Troubleshooting guide

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Installation of the Myrinet PCI-X/PCI Network Interface Cards (NICs)

Following the installation instructions in the “Guide to Myrinet PCI-X Network Interface

Cards” or the “Guide to Myrinet/PCI Host Interfaces” document, you will perform the

following steps:

1. Install the Myrinet NIC(s) into your host(s).

2. Power on the host(s).

3. Detect the NIC(s) in your host(s) using the Linux command /sbin/lspci. (If

you are using an operating system other than Linux, appropriate detection

commands are listed in the aforementioned documents.)

We assume that the operating system has already been installed on the host(s), and riser

cards are installed if needed.

Caution: If at all possible, avoid the use of riser cards. Riser cards can be a

significant source of problems in a hardware configuration. Although PCI riser

cards are commonly used, they will generally violate PCI specifications for the

length of signal traces. A riser card may also introduce impedance

discontinuities and signal degradation between the motherboard, riser card, and

NIC. If you observe PCI-communication errors when using a riser card, refer to

the diagnostic procedure below. A higher quality riser card – one whose traces

match the impedance of signals on the motherboard and NIC – may also solve the

problem.

It is important that a 64-bit riser card is used in a 64-bit PCI slot, and likewise a

32-bit riser card is used in a 32-bit PCI slot. If you are using a riser card with

multiple slots, the Myrinet NIC should be placed in the slot closest to the PCI

connector on the motherboard to minimize the distance between the PCI

connector on the motherboard and the PCI connector on the riser card.

Otherwise, the Myrinet PCI NIC may not be correctly detected and/or serious

performance irregularities will result.

If a Myrinet NIC is not detected using /sbin/lspci, then

• Are you using a riser card?

• Is the NIC properly seated in the PCI slot or riser card?

• Have you tried cleaning the gold edge fingers of the PCI connector on the

Myrinet NIC and reinserting the NIC into the PCI slot?

• Have you tried inserting the NIC into a different slot on the riser card?

• Have you tried inserting the NIC directly into the PCI slot?

• Have you tried using a different PCI slot?