Functional
Description Network
Link and Activity Indication
Broadcom NetXtreme® Gigabit Ethernet adapters connect a PCI (BCM5702, BCM5705, BCM5705M, BCM5788, BCM5788M), or PCI Express™ (BCM5751, BCM5751M, BCM5789) compliant computer to a Gigabit Ethernet network. Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet adapters incorporate a technology that transfers data at a maximum rate of 1 gigabit per second—10 times the rate of Fast Ethernet adapters.
The following is a list of the Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet adapter features for all supported operating systems:
Wake on LAN (Magic Packet, Wake Up Frame, specific pattern) is supported at 10/100 Mbps operation only.
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NOTE: The speed of the adapter connection when the operating system is waiting for a wake-up signal is either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps. The connection speed can return to 1000 Mbit/s when the operating system is up and running if the adapter is connected to a switch that is capable of 1000 Mbps operation. Systems intending to use Wake on LAN should be connected to a switch that is capable of 1000 Mbps operation as well as 10/100 Mbps operation. |
The adapter driver intelligently adjusts host interrupt frequency based on traffic conditions, to increase overall application throughput. When traffic is light, the adapter driver interrupts the host for each received packet, minimizing latency. When traffic is heavy, the adapter issues one host interrupt for multiple, back-to-back incoming packets, preserving host CPU cycles.
The PCI interface on Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet adapters contains two independent DMA channels for simultaneous read and write operations.
Compliant with PCI Local Bus Rev 2.3, the PCI interface on Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet adapters is compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit PCI buses. As a bus master, the adapter requests access to the PCI bus, instead of waiting to be polled.
The core control for Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet adapters resides in a tightly integrated, high-performance ASIC. The ASIC includes a RISC processor. This capability provides the flexibility to add new features to the adapter and to configure it to future network requirements through software downloads. This capability also enables the adapter drivers to exploit the built-in host-offload functions on the adapter as host operating systems become able to take advantage of these functions.
Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2 (BACS2) is an integrated utility that provides useful information about the network adapter that is installed in your computer. The BACS2 utility also enables you to perform detailed tests, diagnostics, and analyses on the adapter, as well as to modify property values and view traffic statistics. See Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2 for detailed information and instructions.
Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet adapters have software support for the following operating systems:
The status of the network link and activity is indicated by the port LEDs adjacent to the RJ-45 connector, as described in Table 1. Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2 also provides information about the status of the network link and activity (see Vital Sign).
Table 1. Network Link and Activity Indicated by the Port LEDs
| Port LED | LED Appearance |
Network State |
|---|---|---|
| Link |
Off | No link (cable disconnected) |
| Continuously illuminated | Link | |
| Activity | Off | No network activity |
| Illuminated and blinking | Network activity |
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NOTE: For adapters having 4 port LEDs, the link speed is indicated by which of the three link LEDs is illuminated. The LED closest to the port is illuminated when the link speed is 10 Mbit/s, the next LED is illuminated when the link speed is 100 Mbit/s, and the third LED is illuminated when the link speed is 1000 Mbit/s. |