dnet(7D) Devices dnet(7D)
NAME
dnet - Ethernet driver for DEC 21040, 21041, 21140 Ethernet cards
SYNOPSIS
/kernel/drv/dnet
DESCRIPTION
The dnet Ethernet driver is a multithreaded, loadable, clonable, STREAMS GLD driver. Multiple controllers installed within the system are
supported by the driver. The dnet driver functions include controller initialization, frame transmit and receive, functional addresses,
promiscuous and multicast support, and error recovery and reporting.
APPLICATION PROGRAMMING INTERFACE
The cloning character-special device, /dev/dnet, is used to access all DEC 21040/21041/21140 devices installed in the system.
The dnet driver is dependent on /kernel/misc/gld, a loadable kernel module that provides the dnet driver with the DLPI and STREAMS func-
tionality required of a LAN driver. See gld(7D) for more details on the primitives supported by the driver.
The device is initialized on the first attach and de-initialized (stopped) on the last detach.
The values returned by the driver in the DL_INFO_ACK primitive in response to a DL_INFO_REQ from the user are as follows:
o The maximum SDU is 1500 (ETHERMTU - defined in <sys/ethernet.h>).
o The minimum SDU is 0.
o The DLSAP address length is 8.
o The MAC type is DL_ETHER.
o The sap length value is -2, meaning the physical address component is followed immediately by a 2-byte sap component within the DLSAP
address.
o The broadcast address value is the Ethernet/IEEE broadcast address (FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF).
Once in the DL_ATTACHED state, the user must send a DL_BIND_REQ to associate a particular Service Access Point (SAP) with the stream.
PRECONFIGURATION
The PCI configuration process varies from system to system. Follow the instructions provided by the vendor.
Known Problems and Limitations
o On multiport cards (exception: Osicom (Rockwell) RNS2340), the first port is the top port. (On the Osicom RNS2340, the first port is
the bottom port.)
o If the dnet driver fails to determine the correct speed and duplex mode resulting in a corresponding drop in performance, set the
speed and duplex mode using the dnet.conf file.
o The dnet driver incorrectly counts carrier lost or no carrier errors while in full-duplex mode. There is no carrier signal present
when in full-duplex mode and it should not be counted as an error.
o Version 4 SROM formats are not supported.
CONFIGURATION
The /kernel/drv/dnet.conf file supports the following options:
full-duplex For full duplex operation use full-duplex=1, for half duplex use full-duplex=0. Half-duplex operation gives better results
on older 10mbit networks.
speed For 10mbit operation use speed=10, for 100mbit operation use speed=100. Certain 21140 based cards will operate at either
speed. Use the speed property to override the 100mbit default in this case.
FILES
/dev/dnet character special device
/kernel/drv/dnet.conf dnet configuration file
ATTRIBUTES
See attributes(5) for descriptions of the following attributes:
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
| ATTRIBUTE TYPE | ATTRIBUTE VALUE |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
|Architecture |x86 |
+-----------------------------+-----------------------------+
SEE ALSO
attributes(5), dlpi(7P), gld(7D) streamio(7I)
Writing Device Drivers
STREAMS Programming Guide
Network Interfaces Programmer's Guide
SunOS 5.10 20 OCT 2000 dnet(7D)