Alacritech SEN2104EF, SEN2001XT, SEN2104ET, SES1001F, SES1001T User Manual

Alacritech
Guide



Accelerator Users

Preface

Disclaimer

The information in this document is subject to change without
notice. Alacritech reserves the right to change any portion of these
products for reasons such as improving performance or enhancing
functionality. Alacritech assumes no liability arising out of the
application or use of these products for anything other than its
intended purpose.

Copyright

This document is copyrighted material. No part of this document
may be copied by any means without the written permission of
Alacritech, Inc.

This document describes Accelerators from Alacritech, Inc. This
document is the official reference source for all revisions/releases of
these products until rescinded by an update.

Copyright © 2000-2005 Alacritech, Inc. All rights reserved.
Alacritech, the Alacritech logo, SLIC Technology and the SLIC
Technology logo are registered trademarks of Alacritech, Inc. in the
United States. All other marks belong to their respective owners.

Patents

One or more U.S. and international patents apply to Alacritech
products, including without limitation: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,226,680,
6,247,060, 6,334,153, 6,389,479, 6,393,487, 6,427,171, 6,427,173,
6,434,620, 6,470,415, 6,591,302, 6,658,480, 6,687,758, 6,697,868,
6,751,665, 6,757,746, 6,807,581, 6,938,092, 6,941,386, and
6,965,941.

Portions of the technology in Alacritech’s acceleration products are
used under license from Broadcom Corporation [and may be

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide i

covered by one or more Broadcom U.S. Patents.] Alacritech does
not have a license under the Broadcom Licensed Patents to
implement certain claimed functionality with hardware and software
not provided by Alacritech. No license is granted under
Broadcom’s patents expressly, by implication, by exhaustion or
otherwise, to use or sell the acceleration technology in combination
with any non-licensed hardware or software that is specifically
designed to practice the Broadcom Licensed Patents.

Part Number: 900099 Rev 5 11/05

ii Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

Organization of This Guide

This guide is the primary reference and operation guide for
Alacritech Accelerators and contains the following sections:

Chapter 1 - Introduction provides a general introduction to
Alacritech Accelerators and the SLIC Technology on which they are
based.

Chapter 2 - Software Installation includes the procedures required
to install the software component and configure the operating
system for correct operation.

Chapter 3 –Operations and Management provides the procedures
for monitoring and maintaining Accelerator performance and
procedures for special server circumstances.

Chapter 4 – Configuring Teaming and Failover supplies
instruction on how to set up EtherChannel or 802.3AD compatible
teams and hot standby failover.

Chapter 5 – Alacritech Accelerator Installation in Windows
Powered NAS Appliance outlines special procedures to be

followed to install an Alacritech Accelerator into a Windows
Powered NAS appliance.

Chapter 6 – Troubleshooting and Support provides a list of
possible problems and their solutions.

Appendix A - Network Software License Agreement and
Warranty provides the text of the License Agreement to use the

software component and the Limited Media Warranty for the
software media.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide iii

Table of Contents

1 Introduction 1-1

1.1 About this Guide 1-1

1.2 Description 1-2

2 Software Installation 2-1

2.1 Software Installation Overview 2-1

2.2 Software Installation 2-2

2.3 Uninstalling the Accelerator 2-9

3 Operations and Management 3-1

3.1 Overview of Performance Monitoring 3-1

3.2 Running Adapter Diagnostics 3-8

3.3 Updating Flash Code 3-9

3.4 Disabling SLIC TCP/IP Offload on Select Interfaces 3-11

3.5 Configuring Advanced Properties 3-12

4 Configuring Teaming and Failover 4-1

4.1 Overview of Teaming and Failover 4-1

4.2 Recommended Order of Implementation 4-3

4.3 Windows Teaming Configuration 4-4

5 Alacritech Accelerator Installation in Windows

Powered NAS Appliance 5-1

5.1 Installation Overview 5-1

5.2 Adapter and Driver Installation 5-2

5.3 Performance Monitoring 5-5

5.4 Adapter Teaming 5-6

6 Troubleshooting and Support 6-1

6.1 Alacritech Automated Customer Support 6-1

6.2 README Files on CD-ROM 6-1

6.3 Troubleshooting Overview 6-1

6.4 Installation Problems 6-2

6.5 Event Log Errors 6-3

iv Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

6.6 Connectivity Problems 6-4

6.7 Performance Problems 6-10

6.8 Miscellaneous Problems 6-11

Appendix A Network Software License Agreement

and Warranty A-1

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide v

1 Introduction

1.1 About this Guide

This guide describes how to install software and operate Alacritech
Accelerators on a Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server
2003 system. 100 Series (100x4, 100x2 and 100x1) Accelerators
are not supported with this release, but will continue to be supported
under earlier releases with a major number of 6.

