Hardware Driver Compatibility - D-Link DFE-570TX Setup Manual

Network adapter load balancing and failover driver
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Remember: Any time Service Pack 4 is reapplied, the Roll-Up Hot Fix must
Service Pack 5
Service Pack 5 (SP5) is the recommended configuration for use with the D-Link Load
balancing software running on Windows NT 4.0. If you are running the IPX protocol,
SP5 provides the most reliable environment for failover performance. Also, as of
release time there were no additional Hot Fixes that were required with SP5.
Terminal Server Edition and Service Pack 4
If Windows NT Terminal Server Edition (TSE) is installed, Service Pack 4 (SP4) for
TSE from Microsoft must be applied to the system before the load balancing driver is
installed. SP4 for TSE solves a memory-leak problem in Microsoft's NDIS driver that
leads to a "Blue Screen of Death" among numerous other fixes.
Microsoft Cluster Server
If installing Microsoft Cluster Server with load balancing driver, the load-balancing
driver must be installed first. After installing the driver, an advanced configuration
option must be set to allow Microsoft Cluster Server to bind to the load balancer's
virtual adapter that is. The Clustering Support option can be found on the Advanced
Tab in the driver. For more detail on setting this option please refer to the
Settings
topic on page 12.
SNMP Services
The D-Link driver can send alarms and alerts to any SNMP Management Console
based on various states and conditions of each network port. To utilize this feature,
SNMP services must be installed on the server.

Hardware Driver Compatibility

Windows NT drivers are based on the NDIS specification. Starting with NT 4.0 the
NDIS spec was updated to incorporate advanced features such as the use of
Intermediate drivers which sit between the NT Protocol Stack and the lower-level
hardware drivers. The 4.0 spec also outlines how the lower-level drivers
communicate with Intermediate drivers. The load-balancing driver operates
differently depending on the types of lower-level drivers used.
NDIS 4.0 Drivers
The load balancing software takes advantage of NDIS 4.0 compatible drivers to
provide instant failover (less than < 500 ms) because NDIS 4.0 drivers notify
Intermediate drivers instantly of any failures or changes in status through "Status
Indications." When an adapter fails, a Status Indication is sent to the load-balancing
driver and failover occurs instantly without losing a single packet in most cases.
Also, when an adapter with an NDIS 4.0 driver is brought back online, the driver will
instantaneously add the adapter into the array and redistribute the traffic.
D-Link Corporation
also be reapplied. It is highly recommended that you first add
all protocols and devices that you will need; then install SP4;
and finally apply the Roll-Up Hot Fix.
Setup Guide
Advanced
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