Alacritech Release 9.0.0.129 Release Notes
Date: Tuesday May 16, 2006
======================================
Contents
- Introduction
- Content List
+ File Versions
- Caveats
- Features
+ Supported Hardware
+ Supported Platforms
+ Existing Features
+ New Features
+ Discontinued Features
- Windows Logo
- Known Issues
+ Open Bugs
+ Integration Issues
- Resolved Issues
- Users Guide
- Support and Feedback Mechanism
- Incident Reports
Introduction
============
This is the initial release of the 9.0.0.129 driver package for
Alacritech Accelerators on Windows Server 2003 platforms using the
Microsoft Scalable Networking Pack.
This release only supports Alacritech SEN2000 and SES2000 series Gigabit products.
1000x1 and SES1001 products continue to be supported through the
7.x.x.x drivers. 100 Mbit products continue to be supported through
the 6.x.x.x drivers.
This file provides details on known outstanding bugs, support
issues and feedback mechanisms for this release.
Content List
============
This release contains the following file and directories:
autorun.inf
Launches the installation process on a Windows system if it is
located on CD media.
install.html
Front end introduction to the drivers included on the CD.
install_files
Folder containing files referenced by install.html
doc
Files and documentation associated to Alacritech's hardware
and software products. The snp directory contains documentation
specific to this software release. This includes the Alacritech
Accelerator Users Guide.
doc\snp
The snp directory contains documentation specific to this software
release. This includes the Alacritech Accelerator Users Guide.
readme.html
Front end introduction to the driver
readme_files
Folder containing files referenced by readme.html
RelNotes.txt
This file.
FlashImage
Flash image files to provide a PXE UNDI interface to Alacritech
Accelerators based on the STA2000 ASIC.
netBooti
Files and documentation associated to emBoot netBoot/i iSCSI
boot software. Note that this version only supports 32-bit systems.
snp
Directories for x86 and x64 versions of the driver software.
x86
The install programs, software drivers, libraries, and utilities for
Windows Server 2003 with Scalable Networking Pack installed.
amd64
The install programs, software drivers, libraries, and utilities for
Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions with Scalable Networking Pack installed.
x86 File Versions:
------------------
File Version Build Date Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
slic.sys 9.0.0.129 5/9/2006 3:07 PM Network Miniport Driver
amd64 File Versions:
------------------
File Version Build Date Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
slic.sys 9.0.0.129 5/9/2006 3:04 PM Network Miniport Driver
PXE/UNDI File Versions:
-----------------------
File Version* Build Date Description
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
oasis0.bin 1.0.0.1 11/22/2005 10:24 AM iSCSI boot firmware
oasis1.bin 1.0.0.1 11/22/2005 10:24 AM iSCSI boot firmware
oasis2.bin 1.0.0.1 11/22/2005 10:24 AM iSCSI boot firmware
stub_m.nic 1.0.0.1 11/22/2005 10:24 AM iSCSI boot firmware
stub_mf.nic 1.0.0.1 11/22/2005 10:24 AM iSCSI boot firmware
*At this time there is no version stamp in the PXI/UNDI files.
Caveats
=======
Supports only SEN2000 and SES2000 series gigabit products
Features
========
Supported Hardware
------------------
This release supports the following products:
Part Number Product Description
----------------------------------------------------------------------
SEN2001XT PCI-X Gigabit Copper 1-port Network Accelerator
SEN2001XF PCI-X Gigabit Fiber 1-port Network Accelerator
SES2001XT PCI-X Gigabit Copper 1-port iSCSI Accelerator
SES2001XF PCI-X Gigabit Fiber 1-port iSCSI Accelerator
SEN2002XT PCI-X Gigabit Copper 2-port Network Accelerator
SEN2002XF PCI-X Gigabit Fiber 2-port Network Accelerator
SES2002XT PCI-X Gigabit Copper 2-port iSCSI Accelerator
SES2002XF PCI-X Gigabit Fiber 2-port iSCSI Accelerator
SEN2102ET PCI-Express Gigabit Copper 2-port Network Accelerator
SEN2102EF PCI-Express Gigabit Fiber 2-port Network Accelerator
SEN2104ET PCI-Express Gigabit Copper 4-port Network Accelerator
SEN2104EF PCI-Express Gigabit Fiber 4-port Network Accelerator
SES2102ET PCI-Express Gigabit Copper 2-port iSCSI Accelerator
SES2102EF PCI-Express Gigabit Fiber 2-port iSCSI Accelerator
SES2104ET PCI-Express Gigabit Copper 4-port iSCSI Accelerator
SES2104EF PCI-Express Gigabit Fiber 4-port iSCSI Accelerator
Supported Platforms
-------------------
This release is supported only for IA32 x86 and x64 compatible architecture running
selected Microsoft Windows operating system versions:
Supported Windows Versions
--------------------------
Windows Server 2003
Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions
Windows Server 2003 R2
Windows Server 2003 R2 x64 Editions
Windows XP Professional x64 Editions
This driver supports vhd operation over iSCSI with Virtual Server 2005. A virtual
TCP offload network driver is not available at this time, and use of the network
driver supplied with Virtual Server 2005 results in TCP offload not being available
on that virtual server.
