NETGEAR GA621 User manual

GA 621
MODEL
Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
Reference Guide

ii
© 2001 by NETGEAR,Inc.All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR® is a registered trademark of NETGEAR,INC.in the United States and other countries.
Microsoft®,Windows® and Windows NT® are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other
brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Information is subject to change without notice.
All rights reserved.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability,NETGEAR reserves
the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s)
or circuit layout(s) described herein.
Certificate of the Manufacturer/Importer
It is hereby certified that the NETGEAR Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Cards have been suppressed in
accordance with the conditions set out in the BMPT-AmtsblVfg 243/1991 andVfg 46/1992.The opera-
tion of some equipment (for example, test transmitters) in accordance with the regulations may,however,
be subject to certain restrictions.Please refer to the notes in the operating instructions.
Federal Office forTelecommunications Approvals has been notified of the placing of this equipment on
the market and has been granted the right to test the series for compliance with the regulations.
VCCI Statement
This equipment is in the Class B category (information equipment to be used in a residential area
or an adjacent area thereto) and conforms to the standards set by theVoluntary Control Council for
Interference by Data Processing Equipment and Electronic Office Machines aimed at preventing radio
interference in such residential areas.
When used near a radio orTV receiver,it may become the cause of radio interference.
Read instructions for correct handling.
Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Compliance Notice:Radio Frequency Notice
Note: Modifications to this device change it from the original state it was in when tested and
may alter the device so that it no longer complies with FCC testing limitations for Class B digital
devices.According to FCC regulations, the user could be prohibited from operating this equipment
if it is modified.

iii
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference.
2. This device must accept any interference received,including interference that may cause undesired
operation.
Note:This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital
device,pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.These limits are designed to provide reasonable pro-
tection against harmful interference in a residential installation.This equipment generates,uses,and
can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruc-
tions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications.However,there is no guarantee that
interference will not occur in a particular installation.If this equipment does cause harmful interfer-
ence to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on,
the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
EN 55 022 Statement
This is to certify that the NETGEAR Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Card are shielded against the
generation of radio interference in accordance with the application of Council Directive 89/336/EEC,
Article 4a.Conformity is declared by the application of EN 55 022 Class B (CISPR 22).
Compliance is dependent upon the use of shielded data cables.
Canadian Department of Communications Radio Interference Regulations
These digital apparatus (NETGEAR Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Card) do not exceed the Class B
limits for radio-noise emissions from digital apparatus as set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of
the Canadian Department of Communications.
Règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique du ministère des Communications
Ces appareils numériques (NETGEAR Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Card) respectent les limites de
bruits radioélectriques visant les appareils numériques de classe B prescrites dans le Règlement sur le
brouillage radioélectrique du ministère des Communications du Canada.

iv
Customer Support
For assistance with installing and configuring your NETGEAR system or with questions or problems
following installation:
• Check the NETGEAR Web page at http://www.NETGEAR.com.
• CallTechnical Support at the phone number listed on the Support Information Card that shipped
with your switch.
• EmailTechnical Support at [e-mail].
Defective or damaged merchandise can be returned to your point-of-purchase representative.
Internet/World Wide Web
NETGEAR maintains a World Wide Web home page that you can access at the universal resource locator
(URL) http://www.NETGEAR.com. A connection to the Internet and aWeb browser such as Internet
Explorer or Netscape are required.

contents v
CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1
Introduction
Benefits 1-1
Features 1-1
CHAPTER 2
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
Package Contents 2-1
Requirements 2-2
Hardware Description 2-5
Preparing to InstallYour GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card 2-6
InstallingYour GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card 2-7
Connecting the Network Cables 2-8
CHAPTER 3
Windows 95 OSR2/98/Me DRIVER SOFTWARE
Installing the Driver Software 3-1
Moving the Network Card to a Different Slot 3-6
CHAPTER 4
WINDOWS NT DRIVER SOFTWARE
Installing the Driver Software 4-1
Updating the Driver Software 4-7
Moving the Network Card to a Different Slot 4-8
CHAPTER 5
WINDOWS 2000 DRIVER SOFTWARE
Installing the Driver Software 5-1
Moving the Network Card to a Different Slot 5-6
Removing the Driver Software 5-7

