Chapter 2. Connecting the Gigabit Ethernet Board to a Network

This chapter shows you how to connect the Gigabit Ethernet Fiber-Optic and Copper boards to a network, and how to configure your system for these boards.

Following is a description of each section:

Connecting to the Network

This section shows you how to connect the Fiber-Optic and Copper boards to a network.

Fiber-Optic Board

To connect your Gigabit Ethernet Fiber-Optic board to a network, insert the SC connector on one end of the fiber-optic cable into the Gigabit Ethernet board, as shown in Figure 2-1. Make sure the connector is inserted completely into the jack, then insert the connector on the other end of the fiber-optic cable into the jack on the Ethernet switch, or another computer system (as appropriate).


Note: If your network connects to an Ethernet switch, consult the operating manual for the switch to ensure that the switch port is enabled and configured correctly.

Figure 2-1. Connecting the Fiber-Optic Cable

Connecting the Fiber-Optic Cable

Copper Board

To connect your Gigabit Ethernet Copper board to a network, insert the RJ45 connector on one end of the copper cable into the Gigabit Ethernet board, as shown in Figure 2-2. Make sure the connector is inserted completely into the jack, then insert the connector on the other end of the copper cable into the jack on the Ethernet switch, or another computer system (as appropriate).


Note: If your network connects to an Ethernet switch, consult the operating manual for the switch to ensure that the switch port is enabled and configured correctly.

Figure 2-2. Connecting the Copper Cable

Connecting the Copper Cable

Configuring the Gigabit Ethernet Board

This section explains three ways to configure your system for gigabit Ethernet:

Gigabit Ethernet as Primary and Fast Ethernet as Secondary

This section explains how to set up your system with the Gigabit Ethernet connection serving as the primary network interface and fast Ethernet as the secondary network interface. This configuration is the easiest to set up and provides the best performance. Follow these steps:

  1. If necessary, become superuser (root):

    % su
    Password: thepassword
    #
    

  2. Determine your system's hostname: enter

    # hostname
    

  3. Use your favorite editor to edit the /etc/hosts file. To open the file with nedit, enter

    # /usr/sbin/nedit /etc/hosts
    

  4. Find the line with your system's hostname and add the IP address entries. For example, if you are making an entry for a system with a hostname of systemname residing in the domain group1.com with a gigabit Ethernet IP address of 187.8.27.6 and a fast Ethernet IP address of 199.26.34.6, enter these lines in the /etc/hosts file:

    187.8.27.6 systemname.group1.com systemname # gigabit ethernet
    199.26.34.6 gate-systemname.group1.com gate-systemname # fast ethernet
    

  5. If your site uses an NIS service, make the changes in step 4 to the hosts database on the NIS server.

  6. Open the file /etc/config/netif.options and find this line:

    : if1name=
    

  7. Change it to

    if1name=eg0
    

  8. Find this line:

    : if1addr=
    

  9. Change it to

    if1addr=systemname 
    

  10. Find this line:

    : if2name=
    

  11. Change it to

    if2name=ef0
    

  12. Find the line:

    : if2addr=
    

  13. Change it to

    if1addr=gate-systemname
    

  14. Find this line:

    : if_num=8
    

  15. Change it to

    if_num=2 
    

  16. Save and close the file.


    Note: If you need to change the net mask or other options for the network interface cards, refer to IRIX Admin: Networking and Mail.


Fast Ethernet as Primary and Gigabit Ethernet as Secondary

To configure your system with fast Ethernet as the primary interface and Gigabit Ethernet as the secondary interface, follow these steps:

  1. If necessary, become superuser (root):

    % su
    Password: thepassword
    #
    

  2. Determine your system's hostname: enter

    # hostname
    

  3. Use your favorite editor to edit the /etc/hosts file. To open the file with nedit, enter

    # /usr/sbin/nedit /etc/hosts
    

  4. Find the line with your system's hostname and add the IP address entries. For example, if you are making an entry for a system with a hostname of systemname residing in the domain group1.com with a gigabit Ethernet IP address of 187.8.27.6 and a fast Ethernet IP address of 199.26.34.6, enter these lines in the /etc/hosts file:

    187.8.27.6 gate-systemname.group1.com gate-systemname # gigabit ethernet
    199.26.34.6 systemname.group1.com systemname # fast ethernet 
    

  5. If your site uses an NIS service, make the changes in step 4 to the hosts database on the NIS server.

  6. Open the file /etc/config/netif.options and find this line:

    : if1name=
    

  7. Change it to

    if1name=ef0
    

  8. Find this line:

    : if1addr=
    

  9. Change it to

    if1addr=systemname 
    

  10. Find this line:

    : if2name=
    

  11. Change it to

    if2name=eg0
    

  12. Find the line:

    : if2addr=
    

  13. Change it to

    if1addr=gate-systemname
    

  14. Find this line:

    : if_num=8
    

  15. Change it to

    if_num=2 
    

  16. Save and close the file.


    Note: If you need to change the net mask or other options for the network interface cards, refer to IRIX Admin: Networking and Mail.


Gigabit Ethernet as the Only Network Interface

To set up your system with the Gigabit Ethernet connection as the only network connection, follow these steps:

  1. If necessary, become superuser (root):

    % su
    Password: thepassword
    #
    

  2. Determine your system's hostname: enter

    # hostname
    

  3. Use your favorite editor to edit the /etc/hosts file. To open the file with nedit, enter

    # /usr/sbin/nedit /etc/hosts
    

  4. Find the line with your system's hostname and add the IP address entries. For example, if you are making an entry for a system with a hostname of systemname residing in the domain group1.com with a gigabit Ethernet IP address of 187.8.27.6, enter this line in the /etc/hosts file:

    187.8.27.6 systemname.group1.com systemname # gigabit ethernet
    

  5. If your site uses an NIS service, make the changes in step 4 to the hosts database on the NIS server.

  6. Open the file /etc/config/netif.options and find this line:

    : if1name=
    

  7. Change it to

    if1name=eg0
    

  8. Find this line:

    : if_num=8
    

  9. Change it to

    if_num=1
    

  10. Save and close the file.


    Note: If you need to change the net mask or other options for the network interface cards, refer to IRIX Admin: Networking and Mail.