Alacritech 100x4 User manual

100x4 Quad-Port Server Adapter
100x2 Dual-Port Server Adapter
User’s Guide

ii Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4
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.
Alacritech 100x4 Quad-Port Server Adapter & Alacritech 100x2
Dual-Port Server Adapter User’s Guide, Second Edition (March
2000).
This document describes the 100 Series of adapters from Alacritech,
Inc. This document is the official reference source for all
revisions/releases of these products until rescinded by an update.
Copyright © 2000 Alacritech, Inc. All rights reserved. Alacritech,
the Alacritech logo, SLIC Technology and the SLIC Technology
logo are trademarks of Alacritech, Inc. in the United States and
Europe. All other marks belong to their respective owners.

Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4 iii
Organization of This Guide
This guide is the primary reference and operation guide for the
Alacritech 100 Series of server adapters and contains the following
sections:
Chapter 1 - Introduction, provides a general introduction to the
100 Series of server adapters and the SLIC technology on which
they are based.
Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation, includes the specifications for
the hardware and the procedure required to install the hardware
component.
Chapter 3 - Software Installation, includes the procedures
required to install the software component and configure the
operating system for correct operation.
Chapter 4 – Operations and Management, provides the
procedures for monitoring and maintaining the 100 Series server
adapters and procedures for special circumstances.
Chapter 5 – Troubleshooting and Support, provides a list of
possible problems and their solutions.
Appendix A - Network Software License Agreement, provides
the text of the License Agreement to use the software component.
Appendix B - Warranties, provides the text of the Limited Media
Warranty for the software media, and the Limited Lifetime
Hardware Warranty for the hardware component. This section also
includes instructions for returning a defective product, the text of
the Limitation of Liability and Remedies statement, and the FCC
Compliance and Conformity statements.

iv Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4
Table of Contents
1 Introduction 1-1
1.1 About this Guide 1-1
1.2 Description 1-1
1.3 Specifications 1-2
1.4 100 Series Adapter Card Interface Diagram 1-3
2 Hardware Installation 2-1
2.1 Hardware Installation Overview 2-1
2.2 Hardware Installation 2-1
3 Software Installation 3-1
3.1 Software Installation Overview 3-1
3.2 Software Installation 3-1
3.3 Uninstalling the 100 Series Adapter 3-7
4 Operations and Management 4-1
4.1 Overview of Performance Monitoring 4-1
4.2 Running Adapter Diagnostics 4-8
4.3 Disabling IPX/SPX and NetBEUI 4-9
4.4 Disabling SLIC TCP/IP Offload on Select Interfaces 4-13
5 Troubleshooting and Support 5-1
5.1 Alacritech Automated Customer Support 5-1
5.2 Readme Files on Your Product CD-ROM 5-1
5.3 Troubleshooting Overview 5-1
5.4 Installation Problems 5-2
5.5 Event Log Errors 5-3
5.6 Connectivity Problems 5-4
5.7 Performance Problems 5-6
5.8 Miscellaneous Problems 5-8
Appendix A Network Software License Agreement A-1
Appendix B Warranties B-1

Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4 1-1
1 Introduction
1.1 About this Guide
This guide describes how to install and operate the Alacritech 100
Series of server adapters on a Windows NT 4.0 machine running
Service Pack 4 and above.
1.1.1 Naming conventions
Because this guide applies to both the 100x4 Quad-port and 100x2
Dual-port server adapters, the general term 100 Series applies to
both versions of the adapter, except where indicated.
1.2 Description
The 100 Series of Server Adapters are multi-port 64-bit Fast
Ethernet server adapters that employ Alacritech’s patented SLIC
(Session-Layer Interface Card) technology, which uses an
innovative application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for
protocol processing. Both the 100x4 Quad-Port and 100x2 Dual-
Port Server Adapters are designed for the Windows NT 4.0
environment.
SLIC technology increases server performance and efficiency.
■Protocol processing is offloaded onto the NIC, freeing
the CPU for application processing and maximizing
throughput.
■A unique ASIC utilizes an Internet Protocol Processor
(IPP), optimized for protocol processing, which delivers
faster performance than general purpose CPUs.
SLIC eliminates the burden of protocol processing on the host CPU.
By offloading protocol data processing, SLIC technology frees the

1-2 Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4
CPU for application processing, boosting both network and server
performance.
1.3 Specifications
Port Speeds IEEE Auto Negotiation: 10/100 or 20/200 with
full duplex
Ethernet: 10 Mbps or 20Mbps with full duplex
Configuration Plug-and-Play
Connectors RJ-45
Media 10BaseT: Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP; 100BaseTX:
Category 5 UTP
Bus Type 64-bit bus master PCI v2.2, Universal Card
Compatible with 32-bit PCI 2.2
Reliability Calculated MTBF 250,000 hours
Power 1.6A @ 5V typical (100x4)
1.3A @ 5V typical (100x2)
Safety UL/c (UL), IEC950, UL1950, CSA C22.2, IEC
60950
Environmental
Factors
Temperature: 0 to 55º C
Relative humidity: 5% to 85% non-condensing
Altitude: 3000 m maximum
Standards
Compliance
IEEE 802.3 10BaseT
IEEE 802.3u 100BaseTX
Fully compliant auto-negotiation
FCC class B
EN55022 Class B, CE, VCCI B
Diagnostic LEDs Link speed/integrity and network activity for each
individual channel
Operating Systems
Supported
Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 4 and above

Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4 1-3
1.4 100 Series Adapter Card Interface Diagram
Below is a diagram of the LED locations and ports of the 100x4
Quad-port Server Adapter. The 100x2 Dual-port Server Adapter is
similar, but does not have the bottom two ports or corresponding set
of LEDs.
Figure 1: 100x4 Quad-port Server Adapter Interface

1-4 Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4

Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4 2-1
2 Hardware Installation
2.1 Hardware Installation Overview
The 100 Series was designed for Windows NT 4.0 servers on an
Ethernet or Fast Ethernet network using TCP/IP.
The Server computer should have the following features:
■Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 4 and above
■One available bus-mastering PCI slot
■CD-ROM or CD compatible drive for software
installation
The network should have the following features:
■10Base-T Ethernet (10MB) using Category 3, 4, or 5
UTP or 100Base-TX Fast Ethernet (100MB) using
Category 5 UTP with RJ-45 connectors
■TCP/IP
2.2 Hardware Installation
1. Turn off and unplug the computer. Failure to do so
could endanger you, and may damage the adapter or
computer.
2. Remove the computer cover, and install the 100 Series
adapter in any available bus-mastering PCI slot. Use a
64-bit PCI slot, if available, to maximize system
performance. The 100 Series is fully compatible with
32-bit PCI slots, and 3.3 volt or 5.0 volt PCI slots.

2-2 Alacritech 100 Series User’s Guide - Rev 4
Some PCI slots have fasteners, which must be secured
in order for the adapter card to function correctly.
3. Replace the computer cover, turn on and boot the
computer.
Note: To remove the 100 Series adapter, follow the
instructions in Chapter 3 - “Uninstalling the 100
Series Adapter.”