contents vi
CHAPTER 6
NETWARE DRIVER SOFTWARE
Pre-Installation Requirements 6-2
Installing the Driver Software 6-2
Modifying Driver Properties 6-5
InstallationTroubleshooting 6-6
CHAPTER 7
LINUX DRIVER SOFTWARE
File Listing 7-1
Installing the Driver Software 7-2
Testing the Driver Software 7-3
Configurable Parameters 7-4
CHAPTER 8
TROUBLESHOOTING
Checking the Port LEDs 8-1
Using aTroubleshooting Checklist 8-2
APPENDIX A
SPECIFICATIONS
Cable Specifications GA621 (1000BASE-SX) A-1
Technical Specifications A-1
INDEX

contents vii
FIGURE
Figure 2-1. Front Panel of Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Card 2-5
TABLES
Table 2-1. Software and Hardware Requirements 2-2
Table 2-2. GA621 LEDs 2-6
Table 2-3. GA621 (1000BASE-SX) Cable Characteristics 2-8
Table 3-1. Parameter Descriptions 3-6
Table 4-1. Parameter Descriptions 4-6
Table 6-1. NetWare Device Installation Methods 6-1
Table 6-2. NetWare Support Files 6-2
Table 6-3. Parameter Descriptions 6-5
Table 7-1. Linux files 7-1
Table 8-1. GA621 (1000BASE-SX) Port LED Activity 8-1
Table 8-2. PCI BIOS Parameters 8-2

introduction 1-1
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR®GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet
Card.Designed especially for high-performance systems,such as servers and high-end
workstations,it offers 2 gigabits per second (Gbps) of aggregate bandwidth and opti-
mized performance while minimizing network overhead on the host system.This guide
describes the installation and use of the GA621 for operation within a Microsoft®
Windows®95OSR2,Windows®98,Windows®NT,Windows®2000,Windows®Me,
Novell®NetWare,or Red Hat®Linux environment.
This chapter provides information about the features of the GA621.It connects
your PCI-compliant server or workstation to a Gigabit Ethernet network, incorporat-
ing a new technology that transfers data at a rate of 1 Gbps or 1000 megabits per
second (Mbps) over 62.5/125 or 50/125 Micron multimode fiber with SC
connectors.
Benefits
Performance is optimized and network overhead on the host system is minimized
with the use of the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card.
The GA621 has demonstrated interoperability with all major Gigabit Ethernet equip-
ment on the market that is compliant with IEEE 802.3z standards. In addition,
because the GA621 uses standard Ethernet frame and Media Access Control (MAC)
formats,
it provides full compatibility with Fast Ethernet network equipment through network
switches from a variety of vendors,including NETGEAR.
Features
The key features of the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card are:
• Full-duplex operation (2,000 Mbps:1,000 Mbps each way) with DMA (Direct
Memory Access) Gigabit Ethernet interface (IEEE 802.3z)

introduction 1-2
• Duplex SC fiber connector for 62.5-micron or 50-micron multimode fiber cable
• Interoperability with existing Fast Ethernet equipment compliance with the
following standards and protocols:
– IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-SX Gigabit Ethernet
– IEEE 802.3u Fast Ethernet
• Standard Ethernet frame size (up to 1,518 bytes)
• Jumbo frames support
• 33/66 MHz,32/64-bit PCI bus master (Local Bus Revision 2.2 compliant)
with adaptive DMA channels
• Two independent DMA channels for simultaneous read and write operations;
as a bus master,the network card requests access to the PCI bus instead of
waiting to be polled
• Software driver support for Windows 95 OSR2,Windows 98,Windows NT,
Windows 2000,Windows Me,NetWare 4.2, 5.0,5.1, and Red Hat Linux 6.0, 6.1,
6.2,7.0 and 7.1.
• Universal dual-voltage signaling (3.3 V and 5 V)

CHAPTER 2: HARDWARE INSTALLATION
This chapter provides information about the package contents,system requirements,
and installation of the NETGEAR GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card.
Package Contents
The product package contains:
• GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
•
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card Driver and Documentation CD
• GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card Installation Guide
• Warranty & Registration Card
• Support Information Card
Call your reseller or customer support in your area if there are any wrong, missing,
or damaged parts.Refer to the Support Information Card for the telephone number
of customer support in your area.
Keep the Support Information Card, along with the original packing materials.
Use the packing materials to repack the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
if you need to return it for repair.
To qualify for product updates and product warranty registrations,fill out the
registration information within 30 days of purchase.For priority service, register
online on the NETGEAR Web page at:
http://www.NETGEAR.com
You can also fill out and return the Warranty & Registration Card that is included in
your product package.
hardware installation 2-1