1.1.1 Naming conventions

The general term Accelerator for this release applies to all of the
following products:

TCP/IP Offload Engine (TOE) NICs (TNICs):

• 1000x1 Single-Port Gigabit Server and Storage Accelerator

• 1000x1F Single-Port Gigabit Server and Storage

Accelerator (1000BASE-SX)

• SEN2002XT Dual-Port Accelerator

• SEN2002XF Dual-Port Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SEN2001XT Single-Port Accelerator

• SEN2001XF Single-Port Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SEN2104ET Quad-Port Accelerator

• SEN2104EF Quad-Port Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SEN2102ET Dual-Port Accelerator

• SEN2102EF Dual-Port Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 1-1

iSCSI Controllers:

• SES1001T iSCSI Accelerator

• SES1001F iSCSI Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SES2002XT Dual-Port iSCSI Accelerator

• SES2002XF Dual-Port iSCSI Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SES2001XT Single-Port iSCSI Accelerator

• SES2001XF Single-Port iSCSI Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SES2104ET Quad-Port iSCSI Accelerator

• SES2104EF Quad-Port iSCSI Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

• SES2102ET Dual-Port iSCSI Accelerator

• SES2102EF Dual-Port iSCSI Accelerator (1000Base-SX)

Product names ending with a T specify unshielded twisted pair
(UTP) copper connections, and product names ending with an F
indicate fiber-based connections. XT and XF products are PCI-X
based, and ET and EF products are PCI Express (PCIe) based.

1.2 Description

Alacritech Accelerators are single-port or multi-port network
interface cards (NICs) that employ Alacritech’s SLIC (Session­Layer Interface Card) Technology, which uses an innovative
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for protocol
processing. Accelerators operate with Windows 2000, Windows
XP and Windows Server 2003 operating systems.

SLIC Technology increases server performance and efficiency in
two specific ways:

1-2 Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

• TCP/IP Protocol processing is offloaded onto the
Accelerator, freeing the CPU for application processing and
maximizing throughput.

• A unique ASIC utilizes an Internet Protocol Processor
(IPP), optimized for TCP/IP protocol processing, which
delivers faster performance than general purpose CPUs.

SLIC Technology eliminates the burden of TCP/IP protocol
processing on the host CPU. By offloading protocol processing,
SLIC Technology frees the CPU for application processing,
boosting both network and server performance.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 1-3

2 Software Installation

2.1 Software Installation Overview

This chapter covers the installation of the software required for an
Accelerator under Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows
Server 2003. There are different procedures for different types of
installations, so take care to follow the correct procedure. The
following types of situations are covered:

■ Installation during the installation of the Windows operating

system

■ Installation into an existing Windows system

■ Updating the drivers for an existing Accelerator installation

■ Uninstalling the Accelerator

Note: Alacritech’s SLIC Technology requires the

installation of additional components not typically
required by a network adapter to support the TCP
offload capabilities of the Accelerator. All
installations must be done with the Alacritech
Setup utility.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-1

2.2 Software Installation

This section covers the procedures for installing the software
required for the Accelerators. Follow the appropriate procedure for
your type of installation.

Note: Running the Alacritech Setup program is the only

way to correctly initially install Alacritech
Accelerator drivers for Windows. Following initial
installation, the automated Add/Remove Hardware
Wizard will discover additional Accelerators.

Note: The drivers cannot be installed during the initial

installation of Windows. If you leave the
Accelerator in your system through the entire
Windows installation process, the automated
Add/Remove Hardware Wizard will not discover
the Accelerator in your system on subsequent
reboots, since Alacritech drivers do not ship with
Windows.

2.2.1 Installation of the Accelerator without Port Aggregation

1. Insert your Alacritech Driver Installation CD into the

system.

2. In the Alacritech Accelerator Setup – Software

License Agreement window, click the Yes button if
you accept the license agreement.

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3. If you accept the license agreement, the Alacritech

Accelerator Setup window will appear:

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-3

Click the View Readme button if you wish to read the
latest product information. Otherwise, click the
Continue button.

4. If a Reinstall Driver dialog box appears, click the Yes

button:

5. A dialog box titled Digital Signature Not Found for

Windows 2000 or Hardware Installation for Windows
XP or Windows Server 2003 may appear. This should
only occur when using drivers that are not certified
through the Microsoft WHQL process. Most official
drivers released by Alacritech have appropriate digital
signatures, while others, including beta drivers, do not.
A missing digital signature does not prevent the
Alacritech drivers from working properly on your
system.

Click the button titled Yes for Windows 2000 or
Continue Anyway for Windows XP or Windows
Server 2003 to install the driver without a digital
signature. This dialog box will appear each time the
driver is installed for an adapter port. Be sure to click
the Yes or Continue Anyway button each time:

2-4 Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

6. Click Exit to end the installation process. The user will

be prompted to reboot the system.

