Auto-negotiation issues may result from non-conforming implementation,
hardware in-capabilities, or software defects. When NIC's or vendor
switches do not conform exactly to the IEEE specification 802.3u,
problems may result. Hardware incompatibility and other issues may also
exist as a result of vendor-specific advanced features, such as
auto-polarity or cabling integrity, that are not described in IEEE
802.3u specification for 10/100 Mbps auto-negotiation. Generally, if
both the NIC and the switch adhere to the IEEE 802.3u auto-negotiation
specifications and all additional features are disabled,
auto-negotiation should properly negotiate speed and duplex. However in
my years of experience in networking this rarely works as the vendor
claims and its best to hard code these settings on the switch port and
the NIC card. I also recommend any switch ports with servers and/or
workstations attached to disable spanning tree to force the ports always
into forwarding mode. But not on ports with network devices attached.

-----Original Message-----
From: Ed Wilts [mailto:ewilts AT ewilts DOT org] 
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2004 10:17 AM
To: Jennifer C. Green
Cc: Coco, Samuel (Cont, ARL/CISD); Paul Boatman;
Dwayne.Brzozowski AT mail.va DOT gov; veritas-bu AT mailman.eng.auburn DOT edu
Subject: Re: [Veritas-bu] Is there an official document of client and
server N ICand switch settings

On Thu, Mar 18, 2004 at 09:47:47AM -0600, Jennifer C. Green wrote:
> I am at my wits end and dont know how to solve.  Veritas does have
some ways
> of testing network without NBU involved to show that it is not NBU but
then
> what do I tell the network guys?

You can demonstrate the issues with FTP.  Turn on auto-auto, reboot, and
run your FTP tests.  For them to 100mbps fdx, reboot, and try again.
You'll quickly see and prove that auto-auto can hurt you.

-- 
Ed Wilts, Mounds View, MN, USA
mailto:ewilts AT ewilts DOT org
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