A8V-VM: Issues with NIC in PCIe x1

Hello.

Just threw in an Intel Pro 1000 PT Server PCIe x1 adapter. Seems to be
almost fully functional in A8V-VM but test software from Intel states
that the card fails the loopback test. So probably something wrong
here with MAC in the ... is it the data link layer?

Actually, the card itself can not get an IP assigned and at some point
it becomes "unpresent" in device manager untill a reboot. The lacking
presence can be because power management switches off the card if not
doing any work.

I compared BIOS updates correcting issues for A8V-VM, A8V-VM SE and
A8V-VM Ultra. Seems A8V-VM did not receive an update with issues in at
least the two other boards with both network or power management
problems for PCIe.

>From what I can assume A8V-VM has got the same issues but did not
receive a bios update around June 2007 with the two other boards.

I am thinking of RMA'ing the board because of these errors and may be
going for a replacement substituting with A8V-VM SE or Ultra just to
get on with it. Maybe I will not have to reinstall Win2003. But with
any of the two other boards (SE or Ultra) I will get lower bandwidth
for at least the disks.

But I need Gigabit LAN in a 64-bit adapter.

I would like to get the the network adapter working in the PCIe x1.
Have not tried the PCIe x16 yet.

Any thoughts BIOS issues or IRQ stuff or other resource conflicts (the
PCIe slots on this board is shared)?

It seems right that this board is lacking a BIOS update similar to SE
or Ultra edition, ehh? A funny thing, since this first edition of the
board seems to have the most users.

skrev:
> Hello.
>
> Just threw in an Intel Pro 1000 PT Server PCIe x1 adapter. Seems to be
> almost fully functional in A8V-VM but test software from Intel states
> that the card fails the loopback test. So probably something wrong
> here with MAC in the ... is it the data link layer?
>
> Actually, the card itself can not get an IP assigned and at some point
> it becomes "unpresent" in device manager untill a reboot. The lacking
> presence can be because power management switches off the card if not
> doing any work.
>
> I compared BIOS updates correcting issues for A8V-VM, A8V-VM SE and
> A8V-VM Ultra. Seems A8V-VM did not receive an update with issues in at
> least the two other boards with both network or power management
> problems for PCIe.
>
>>From what I can assume A8V-VM has got the same issues but did not
> receive a bios update around June 2007 with the two other boards.
>
> I am thinking of RMA'ing the board because of these errors and may be
> going for a replacement substituting with A8V-VM SE or Ultra just to
> get on with it. Maybe I will not have to reinstall Win2003. But with
> any of the two other boards (SE or Ultra) I will get lower bandwidth
> for at least the disks.
>
> But I need Gigabit LAN in a 64-bit adapter.
>
> I would like to get the the network adapter working in the PCIe x1.
> Have not tried the PCIe x16 yet.
>
> Any thoughts BIOS issues or IRQ stuff or other resource conflicts (the
> PCIe slots on this board is shared)?
>
> It seems right that this board is lacking a BIOS update similar to SE
> or Ultra edition, ehh? A funny thing, since this first edition of the
> board seems to have the most users.
>

hi my cnet (cheap brand) pci-e 1x nic works good! realtek 8168/8111 based...

coco

wrote:
> Hello.
>
> Just threw in an Intel Pro 1000 PT Server PCIe x1 adapter. Seems to be
> almost fully functional in A8V-VM but test software from Intel states
> that the card fails the loopback test. So probably something wrong
> here with MAC in the ... is it the data link layer?

To do a loop back test, you need a loop back cable (or equivalent). A
loop back simply takes the sent data (output) right back to the receiver
(input) and is tested to make sure the data sent is the data received.

>I would like to get the the network adapter working in the PCIe x1.
>Have not tried the PCIe x16 yet.

Well, this was actually my first go on a PCIEX adapter. Apparently
there are different specifications. A8V-VM manual states PCIEX1_1
(obviously PCI Express 1.1) (the PCIe X1 port on the board) while
after looking around directly for it a whitepaper at Intel stated the
network adapter to be 1.0a. Intel did not list that directly in the
specs.

I do not yet understand the practical whereabouts all of this but this
Intel adapter (Pro 1000 PT Server) for PCI Express spec 1.0a started
working with a MAC (arp -a) in the PCIe x16 port of ASUS AV8-VM. It
also passed the loopback test. This adapter could not pass the
loopback test nor did it have an entry in the arp table (arp -a) if
inserted in the PCIe X1 port for PCI Express spec 1.1 (PCIEX1_1).

ASUS does not specify if PCIe x16 port is PCIEX16_1 or PCIEX16_2.

Is 1.0a not compatible with 1.1? And what spec is the x16 port then?

I think this PCI Express is a bit too complicated (may be beyond
graphics adapter for x16) and needs to be more simple. That platform
is still too uncertain and obviously one needs to be sure specs match
before matching add-on cards and motherboards.

Well, its a fast card from Intel. Lets go ...