4.3BSD - /usr/man/cat4/ix.0

IX(4)                                                                    IX(4)


NAME
       ix - Interlan Np100 10 Mb/s Ethernet interface

SYNOPSIS
       device np0 at uba0 csr 166000 vector npintr

DESCRIPTION
       The  ix interface provides access to a 10 Mb/s Ethernet network through
       an Interlan Np100 controller used as a link-layer interface.

       This interface is unusual in that it requires loading firmware into the
       controller  before  it  may  be  used  as a network interface.  This is
       accomplished by opening a character special device, and writing data to
       it.   A  program  to  load the image is provided in /usr/src/new/np100.
       The sequence of commands would be:

            # ./npload np.image [/dev/np<board #> if other than np00]
            # sleep 10
            # ifconfig ix0 ...

       Each of the host’s network addresses is specified at boot time with  an
       SIOCSIFADDR  ioctl.   The  ix  interface employs the address resolution
       protocol described in arp(4P) to dynamically map between  Internet  and
       Ethernet addresses on the local network.

       The interface normally tries to use a ‘‘trailer’’ encapsulation to min‐
       imize copying data on input and output.  The use of trailers is negoti‐
       ated  with  ARP.   This negotiation may be disabled, on a per-interface
       basis, by setting the IFF_NOTRAILERS flag with an SIOCSIFFLAGS ioctl.

DIAGNOSTICS
       ix%d: Req failed, cmd %x, stat %x, ust error %x,%x.   The  firmware  in
       the  controller  refused to honor a request from in initializing packet
       level communications.  The board may need to  be  reset  and  reloaded.
       Or,  you may not have allowed enough time between loading the board and
       issuing the request to begin unix network operation.

       ix%d: can’’t initialize.  The interface  was  unable  to  obtain  unibus
       resources required for operation.

       ix%d:  failed to reinitialize DLA module.  The interface got sick after
       attempting to reprogram its physical ethernet address.   Try  reloading
       the firmware.  The attempt is made only when this interfaces is not the
       first one configured for XNS.

       ix%d: can’’t handle af%d.  The  interface  was  handed  a  message  with
       addresses  formatted  in  an  unsuitable address family; the packet was
       dropped.

       ix%d: stray xmit interrupt, npreq=%x.  This may happen if the board  is
       reloaded while network processes are still running.

       ixrint:  cqe  error  %x,  %x,  %x.  This will result if an ifconfig(8c)
       request is made at an inopportune time, such  as  not  allowing  enough
       time after loading the firmware.  After 100 such errors are logged, the
       unix network driver will shut itself down, saying:

       ixrint: shutting down unix dla.  The recourse is to reload the firmware
       and allow more time.

SEE ALSO
       intro(4N), inet(4F), arp(4P), np(4).


4.2 Berkeley Distribution        May 16, 1986                            IX(4)