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Introduction: Broadcom NetXtreme® 57XX User Guide

Functional Description

Features

Network Link and Activity Indication


Functional Description

The Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet Controller adapter connects a PCI, or PCI-X (BCM5702, BCM5705, BCM5788), or PCI Express™ (BCM5751M) compliant computer to a Gigabit Ethernet network. The network adapter incorporates a technology that transfers data at a maximum rate of 1 gigabit per second—10 times the rate of Fast Ethernet adapters.


Features

The following is a list of the Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Adapter features for all supported operating systems:

Power Management

Wake on LAN (Magic Packet, Wake Up Frame, specific pattern) is supported at 10/100 Mbps operation only.

NOTE: Adapter speed connection when the system is down waiting for a wake-up signal is either 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps, but can return to 1000 Mbit/s when the system is up and running if connected to a 1000 Mbps capable switch. Systems intending to use WOL should be connected to a switch capable of both 1000 and 10/100 Mbps speeds.

Adaptive Interrupt Frequency

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.

Dual DMA Channels

The PCI interface on Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet controllers contains two independent DMA channels for simultaneous read and write operations.

32-Bit or 64-Bit PCI Bus Master

Compliant with PCI Local Bus Rev 2.3, the PCI interface on the Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet Controller 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.

ASIC with Embedded RISC Processor

The core control for Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet controllers resides in a tightly integrated, high-performance ASIC. The ASIC includes a RISC processor. This provides the flexibility to add new features to the adapter and adapt it to future network requirements through software downloads. This also enables the controller drivers to exploit the built-in host offload functions on the controller as host operating systems are enhanced to take advantage of these functions.

Broadcom Advanced Control Suite 2

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.

Supported Operating Environments

Broadcom NetXtreme 57XX Gigabit Ethernet controllers have software support for the following operating systems:

Network Link and Activity Indication

The status of the network link and activity is indicated by the LEDs on 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. RJ-45 10/100/1000 Ethernet LEDs

LED

LED Appearance

Network State

Link LED

Off No link (cable disconnected)
Solid color Link
Activity LED Off No network activity
Blinking Network activity

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