Conference irocz::common_brouters

    The short answer is yes. The VNswitch 900EX Fast Ethernet ports can be
    manually configured or auto-negotiate to:
    	10Base-T Full Duplex
    	10Base-T Half Duplex
    	100Base-TX Full Duplex
    	100Base-TX Half Duplex
    
    During development I tested the VNswitch EX with the DE500-AA and I
    verified that it could auto-negotiate to all of the above modes in this
    configuration.

    Are you sure the the VNswitch is configured correctly. For example, is
    auto-negotiation enabled (this is the default state).  A more basic
    question is are you sure you have the correct type of cable? You need a
    cross-over cable when connecting the VNswitch Fast Ethernet ports to
    and end station. Also, is auto-negotiation enabled on the DE500-AA?

    
     thanks for your reply,
    
      for me all are configured well, DE500-AA and EX too, cable itself
      work under
    
       10Base-T Full,Half
       and 100Base-TX Half but no in 100Base-TX Full
    
        any other ideas  will be welcomed
    
        JYP

    I have a few questions.
    
    	1. How are you managing the VNswitch? CLI? clearVISN?
    
    	2. Specifically, what behavior are you observing that indicates
    	   that 100Base-TX Full Duplex is not working?
    
    	3. What method are you using to verify that the other modes of
           operation (10Base-T full, half, 100BASE-TX half) are working and
    	   how did you configure the VNswitch to operate in those modes? 

 Full Duplex only When Auto negation is Disable ?

 Is it a normal way ?
  
 Yes more infos would be useful,

 from CLI
 T 6
 NET 13 
 Set duplex mode Full
 Set Auto negotiation enable

 under clearvisn i can see Half Duplex , but if i put auto negotiation disable
 it's work.on full duplex

 from PC/NT  DE500 is set in Full-Duplex from  Network Parameter menu
 
  JYP

The quick answer first.

Based on your description I would guess the you do not have auto-negotiation
enabled on the DE500-AA. From the VNswitch's TALK 5 CLI menu, type "interface
statistics 13". If this screen reports REMOTE SIGNALING as NOT DETECTED and
MEDIA AVAILABLE STATE as AVAILABLE, then the DE500-AA is probably not
auto-negotiating.


Now for more technical details.

From the VNswitch's "TALK 6" CLI menu, you can configure the following
attributes for 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet interfaces:

	set duplex-mode-default FULL/HALF
	set speed-default 10M/100M
	set auto-negotiation DISABLE/ENABLE/RESTART
	set advertised-capabilities

It is very important to understand that the default-speed and default-duplex
mode settings take effect ONLY WHEN AUTO-NEGOTIATION IS DISABLED. You can
modify these parameters when auto-negotiation is enabled but they will not take
effect until you disable auto-negotiation. When auto-negotiation is enabled,
the interface will operate in the highest performing mode of operation shared
by both stations connected to the link (that is, highest common denominator).
	
The VNswitch EX 100BASE-TX interface can auto-negotiate to full duplex mode of
operation provided that whatever it is connected to (the DE500-AA in your case)
auto-negotiates and advertises that it can also support full duplex operation.
When the VNswitch 100BASE-TX port is connected to a remote node that  does not
auto-negotiate, then the best it can do is what the IEEE calls Parallel
Detection. With parallel detection the VNswitch can auto-sense the link speed
at which the remote node is operating, but it cannot determine the remote
node's duplex mode. In such a case the VNswitch must assume HALF DUPLEX
operation. This is probably the cause for the situation you are seeing.
    

    More details on auto-negotiation.
    
    The user can limit the modes of operation that the VNswitch 100Base-TX
    Fast Ethernet port will auto-negotiate to by modifying its advertised
    capabilities. This can be accomplished via clearVISN MCM or by the TALK
    6 CLI menu.  This is a better way of forcing a Fast Ethernet port into
    operating in a specific mode because it can detect misconfigurations.
    
    For example, if a user wishes to prevent a Fast Ethernet port from ever
    auto-negotiating to full duplex mode, he/she can limit the capabilities
    advertised by the Fast Ethernet port to 100BASE-TX HALF DUPLEX, and
    10BASE-T HALF DUPLEX.
    
    Whenever you disable auto-negotiation and manally configure speed and
    duplex mode, you must be sure the both ends of the link are similarly
    configured.
    
