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Troubleshooting: Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller User's Guide

This chapter provides the following information:

Hardware Diagnostics

Checking Port LEDs

Troubleshooting Checklist

Checking if Proper Drivers are Loaded

Running Cable Diagnostics

Testing Network Connectivity

Software Problems and Solutions


Hardware Diagnostics

Loopback diagnostic tests are available for testing the adapter hardware under Windows. These tests provide access to the adapter's internal/external diagnostics, where packet information is transmitted across the physical link (see "Diagnostics" in "Broadcom Advanced Control Suite").


Checking Port LEDs

The adapter has three LEDs, one for each port speed option (10 Mbps and 100 Mbps) and one for Activity. The two-port speed LEDs indicate active links, and the Activity LED indicates data transfer status. Once the driver is loaded and the cables are connected properly, the appropriate speed LED is lit and the data LED is on if data traffic is present.

Before the port LEDs can provide troubleshooting information, the adapter must be connected to the network (see "Installing the Hardware"), and the network drivers for your particular operating system must be installed.

  1. Verify that the adapter driver software has been installed and that the adapter is connected to a network.
  2. Check to see that the adapter status LEDs operate as described in the following table.

    Table 2. Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller Port LED Activity

LED State Description
100 On Good 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet link.
Off No 100 Mbps link. Possible link at different speed, possible bad cable, bad connector, or configuration mismatch.
10 On Good 10 Mbps Fast Ethernet link.
Off No 10 Mbps link. Possible link at different speed, possible bad cable, bad connector, or configuration mismatch.
ACT Blinking Brief bursts of data detected on the port.
On Streams of data detected on the port.
Off No data detected on the port.


Troubleshooting Checklist

WARNING — Before opening the cabinet of your system for removing or inserting the adapter, review all precautions outlined under "Safety Precautions."

The following checklist provides recommended actions to take to resolve problems installing the Broadcom 440X Fast Ethernet Controller, or running it in your system.


Checking if Proper Drivers are Loaded

The following section describes how to check if the proper drivers are loaded for Windows.

Windows

The Broadcom Advanced Control Suite's Vital Sign window allows you to view vital adapter information, network status, and network connectivity. Active adapters are listed.

  1. From the Installed Adapters list in the Vital Sign window, select the Broadcom adapter to be tested.

NOTE – Information for non-Broadcom adapters is less comprehensive than information listed for Broadcom adapters.

  1. Click Refresh to display the driver status of the selected adapter.

Testing Network Connectivity

The following section describes how to test network connectivity for Windows and NetWare.

Windows

Use the ping command to determine if network connectivity is working.

  1. Click Start, and select Run from the Windows menu to display the Run command window.

  2. In the Open field, type either:
    - cmd (for Windows 2000 and Windows XP)
    - command (for Windows 98)
  3. Click OK.
  4. Type: ipconfig /all to display the command window.

  5. At the command line, type: ping <IP address> and then press Enter. This displays the network connectivity information.


Please read all restrictions and disclaimers.

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