This guide describes the SGI 10-Gigabit (Gbit) Ethernet network adapter. It operates under the IRIX and SGI ProPack for Linux operating systems, as specified in the operating system release notes. You can use the SGI 10-Gbit Ethernet network adapter in addition to your current adapter.
This guide shows you how to connect the adapter to an Ethernet network and explains how to operate the adapter. Information in the guide applies to both the Release 1 and Release 2 versions of the card; any differences between the cards are noted as needed.
This guide assumes that you have general knowledge of Ethernet networks and the system in which the adapter is installed.
 | Warning: Never look into the end of a fiber optic cable to confirm
that light is being emitted (or for any other reason).
Do not use any type of magnifying device, such as a microscope, eye loupe, or magnifying glass. Such activity causes cause a permanent burn on the retina of the eye. Optical signal cannot be determined by looking into the fiber end. Most fiber optic laser wavelengths (1300 nm and 1550 nm) are invisible to the eye and cause permanent eye damage. Shorter wavelength lasers (for example, 780 nm) are visible and can cause significant eye damage. Use only an optical power meter to verify light output. |
This guide is written to facilitate installation of the adapter and does not cover detailed points of network configuration. It contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1, “Features and Capabilities of the SGI 10-Gbit Ethernet Network Adapter”, summarizes features, cabling, configuration limits, and tools.
Chapter 2, “Connecting the Adapter to a Network”, shows you how to connect the adapter to your network.
Chapter 3, “Operating the Adapter”, explains how to verify installation of the adapter and software, how to reset the adapter, how to set parameters to improve performance, and how to set configuration parameters.
Chapter 4, “Performance Tuning”, discusses performance tuning topics for IRIX and SGI ProPack for Linux.
This guide is part of a document set that fully supports the installation, operation, and service of the adapter. For more information about installing and servicing the adapter, see the user's guide for the system in which the adapter is installed.
Also see the following:
IRIX Admin: Networking and Mail
Linux Configuration and Operations Guide
The Network Administrators' Guide
The Intel Corporation 10 Gigabit Ethernet Technology Overview white paper:
http://www.intel.com/network/connectivity/resources/doc_library/white_papers/pro10gbe_lr_sa_wp.pdf
The Neterion Xframe Adapter Quick Installation and Configuration Guide:
http://www.neterion.com/support/drivers/supportdocs/Xframe-quickICG.pdf
IRIX man pages that are part of the 10-Gbit Ethernet product:
xg(7M)
xgcmd(1M)
Standard Linux man pages that are useful for any Ethernet device:
ethtool(8)
ifconfig(8)
ip(8)
You can obtain SGI documentation as follows:
See the SGI Technical Publications Library at http://docs.sgi.com. Various formats are available. This library contains the most recent and most comprehensive set of online books, release notes, man pages, and other information.
If it is installed on your SGI system, you can use InfoSearch, an online tool that provides a more limited set of online books, release notes, and man pages. With an IRIX system, enter infosearch at a command line or select Help -> InfoSearch from the Toolchest.
On IRIX systems, you can view release notes by entering either grelnotes or relnotes at a command line.
On Linux systems, you can view release notes on your system by accessing the README.txt file for the product. This is usually located in the /usr/share/doc/ productname directory, although file locations may vary.
You can view man pages by typing man title at a command line.
The following conventions are used throughout this document:
| Convention | Meaning | |
| command | This fixed-space font denotes literal items such as commands, files, routines, path names, signals, messages, and programming language structures. | |
| variable | Italic typeface denotes variable entries and words or concepts being defined. | |
| user input | This bold, fixed-space font denotes literal items that the user enters in interactive sessions. (Output is shown in nonbold, fixed-space font.) | |
| [ ] | Brackets enclose optional portions of a command or directive line. | |
| ... | Ellipses indicate that a preceding element can be repeated. |
SGI provides a comprehensive product support and maintenance program for its products:
If you are in North America, contact the Technical Assistance Center at
+1 800 800 4SGI or contact your authorized service provider.If you are outside North America, contact the SGI subsidiary or authorized distributor in your country.
If you have comments about the technical accuracy, content, or organization of this publication, contact SGI. Be sure to include the title and document number of the publication with your comments. (Online, the document number is located in the front matter of the publication. In printed publications, the document number is located at the bottom of each page.)
You can contact SGI in any of the following ways:
Send e-mail to the following address:
Use the Feedback option on the Technical Publications Library Web page:
Contact your customer service representative and ask that an incident be filed in the SGI incident tracking system.
Send mail to the following address:
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SGI values your comments and will respond to them promptly.