plug to work on the SysKonnect SK-9E21D Adapter:
•
The target system has PCI Express Hot-Plug slots, i.e. the power can be switched on and
off under the control of the operating system.
• The adapter is installed in one of the PCI Express Hot-Plug slots.
• The operating system supports PCI Express Hot-Plug on the target system.
The drivers for the following operating systems support PCI Express Hot-Plug:
•
Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
• NetWare 4.20 and higher
• Solaris 7 and higher
Parity
The integrity of data that pass from the network through the system and back to the network is
monitored by generating and checking parity information on all available data paths. All data
errors are detected immediately and can be reported.
Virtual LAN (VLAN) support
A Virtual LAN is a group of network devices that belong to the same network segment, re-
gardless of the physical network structure. A logical network structure based on business re-
quirements is possible. With virtual networks, physical location no longer specifies the
network a user is assigned to: user clients with similar networking requirements can be united
in one network group, or VLAN. This VLAN can be established to meet a wide variety of orga-
nizational or technical needs. All members of a department can, for example, be gathered into