Sun Microsystems 220R manual About the Standard Ethernet Port

About the Standard Ethernet Port

The system’s main logic board provides an auto-sensing, switchable 10BASE-T/ 100BASE-TX Ethernet interface conforming to the IEEE 802.3u Ethernet standard. The interface configures itself automatically for either 10-Mbps or 100-Mbps operation, depending on network characteristics.

Two preconfigured back panel connectors provide access to the Ethernet interface:

■One RJ-45 connector for connecting a Category-5 twisted-pair Ethernet (TPE) cable

■One Media Independent Interface (MII) connector for connecting an external MII transceiver

Note –You can use only one of the main logic board Ethernet connectors; you cannot connect to the TPE and MII connectors at the same time.

The Media Independent Interface lets you connect the system to a variety of external 100BASE-TX (Fast) Ethernet transceivers, providing compatibility with different Ethernet wiring types. When an external transceiver is connected to the MII, the system automatically activates the MII port and disables the TPE port.

Sun Microsystems offers an MII-to-AUI transceiver as a separate optional order (order number X467A). A number of third-partyMII transceivers are also available for connecting to TX, T4, FX, and AUI-type Ethernet networks.

For instructions on configuring the main logic board Ethernet interface, see “How to Configure the Standard Ethernet Interface” on page 47.

For connector diagrams and pin assignments, see “Reference for the Twisted-Pair Ethernet (TPE) Connector” on page 160 and “Connector Signal Descriptions” on page 155.

For information about operating characteristics and configuration parameters for the hme Fast Ethernet device driver, see Platform Notes: The hme Fast Ethernet Device Driver. This document is available on the Solaris on Sun Hardware AnswerBook, which is provided on the Solaris Supplement CD for the Solaris release you are running.

78 Sun Enterprise 220R Server Owner’s Guide • October 1999