Existing Features
-----------------
- Basic NIC Functionality
- TCP Offload
- TCP Checksum Offload (Only when TCP Offload is enabled)
- Large Memory Support (/PAE)
- Checksum offload in dumb NIC mode.
- PXE UNDI flash ROM support (To enable iSCSI boot)
Discontinued Features (Supported in a future release)
-----------------------------------------------------
- Link Aggregation (Teaming)
+ 802.3ad/(Fast/Gigabit) EtherChannel compatible mode
+ Hot Standby Failover mode
- Jumbo Frames
- Membership in a single tagged vlan
Windows Logo (Designed for Microsoft Windows)
=============================================
These drivers meet the new Designed for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 logo
requirements for scalable networking.
Known Issues
============
This section contains a list of currently understood issues.
Both open bugs and known integration issues are documented based
on this specific release. Please review the current open bugs and
known issues before filing a bug report. See the Support and Feedback
section below for details on reporting bugs.
Open Bugs
---------
Bug 01275 [All] Changing DHCP to Static Address causes BSOD
If installing the slic.sys driver with DHCP enabled on your network segment and
the card is connected to the segment and acquires a DHCP issued IP Address,
Windows may crash upon setting the interface to a STATIC address.
Workaround - disconnect the network cable prior to reconfiguring from DHCP to
static address.
Integration Issues
------------------
No offload on windows XP x64
Problem - Windows XP Professional x64 Edition does not offload any connections
by default with SNP driver installed.
Workaround - This is typically a result of networking functions enabled by default
that are mutually exclusive with TCP offload, such as a Windows Firewall
and Internet Connection Sharing (ICS). Ensure the firewall is disabled in Windows XP.
See Section 3.4 of the User's Guide for Scalable Networking Pack located on the
Alacritech Driver Installation CD in the \docs\snp directory.
Resolved Issues
===============
First release of NDIS 5.2 drivers supporting SNP.
Readme
======
The readme.html contained with distribution should be used as the starting
point for learning about this driver.
Users Guide
===========
There is a Users Guide contained in the doc directory provided to customers
for use with Alacritech Accelerators. For details on installation, management,
teaming, and interoperability issues, please review the Users Guide, as full
details have been provided there. The users guide is also available online
at http://www.alacritech.com/support/docs/9_0_0_129/Users_Guide.pdf
Support and Feedback Mechanism
==============================
Before Contacting Customer Support, please browse the troubleshooting
section of the Users Guide, as well as the resources available though
online support: http://www.alacritech.com/html/techsupport.html
Should you need to contact customer support, please gather all of the
information requested in the Incident Reports section (below) before
initiating contact.
To contact Alacritech customer support you may use one of the following
options:
Web Site (preferred):
The URL is http://www.alacritech.com/html/techsupport.html. Click
the Customer Care Center button to register and file a support request.
Phone:
Phone number for the United States is 408-287-9997. Select option 2.
E-mail:
The address is support@alacritech.com.
Incident Reports
===========
Please include the following information when sending in an incident request:
Hardware:
CPUs
Amount of memory
PCI busses
Number of Alacritech accelerators
Other network interfaces
Software:
Windows Version (2000, XP, 2003)
Windows Service Pack version
Version of Alacritech drivers
Log information
Event Viewer details related to Alacritech
Windows dump files (if there is a crash)
Testing environment
What software is being tested
What types of tests reproduce the problem
Where is the failure occurring
What has been done to try and solve the problem
Patents
=======
One or more U.S. and international patents apply to Alacritech
products, including without limitation: U.S. Patent Nos. 6,226,680,
6,247,060, 6,334,153, 6,389,479, 6,393,487, 6,427,171, 6,427,173,
6,434,620, 6,470,415, 6,591,302, 6,658,480, 6,687,758, 6,697,868,
6,751,665, 6,757,746, 6,807,581, 6,938,092, 6,941,386, 6,965,941,
6,996,070 and 7,042,898.
Portions of the technology in Alacritech’s acceleration products are
used under license from Broadcom Corporation [and may be covered by
one or more Broadcom U.S. Patents.] Alacritech does not have a
license under the Broadcom Licensed Patents to implement certain
claimed functionality with hardware and software not provided by
Alacritech. No license is granted under Broadcom’s patents expressly,
by implication, by exhaustion or otherwise, to use or sell the
acceleration technology in combination with any non-licensed hardware
or software that is specifically designed to practice the Broadcom
Licensed Patents.
900164 Rev 1
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.