hardware installation 2-2
Requirements
Before installing the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card,verify that your system
meets the operating system and hardware requirements outlined inTable 2-1.
Table 2-1. Software and Hardware Requirements
System Requirements
Windows 95 OSR2
Hardware A Pentium-based workstation that meetsWindows 95 OSR2 software requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Operating System Windows 95 OSR2
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for Windows,which is included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Win95 directory.The necessary files are:
• GA621nd4.sys (network device driver file)
• Netga621.inf (information used by installation program)
Windows 98/98SE
Hardware A Pentium-based workstation that meetsWindows 98/98SE software requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Operating System Windows 98,Windows 98SE
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for Windows,which is included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Win98 directory.The necessary files are:
• GA621nd5.sys (network device driver file)
• Netga621.inf (information used by installation program)
Windows NT
Hardware A Pentium-based workstation or server that meets Windows NT 4.0
software requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Minimum 64 MB memory

hardware installation 2-3
Table 2-1. Software and Hardware Requirements (continued)
System Requirements
Operating System Windows NT 4.0 with Service Pack 5 or above.To download the latest
Service Pack, go to the following MicrosoftWeb page and search for the latest
service pack:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/search.asp
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for Windows NT,which is included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Winnt directory.The necessary files are:
• GA621nd4.sys (network device driver file)
• Oemsetup.inf (information used by installation program; this file is in the root
directory)
Windows 2000
Hardware A Pentium-based workstation or server that meets Windows 2000 software
requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Minimum 64 MB memory
Operating System Windows 2000 Professional,Windows 2000 Server, or Windows 2000
Advanced Server
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for Windows 2000,which is included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Win2000 directory.The necessary files are:
• GA621nd5.sys (network device driver file)
• Netga621.inf (information used by installation program)
Windows Me
Hardware A Pentium-based workstation that meetsWindows Me software requirements
Operating System Windows Me
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software forWindows Me, which is
(loaded during included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card Driver and Documentation
driver installation) CD in the \Winme directory.The necessary files are:
• GA621nd5.sys (network device driver file)
• Netga621.inf (information used by installation program)

hardware installation 2-4
Table 2-1. Software and Hardware Requirements (continued)
System Requirements
NetWare
Hardware A Pentium-based server that meets NetWare 4.2, NetWare 5.0, or NetWare 5.1
software requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Minimum 64 MB memory
Operating System If you are using NetWare 4.2,you must have the most recent support pack
(Support Pack 8 or later).To download the latest support pack,go to the following
Novell Web page:
http://support.novell.com/products/nw42/patches.htm
For NetWare 5.0, download the most recent support pack (Support Pack 4 or
later).To download the latest support pack, go to the following NovellWeb page:
http://support.novell.com/products/nw5/patches.htm
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for NetWare, which is Included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Netware directory.The necessary files are:
• Ga621.lan (network device driver file)
• Ga621.ldi (information used by installation program)
Red Hat Linux
Hardware APentium-based server that meets Red Hat Linux 6.x or 7.x software requirements
One open 32-bit or 64-bit PCI slot
Operating System Red Hat Linux 6.0,6.1, 6.2, 7.0 and 7.1
Software GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card driver software,version 1.0 (or higher)
(loaded during for NetWare, which is included on the
GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
driver installation) Driver and Documentation CD in the \Linux directory.The necessary files are:
• ga.c (Linux network OS specific module file)
• ga621.h (Driver header file)
• hsm.c (Hardware specific module file)
• hsm.h (Hardware specific module header file)
• nsm.h (HSM related data structures)
• nsmtypes.h (Definition type define)
• sp.c (Tunable parameters)
• Makefile Rules to compile and install the driver)

hardware installation 2-5
Hardware Description
As illustrated in Figure 2-1,the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card has an SC
connector port and two port LEDs.
Figure 2-1. Front Panel of Model GA621 Gigabit Ethernet Card
The front panel of the GA621 has two LEDs: one LED to indicate the link is active
and one LED for data transfer status.Once the hardware and its driver software are
properly installed on your system,the LEDs indicate the conditions described inTable
2-2.

