Performance and Troubleshooting

This section contains the following topics:

Common Problems and Solutions

In addition to the table below, review the product release notes.

  Problem

           Solution

Your computer can't find the adapter
  • Make sure the adapter is seated firmly in the slot.

  • Download the latest drivers from the Intel support web site: http://www.intel.com/network

  • Try a different PCI bus master slot. See your server's documentation to identify bus master slots.

  • Check to see if your motherboard has the latest BIOS.

  • Make sure your PCI slots are v2.2 compatible. 

  • Try rebooting the computer.

  • Try a different Intel adapter.

Diagnostics pass but the connection fails
  • Check the responding link partner and network cabling.

  • Try running the Sender-Responder diagnostic test for PRO/100 or PRO/1000.

  • Make sure the network cable is securely attached.

  • Verify that the cable is the proper type. At 100 Mbps use Category 5 wiring. At 1000 Mbps, the CAT-5 cabling must also be 4-pair. 

  • Verify that the cable does not exceed the recommended lengths. 

  • Make sure the duplex mode and speed setting on the adapter matches the setting on the switch.

  • At 100 Mbps, connect to a 100BASE-TX hub/switch (not 100BASE-T4).

Another adapter stopped working after you installed a second adapter
  • Make sure the cable is connected to the adapter.

  • Make sure your PCI BIOS is current. See PCI Installation Tips.

  • Check for interrupt conflicts and sharing problems. Make sure the other adapter supports shared interrupts. Also, make sure your operating system supports shared interrupts.

  • Unload all PCI device drivers, then reload all drivers.

  • Try reseating all adapters.

The adapter stopped working without apparent cause
  • Try reseating the adapter in its slot or different slot, if necessary.

  • The network driver files may be damaged or deleted. Remove the drivers, and then reinstall them.

  • Try rebooting the computer.

  • Try a different adapter.

  • Run diagnostics for PRO/100 or PRO/1000.

The link light is off
  • Run the adapter and network tests described in Test the Adapter.

  • Make sure you've loaded the adapter driver.

  • Check all connections at the adapter and the switch.

  • Try another port on the switch.

  • Try another cable.

  • Make sure that the link partner is configured to auto-negotiate (or forced to match adapter).

  • Make sure the duplex mode setting on the adapter matches the setting on the switch.

The link light is on, but communications are not properly established
  • The adapter's link indicator light may light even if communications between the adapter and its link partner have not been properly established.  Proper configuration of link partners require that both sides be set to either auto-negotiate or manually set to the same speed and duplex settings.  Failing to do so will create an invalid configuration.  

    Technically, the link indicator light represents the presence of a carrier signal but not necessarily the ability to properly communicate with a link partner. This is expected behavior and is consistent with IEEE's specification for physical layer operation.

RX or TX (or ACT) light is off
  • Make sure you've loaded the network drivers.

  • Network may be idle; try logging in from a workstation.

  • Try another adapter.

The PRO/100 or PRO/1000 diagnostic utility reports the adapter is "Not enabled by BIOS".
The computer hangs when the drivers are loaded.

If none of these works, check the Tech Sheet document that came with the adapter or contact Customer Support.


Check the Indicator Lights

The PRO/1000 F Gigabit Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:
 Label Indication Meaning
 TX On The adapter is sending data.
 RX On The adapter is receiving data.
 LINK On The adapter is connected to a valid link partner and is receiving link pulses.
Off No link.
 not labeled flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.

The PRO/1000 T Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
not labeled Flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.
LNK On The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Off No link.
ACT On Data is being transmitted or received
Off No data activity.
10/100/1000 Off 10 Mbps
Yellow 100 Mbps
Green 1000 Mbps

The PRO/1000 XT Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
 ACT/LNK Green on The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Green flashing Data activity
Off No link.
Yellow flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.
10=OFF
100=GRN
1000=YLW
Off 10 Mbps
Green 100 Mbps
Yellow 1000 Mbps

The PRO/1000 MT Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
 ACT/LNK Green on The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Green flashing Data activity
Off No link.
Yellow flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.
10=OFF
100=GRN
1000=YLW
Off 10 Mbps
Green 100 Mbps
Yellow 1000 Mbps

The PRO/1000 MT Dual Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
 ACT/LNK Green on The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Green flashing Data activity
Off No link.
Yellow flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.
10=OFF
100=GRN
1000=YLW
Off 10 Mbps
Green 100 Mbps
Yellow 1000 Mbps

The PRO/1000 MF Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
ACT/LNK On The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Blinking Adapter is actively passing traffic.
Off No link.

The PRO/1000 MF Dual Port Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
ACT/LNK On The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Blinking Adapter is actively passing traffic.
Off No link.

The PRO/1000 XF Server Adapter has the following indicator lights:

 Label

Indication Meaning
LNK On The adapter is connected to a valid link partner.
Off No link.
ACT On Data is being transmitted or received.
Off No data activity.
not labeled Flashing Identity. Use the "Identify Adapter" button in Intel® PROSet II to control blinking. See Intel PROSet II Help for more information.

NOTE: Fiber-based adapters operate only at 1 gigabit. They do not step-down in speed.

Other Items to Check

If none of these works, check the Late-breaking News document that came with the adapter or check the Intel support Web site. See Intel Customer Support for information on connecting to Intel's online services.


Dual-Port Adapters

This applies to you if are adding a non-dual-port adapter to a server which has one or more Intel PRO/100 dual port adapters. 

The Intel PRO/100 Dual-Port adapter incorporates a PCI bridge device which allows the card to appear as two adapters to the PCI bus controller. 

When configuring a multi-adapter environment - when one of the adapters is a dual-port device (such as the Intel PRO/100+ or PRO/100 S Dual Port) - you must upgrade all Intel adapters in the computer to the latest software. 

If the computer has trouble detecting both ports, consider the following:


PCI Configuration Troubleshooting

If the adapter is not recognized by your OS or if it does not work you may need to change some BIOS Setup program settings. Try the following only if you are having problems with the adapter. 

Here are some examples of BIOS Setup program parameters:

PCI slot #: Slot where the adapter is installed (1-3)
Master: ENABLED
Slave: ENABLED
Latency timer: 40 - 80
Interrupt: Choose any one of several that the BIOS Setup provides.
Edge-level: Level

The exact wording of the parameters varies with different computers.


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