HP ProLiant ML350 G5 Storage Server Administration Guide (5697-5854, September 2006)

A Network a dapter teamin g

Network adapter teaming is software-based technology used to increase a server’s network availability

and performance. Teaming enables the logical grouping of physical adapters in the same ser ver

(regardless of whether they are embedded devices or Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) adapters)

into a virtual adapter. This virtual adapter is seen by the network and server-resident network-aware

applications as a single network connection.

HP Network Conﬁguration Utility

Most HP ProLiant Storage Servers are equipped with the HP Net work Conﬁguration Utility (NCU). The

utility allows administrators to conﬁgure and m onitor Ethernet network interface controller (NIC) teams

in a Windows-based operating system. These teams provide options for increasing fault tolerance and

throughput. The NCU is also used for conﬁguring and monitoring individual network adapters.

Fault tolerance provides automatic redundancy. If the primary NIC fails, the secondary NIC takes over.

Load Balan

cing provides the ability to balance transmissions across N ICs.

Opening the HP Net work Conﬁguration Utility

The HP Network Conﬁguration Utility is now accessible from the Windows system tray at the bottom of

the storage server desktop. To open the utility, click the HP Network Conﬁguration Utility icon

Adding and conﬁguring NICs in a team

Before a NIC is teamed, verify the following:

• You have at least two NICs installed. Some storage servers only ship with one NIC installed.

• TheNICsmustbeonthesamenetwork.

• The NICs must be DHCP enabled and the DNS ser ver address must be left blank.

IMPORTANT:

The teaming utility becomes unstable if static IP addresses, subnets, and DNS addresses are set

before teaming.

• Duplex and speed settings must be set to use the default values.

To team the NICs:

1. Open the HP Network Conﬁguration Utility.

The HP Network Conﬁguration Utility Properties dialog box is displayed. The type of NIC and the

slot and port used is shown.

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