Table 2-2. GA621 LEDs
Label Activity Description
DATA Blinking Brief bursts of data detected on the port
On Streams of data detected on the port
Off No data detected on the port
LINK On Good 1000 Mbps Gigabit Ethernet link
Off No 1000 Mbps link;possible bad cable,bad connector, or configuration
mismatch
Preparing to InstallYour GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
Follow the instructions provided in this section for installing the GA621 Fiber Gigabit
Ethernet Card in your server or workstation. For additional information about per-
forming these tasks on your particular system, refer to the manuals
included with your system hardware.
Before installing your Gigabit Ethernet Card:
1. Make sure that your system meets the hardware and software requirements
provided inTable 2-1.
2. Make sure that your system uses the latest BIOS.
3. Turn off the power to your PC.
• If you are running Windows,close all applications and click Start from the
desktop menu, select Shut Down, and then select Shut down the computer.
• If you are running NetWare,use the following commands to shut down the
server functions and reach the DOS prompt:
server_name: down
server_name: exit
hardware installation 2-6

hardware installation 2-7
Danger:You are installing the card in a machine that operates with voltages that can be
dangerous.Follow the steps after this warning to protect yourself and to prevent damage
to the PC components.
4. Protect yourself,the card, and your server by taking these precautions:
• Shut down the server software and turn off the power to your server.
• Use only insulated or non-conducting tools.
• Hold the Gigabit Ethernet Card by the edges and place it on an antistatic
surface only.
• Check the card for visible signs of damage,particularly to the connector on
the edge of the card.Never attempt to install a damaged card.
InstallingYour GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card
To install your GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card:
1. Remove the PC cover.
2. Choose an available 32-bit or 64-bit PCI expansion slot (PCI slots are usually the
shorter slots) and remove the corresponding back plate from the PC chassis.
3. Insert the card into the PCI expansion slot.
Note:To avoid damaging any components on the card,handle it by the edges,
using your thumbs to push it securely into the PCI slot.Do not use excessive
force, but make sure the card is fully inserted into the slot to prevent the PC
operating system from freezing at startup.
The connector dock in a 32-bit PCI slot is shorter than in a 64-bit PCI slot.
When installed in a 32-bit PCI slot,part of the connector edge remains
undocked.This situation is normal.
4. Fasten the card to the rear of the computer chassis by tightening the screw that is
on the PC.
5. Replace the PC cover and reconnect the power cord to the PC.

hardware installation 2-8
Connecting the Network Cables
The GA621 has one SC port that can be used with either 62.5/125-Micron multi-
mode fiber or with 50/125-Micron multimode fiber.
1. Prepare an appropriate cable.
Table 2-3 lists the cable characteristics for connecting to 1000BASE-SXport.
Table 2-3. GA621 (1000BASE-SX) Cable Characteristics
PortType Connector Media Maximum Distance
1000BASE-SX SC 62.5/125-Micron multimode fiber 260 meters
1000BASE-SX SC 50/125-Micron multimode fiber 550 meters
2. Connect one end of the cable to the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card.
3. Connect the other end of the cable to an SC Ethernet network port.
4. Turn on power to the PC and then to the connected device.
5. Verify that the link LEDs is on,indicating that there is a good link to the card.
Note:SeeTable 2-2 for a description of port LED operation. See Chapters 3
through 7 for driver installation and configuration instructions.

Windows 95 OSR2/98/Me driver software 3-1
CHAPTER 3: WINDOWS 95 OSR2/98/ME DRIVER SOFTWARE
This chapter provides information about the Microsoft Windows 95 OSR2/98/Me
driver software.
This chapter also describes how to:
• Install the driver software in the Windows 98 environment
• Move the card to a different slot
Note:The specific steps and screen shots used in this chapter refer to a
computer with Windows 98 installed,but the information and procedures
shown here apply to computers with Windows 95 OSR2 and Windows Me.
Installing the Driver Software
A network driver must be installed before the card can be used with your
Windows 98 system.
Note:The Gigabit Ethernet card must be physically installed in your system
prior to installing the driver software. See Chapter 2 “Hardware Installation,”
for details.
When the Windows 98 System first boots up after installing a new hardware device,
such as a GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card, the system automatically detects the
new hardware and prompts you to install the driver software for the device.

Windows 95 OSR2/98/Me driver software 3-2
To install the GA621 Fiber Gigabit Ethernet Card software for Windows 98,
perform the following procedure:
1. When you boot up the Windows 98 system after installing the Gigabit
Ethernet card, a series of Found New Hardware Wizard dialog boxes opens.

Windows 95 OSR2/98/Me driver software 3-3
2. When the following dialog box opens, click Search for the best driver for
your device (recommended),and then click Next.
3. In the next dialog box,check the “Specify a location”box.
Note: Windows Me drivers are found at d:\winMe and Windows 95 drivers are
found at d:\win95,assuming that d:is the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive.