First written on Apr 1, 2004
Last update: Nov 16, 2006

GbE NIC Compatibility List

Graphics | SCSI | GbE

As you probably know, GbE stands for Gigabit Ethernet.

GbE NICs and device drivers on Alpha systems

It's almost hopeless to use GbE NICs other than DEGPA and DEGXA under Tru64 UNIX. Currently, there are only two drivers for GbE NICs, ``alt'' and ``bcm''.

3X-DEGPA-TA (or simply DEGPA-TA) is a GbE NIC based on Alteon Tigon 2 Gigabit Ethernet controller. This card has an RJ45 connector for 10BASE-T/100BASE-TX/1000BASE-T. 3X-DEGPA-SA (or simply DEGPA-SA) is also based on Alteon Tigon 2. This card has a pair of SC connectors for 1000BASE-SX. These two cards were released by DEC/COMPAQ and have already been EOL.

3X-DEGPA-TA/SA is supported by alt driver under Tru64 UNIX (or digital UNIX).

3X-DEGXA-TA/TB is a newer GbE NIC based on Broadcom BCM5703X Gigabit Ethernet controller. This card has a 1000BASE-T (RJ45) connector. The -TB variant supports PCI-X capability on Alpha systems, while the -TA doesn't. 3X-DEGXA-SA is also based on Broadcom BCM5703X and has a pair of SC connectors for 1000BASE-SX. I've heard that a Dual Gigabit NIC called DEGX2-xx is available, but I'm not sure about it.

3X-DEGXA-TA/TB/SA is supported by bcm driver under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B and V5.1A with Patch Kit 4. There is no driver for Tru64 UNIX prior to V5.1A.

I've never seen a non-genuine GbE NIC working with alt driver. alt driver refuses to attach any non-genuine cards. There's probably no chance for users of V5.1 or prior to use GbE NICs other than 3X-DEGPA-TA/SA.

bcm driver also rejects a lot of cards. It seems that both alt and bcm drivers have vendor-ID-check routines inside. I'm surprised that this kind of stupid practice is still followed.
(Warning is much better than Rejecting.)

Compatible GbE NICs

AT YOUR OWN RISK, please.

hp/Compaq NC7771 PCI-X Gigabit Server Adapter (product information)
This NIC is a 64bit PCI/PCI-X Gigabit Ethernet Adapter based on Broadcom BCM5703. The silk printing on the card reads BCM95703A30U. This card works well on Compaq XP1000 (667MHz) under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B with Patch Kit 3. Note that the bcm driver in V5.1B installation disk rejects this card.
(H.Goto, Nov 16, 2003)

New! Additional Info.:
You can convert NC7771 into DEGXA.
(Terry, Nov 16, 2006)

IBM NetXtreme 1000T Ethernet Adapter (IBM 31P6301) (product information) [photo]
This NIC is a 64bit PCI/PCI-X Gigabit Ethernet Adapter based on Broadcom BCM5703. The silk printing on the card reads BCM95703A30U, which is the same as hp NC7771. The card looks very much like NC7771, but some different wiring patterns can be seen. This card works well on Compaq XP1000 (667MHz) under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B and V5.1B + Patch Kit 2.

However, the newer bcm drivers included in Patch Kit 3, NHD7, or T64V51BB22-C0019200-19212-E-20030710 (an update of Patch Kit 2) reject this card claiming that the Sub Vendor ID=0x14E4 is incorrect.
(H.Goto, Oct 18, 2003 / N.Hayashi, Nov 13, 2003)

New! Additional Info.:
NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet adapter drivers - Servers (IBM)

IBM NetXtreme 1000T Dual Port Ethernet Adapter (IBM 31P6401) (product information) [photo]
This NIC is a 64bit PCI/PCI-X Gigabit Ethernet Adapter based on Broadcom BCM5704. The silk printing on the card reads BCM95704CA40-I. This card works well on Compaq XP1000 (667MHz) under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B and V5.1B + Patch Kit 2. The card is recognized as two DEGXAs and two bcm devices are available.

Just as same as 31P6301, the newer bcm drivers included in Patch Kit 3, NHD7, or T64V51BB22-C0019200-19212-E-20030710 (an update of Patch Kit 2) are likely to reject this card.
(H.Goto, Apr 27, 2004)

Additional Info.:
31P6401 has been confirmed to work on DEC PWS600a (enhanced model) as well. 31P6301 would probably work on PWS-a as well.
(H.Goto, May 2, 2005)

DELL Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet Adapter 5703 (product information)
This NIC is a 64bit PCI/PCI-X Gigabit Ethernet Adapter based on Broadcom BCM5703. This card is quite similar to IBM 31P6301. This card works well on Compaq XP1000 (667MHz), Compaq DS10, and API UP2000+, under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B and V5.1B + Patch Kit 2.

However, the newer bcm drivers included in Patch Kit 3, NHD7, or T64V51BB22-C0019200-19212-E-20030710 (an update of Patch Kit 2) reject this card claiming that the Sub Vendor ID=0x14E4 is incorrect.

The performance of GbE NIC can vary depending on the slot used. On UP2000+, the performance deteriorated if the card was installed in the top 64bit slot. The second 64bit slot is better.
(N.Hayashi, Nov 13, 2003)

Additional Info.:
DELL won't sell the card to you unless you have an appropriate DELL Server/PC. (DELL is the company like that.)
(H.Goto, Apr 18, 2004)

Other GbE NICs
If you have a GbE NIC based on Broadcom BCM5702, BCM5703, or BCM5704, it's worth trying under Tru64 UNIX V5.1B. But, please remember that it's all AT YOUR OWN RISK.

Incompatible GbE NICs

These GbE NICs have been tested and found NOT TO WORK under Tru64 UNIX.

alt:

3Com Gigabit EtherLink Server NIC 3C985B-SX, Alteon Tigon 2
IBM Netfinity Gigabit Ethernet Adapter 19K4409, Alteon Tigon 2?
Alteon WebSystems ACEnic (1000BASE-T), Alteon Tigon 2?
Netgear GA302T, Altima AC1001? (aka Tigon 3)
Melco Inc. LGY-PCI32-GT, Altima AC1002 (aka Tigon 3)

bcm:

Green House GH-ELG32B, Broadcom BCM5705
3Com 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server Network Interface Card 3C996-T, Broadcom BCM5700
3Com Gigabit Server NIC 3C996B-T, Broadcom BCM5701
HP Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet DC194A, Broadcom BCM5782 (ID=169614E4/000C103C)

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