lfa(7) Miscellaneous Information Manual lfa(7)
NAME
lfa - DAPCA/DAPBA Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) Network Interface
SYNOPSIS
config-driver lfa
DESCRIPTION
The lfa interface can be either the Compaq ATM HE622 ATM adapter (DAPCA) or to the Compaq ATM HE155 ATM adapter (DAPBA), providing trans-
mission rates of 622 megabits per second and 155 megabits per second, respectively. Both adapters use the same driver.
The lfa driver controls the transmission and reception of data across the ATM network over specified Virtual Circuits (VCs). The creation
and management of the VCs is controlled by the ATM subsystem software that sits above the driver. When the driver is started, it registers
with the ATM subsystem and then performs any task that the subsystem requests.
Note that the transmission rate of the link is not the same as the transmission rate as seen by a user application. The following factors
can contribute to this: the speed of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus, the signaling overhead on the link medium itself, the
speed of the host processor, and other activity in the system (especially on the same PCI bus).
See the sys_attrs_lfa(5) reference page for a list of the lfa subsystem attributes.
ERRORS
The following diagnostic and error messages contain relevant information provided by the lfa interface, and are displayed on the console.
Each message begins with the adapter identification, including the adapter number (for example, lfa0). Ensure that either a Compaq HE622
or HE155 ATM adapter is installed in the system and that it is a DAPBA-FA, DAPBA-UA, or DAPCA-FA. The specified adapter failed its ini-
tialization due to insufficient memory resources. This could possibly happen if kernel memory debugging was enabled in the /etc/syscon-
figtab file. If this message is displayed, the adapter will not operate. The driver failed when it tried to register itself with the ATM
subsystem because the optional ATM components are not configured in the kernel. Reconfigure your kernel with the the ATM, UNI3X, ATMIP,
and LANE options. See Asynchronous Transfer Mode for more information. An error occurred when trying to gather the resources necessary
(for example, memory for data structures and specified bit rate for transmission) to set up a Virtual Circuit (VC). An invalid VPI or VCI
value was passed to the VC activation routine. Ensure that the values specified fit into the range given for the num_vpi_bits attribute
described in the "Subsystem Attributes" section. A request to delete a VC was made and the VC was transmitting. This condition did not go
away after 1 second so the VC will be deleted anyway. It is possible that the VC's state is inconsistent, and that this may indicate a
problem with the driver.
Informational messages contain information provided by the lfa driver. These messages are printed on the console and begin with the
adapter identification, including the adapter number. The driver successfully configured and registered itself with the ATM subsystem
software. The connection either to a switch or to another system (in a point-to-point configuration) exists. This message is displayed
after the driver is initially brought up. If it is not displayed, it is likely there is a problem with the cables. The connection either
to a switch or to another system existed, but no longer exists. An administrator issued a command to shut down the adapter. If you do not
see this message, the adapter is still operational. To shut down the adapter, use the atmconfig down command.
RELATED INFORMATION
Commands: netstat(1), atmarp(8), atmconfig(8), atmelan(8), atmsig(8), sysconfig(8).
Attributes: sys_attrs_lfa(5).
Network Information: arp(7), inet(7), intro(7).
Asynchronous Transfer Mode
Network Administration delim off
lfa(7)