SUMMARY: Changing from AUI to TP on Sparc10 / Ultra

From: Jan-Olaf Droese (zdjod@lif.de)
Date: Thu Jan 09 1997 - 05:01:06 CST


Some days ago I asked some questions about changing the network-if
from AUI to TP on Sparc10 / Ultra machines (see original mail below).

The replies seem to suggest that you have to reboot the machines when
you are changing the interface-type.

What I still don't know is if my machines support full-duplex operation
on the TP-port or not. There was no consensus about this in the replies.

Thanks a lot to all who answered,

JanO
---------------------- original Question ------------------------------
After buying a new switch, we have to use TP instead of AUI on several
machines. I have two questions for which I haven't found answers in
the docs / FAQs:

1) I know that the machines will autodetect the active port during
   startup. Will they also detect the change of the IF while they
   are running (e.g. I unplug the AUI, insert the TP and it will
   continue with the new IF)? Or do I have to reboot all affected
   machines? (OSs are 4.1.4 on Sparc 10, Sol2.3, Sol2.5 on some other
   10s and an Ultra).

2) The switch (Cisco Catalyst 3200) supports full-duplex operation of
   the TP-ports. Is this mode also supported by our servers, and if,
   how do I enable it?

Thanks for your help (and also for hints for other problems which
might appear),
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Benjamin Cline <benji@hnt.com>

It's been my experience that you can't switch physical interfaces on the
fly, a reboot is necessary to get the system to recognize the change.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: sozoa@atmel.com (Steve Ozoa)

>1) I know that the machines will autodetect the active port during
> startup. Will they also detect the change of the IF while they
> are running (e.g. I unplug the AUI, insert the TP and it will
> continue with the new IF)? Or do I have to reboot all affected
> machines? (OSs are 4.1.4 on Sparc 10, Sol2.3, Sol2.5 on some other
> 10s and an Ultra).
>

I haven't found any of those machines/OSs to autodetect while running. We
generally reboot if we have to change the port.

>2) The switch (Cisco Catalyst 3200) supports full-duplex operation of
> the TP-ports. Is this mode also supported by our servers, and if,
> how do I enable it?

As far as we've been able to find out, Sun does not yet support full-duplex.
If you find out differently, please let us know, as we've been wanting to do
this for a year now.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: rocsoft!ultra!jlb@uunet.uu.net (Jim Bovitz)

> 1) I know that the machines will autodetect the active port during
> startup. Will they also detect the change of the IF while they
> are running (e.g. I unplug the AUI, insert the TP and it will
> continue with the new IF)? Or do I have to reboot all affected
> machines? (OSs are 4.1.4 on Sparc 10, Sol2.3, Sol2.5 on some other
> 10s and an Ultra).

I don't know about Solaris 2.5.x but you definitely have to
reboot the SunOS machines to get them to switch to TP.

I seriously doubt that the Solarix 2,5,X systems can switch on the fly.
I am almost certain that you will also have to reboot them.

I suggest you shut them down first, then make the cable switch
and finally reboot. This should have the desired effect.

>
> 2) The switch (Cisco Catalyst 3200) supports full-duplex operation of
> the TP-ports. Is this mode also supported by our servers, and if,
> how do I enable it?
>

As far as the switch goes...

I do not know why you would ever run in any mode other than
full duplex.... unless maybe setting half duplex for some special
device that requires it. I could be wrong but I think the default
operation of most TP ethernet devices is full duplex.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: "David H. Brierley" <dhb@ssd.ray.com>

I'm not sure about the Solaris 2 machines but I know that under 4.1.4 you
must reboot before it will detect the change. I suspect that Solaris 2
is the same way.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Swee-Chuan Khoo <sckhoo@tm.net.my>

At 10:52 AM 1/7/97 +0100, you wrote:
>1) I know that the machines will autodetect the active port during
> startup. Will they also detect the change of the IF while they
> are running (e.g. I unplug the AUI, insert the TP and it will
> continue with the new IF)? Or do I have to reboot all affected
> machines? (OSs are 4.1.4 on Sparc 10, Sol2.3, Sol2.5 on some other
> 10s and an Ultra).

as far as i know, pulling out interface from SS10 when it is up is a
big no no. It will blow an internal fuse. You don't want that.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

-- 
Jan-Olaf Droese        | Lahmeyer International GmbH | #include
email: zdjod@lif.de    | Lyoner Str. 22              |   <stddisclaim.h>
phone: +49-69-6677-611 | 60528 Frankfurt am Main     |
fax:   +49-69-6677-623 | Germany                     |



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