2.2.2 Installation of the Accelerator with Port Aggregation

1. Insert your Alacritech Driver Installation CD into the

system.

2. In the Alacritech Accelerator Setup – Software

License Agreement window, click the Yes button if
you accept the license agreement.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-5

3. If you accept the license agreement, the Alacritech

Accelerator Setup window will appear:

2-6 Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

Click the View Readme button if you wish to read the
latest product information. Otherwise, check the Port

Aggregation Driver box in the Alacritech Accelerator
Setup window, and click the Continue button.

4. In the Reinstall Driver dialog box click the Yes button:

5. A dialog box titled Digital Signature Not Found for

Windows 2000 or Hardware Installation for Windows
XP or Windows Server 2003 may appear. This should
only occur when using drivers that are not certified
through the Microsoft WHQL process. Most official
drivers released by Alacritech have appropriate digital
signatures, while others, including beta drivers, do not.
A missing digital signature does not prevent the
Alacritech drivers from working properly on your
system.

Click the button titled Yes for Windows 2000 or
Continue Anyway for Windows XP or Windows
Server 2003 to install the driver without a digital
signature. This dialog box will appear each time the
driver is installed for an adapter port. Be sure to click
the Yes or Continue Anyway button each time:

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-7

6. The Alacritech Accelerator Team Configurator

Properties window will appear. If you wish to
configure teaming now, consult Chapter 4; otherwise,
select Cancel in the teaming window:

2-8 Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

7. When installation completes, you will be asked to

restart your system. If you wish to assign IP addresses
before rebooting, click No. Otherwise, click the Yes
button. The user will be prompted to reboot the system.

2.3 Uninstalling the Accelerator

2.3.1 Removal of an Accelerator on a Windows 2000
System

To remove an Accelerator from a Windows 2000 system,
follow this procedure. Windows XP and Windows Server
2003 systems will disable the driver software automatically.

Take care to remove all software drivers for the card

before unplugging the adapter.

1. Dissolve any existing Accelerator teams (if created).

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-9

2. Double-click the Add/Remove Hardware icon in the

Control Panel. An opening screen will appear. Click
the Next button.

3. Select Uninstall/Unplug a device in the selection list

and click the Next button.

4. Confirm Uninstall a device is selected in the selection

list and click the Next button.

5. After a few seconds, a list of devices will appear.

Select the first appropriate Alacritech Accelerator or
Alacritech iSCSI Accelerator from the list and click
the Next button.

6. Confirm the removal of the device by selecting the Yes,

I want to uninstall this device item and click the Next
button.

7. Click the Finish button to close the Add/Remove

Hardware Wizard program.

2-10 Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide

8. IMPORTANT! - Follow steps 1 through 6, removing

each Alacritech Accelerator as described in step 4.

9. Shut down the computer, and unplug the power cable.

Failure to do so may endanger you, and may damage
the adapter or computer.

Note: Alacritech Accelerators use components that are

sensitive to ESD. Proper ESD handling and
storage should be followed.

10. Remove the computer cover, and remove the Alacritech

Accelerator.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 2-11

3 Operations and Management

3.1 Overview of Performance Monitoring

Performance data for an Accelerator can be seen with Performance
Monitor, which is located in the Administrative Tools folder on
your Windows system. Select the SLIC object in the Performance
Monitor program to review SLIC specific counters. Among the
counters maintained under the SLIC object is the FastPath Data
Rate. This counter measures the percentage of TCP/IP traffic that is
being processed by the Accelerator as opposed to the traffic that is
processed by the host protocol stack. A FastPath Data Rate of
95% or higher indicates the accelerator is working properly.

3.1.1 Using the Performance Monitor Application

To check the performance of your system, run Performance
Monitor, specifying the variables you wish to monitor. Follow this
procedure to check the performance of the Accelerator.

Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide 3-1

For Windows 2000, run the Performance Monitor application from
the Start Menu, located under Settings in the Control Panel folder in
the Administrative Tools object. For Windows XP and Windows
Server 2003, click the Start menu button, and launch the Run…
menu option. In the dialog box that appears, run the command
perfmon. Follow the steps below:

1. Select the + button to add objects to the chart:

2. In the Performance Object field, select Processor and in
the Counter field, select % Processor Time and click the

Add button. Next, in the Object field, select Net and in the
Counter field, select Bytes Total/sec along with any

gigabit adapter in the list of available network interface
instances, and click the Add button. These objects display
both how much CPU time is used on the system and how
much data is transferred by the Server process, which is
responsible for file sharing.

Before the Alacritech Accelerator is installed, when clients
are generating a lot of traffic to and from the server's file
systems, your display may look similar to this:

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