    For a good description of auto-negotiation see:
	    http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/misc/NWay.html
        

    
     Rich,
    
     thanks for this clear explaination and pointer,
     your idea seems good,from DE500 configuration windows, i can do
      Half/full Duplex, Auto sense, nor auto negatiate, may be
       DE500 can't do that ?
    
    anyway thanks
    JYP

    Did you try configuring the DE500-AA into Auto-Sense mode? This is how
    I performed my testing and everything seemed to work fine.
    
    -Rich

     Did you try configuring the DE500-AA into Auto-Sense mode
    
      Yes i did
    
      JYP
    

    The DE500-AA may have to be manually set to advertize both
    full duplex and half duplex.
    
    Bob

    
      Bob,
    
      how can we do that, under NT config of the DE500, you can only choice
      from 
     auto sense
     Full-Duplex
     Half-Duplex
     nor both
    
      JYP

    Jean-Yves,                                                              
    
    I just re-tested this configuration in our lab and everything seems to
    work fine. Here is my configuration. 
    
    - VNswitch 900EX running firmware version V1.5 connected to a DE500-AA
      in a PC/NT. I am using version V1.05.00 of the DE500-AA driver. 
    - DE500-AA configured to auto-sense mode. 
    - VNswitch 900EX Fast Ethernet port 13 is connected to the DE500-AA
      with a cross-over cable.                    

    I executed the "talk 5" "interface statistics 13" CLI command to
    determine the result of auto-negotiation.
    
    MAU Status:
      type                      100BASE-TX FULL    connector             RJ45 s
      state                          OPERATIONAL   jabber state       NO JABBER
      media available state            AVAILABLE   jabber state enters        0
      media avail state exits                  0   false carriers             0
    
      auto-negotiation state    COMPLETE  /* This indicates the VNswitch &
      remote signaling          DETECTED  /* DE500 auto-negotiated. */   
      advertised capabilities   100BASE-TX FULL DUPLEX
                                100BASE-TX HALF DUPLEX
                                10BASE-T FULL DUPLEX
                                10BASE-T HALF DUPLEX
    
      remote capabilities       100BASE-TX FULL DUPLEX   /* DE500 advertised
                                100BASE-TX HALF DUPLEX    * that is can support
                                10BASE-T FULL DUPLEX      * all of these modes
                                10BASE-T HALF DUPLEX      * of operation.
                                                          */
      
                        
    I am using a relatively early version of the DE500-AA driver and newer
    drivers do exist. What version of the DE500-AA driver are you running?
                                                                         

    Jean-Yves,
    
    Would you please post the screen dumps of the following 2 VNswitch CLI
    commands?

    1. "talk 6" "interface n" "list all"
    2. "talk 5" "interface statistics n"
    
    - where n is the port number of the VNswitch port connected to the
      DE500-AA.
    
    Thanks,
    
    Rich

     Rich,
    
     i'll check the version, drivers came with board on Floppy disk
     
      many thanks
    
       JYP

    more questions
    
     did you put DE500-AA in autosense in the Config Menu ?
    
      JYP

    I am not a great PC/NT expert, but here are the steps I followed to
    configure the DE500-AA.
    
    	- From the NT Control Panel, I selected "Network". 
    	- From the Network window, I selected "Adapters".
    	- From the Adapters window, I selected the DE500-AA. (my PC has 2 NICs)
    	- From this window, I selected "Properties".
    	- From the Properties window, I selected "AutoSense".
    	- After all this was completed I rebooted my machine and everything
    	  worked as expected.
    
    -Rich

    Bob,
    
     how can we do that, under NT config of the DE500, you can only choice
     from
    auto sense
    Full-Duplex
    Half-Duplex
    nor both
    
    Jean-Yves, I don't specifically know how/whether one can manually
    specify the advertized capability (full/half duplex). I presumed
    that it could be done and was suggesting that perhaps that's what
    you would have to do. Having suggested it though, and getting your
    question as to how, I went off to find out how. What I came away
    with is that the DE500-AA cannot be manually forced to advertize
    both full and half duplex. I think your list of choices is it.
    Rich however, seems to have answered your question far better than
    I could have ever done.
    
    Bob

    
      thanks al for your help, i'll try to give all infos requested
    
       thanks again
    
    
      JYP