About This Guide
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## About This Guide

This guide describes the Network Load Balancing Software from Silicon Graphics, Inc., which lets you consolidate Ethernet ports into a single IP address. It also optimizes performance by determining and setting the load balance for input and output packets. The Network Load Balancing Software runs on CHALLENGE, Origin200, Origin2000, and Onyx2 systems running IRIX 6.5 or later.

## Audience

This manual is your guide to configuring, testing, and monitoring your Network Load Balancing Software network connection. This guide has been written so you can perform all the basic Network Load Balancing Software administration tasks.

This guide is written for network system administrators. It presumes general knowledge of the Ethernet and of the Silicon Graphics system in which it is installed.

| Note: This guide is not an in-depth network administration guide; it does not provide information for planning, managing, and maintaining an Ethernet network.

## Structure of This Document

This guide consists of the following chapters and appendixes:

- Chapter 1, “Network Load Balancing Software and the Ethernet,” describes the software's features.

- Chapter 2, “Network Load Balancing Software Installation and Configuration,” explains how to install the software and how to associate Ethernet ports with it.

- Chapter 3, “Performance Tuning,” explains how to tune parameters to control how the Network Load Balancing Software distributes outbound packets, and how it balances inbound packets.

- Chapter 4, “Troubleshooting,” describes what to do when your network connection has problems.

- Appendix A, “Validated Ethernet Switches,” summarizes Ethernet switches for which the Network Load Balancing Software has been validated.

- Appendix B, “Error Messages,”lists Network Load Balancing Software error messages and gives suggestions for remedies.

## Other Required Documentation

For instructions on configuring a system for networking, see the latest version of IRIX Admin: Networking and Mail.

For general information about your Silicon Graphics system, see its owner's guide.

If you do not have your owner's guide handy, you can get it and other Silicon Graphics documentation online in the following locations:

- If you have installed the guide on your system, or if it is installed on a server on the network, you can use the IRIS InSight Library: from the Toolchest, choose Help > Online Books > SGI EndUser or SGI Admin, and select the applicable owner's or hardware guide.

- If you have access to the Internet, you can use the Technical Publications Library. Enter the following URL in your Web browser location window:
  http://techpubs.sgi.com/library/

  Once you are in the library, choose Catalogs > Hardware Catalog > and look under the Owner's Guides for the applicable owner's guide.

## Conventions

In command syntax descriptions and examples, square brackets ( [ ] ) surrounding an argument indicate an optional argument. Variable parameters are in italics. If the variable appears in an italics context, angle brackets ( < > ) are used around the variable to differentiate it from the literal. Replace these variables with the appropriate string or value.

Command-line flags and switches are in boldface regular type; these are preceded with dashes or with a plus or minus, for example, -e.

Commands, IRIX filenames, and document titles are in italics.

`Helvetica Bold` font is used for labels on hardware, such as the names of LEDs.

Messages and prompts that appear onscreen are shown in `fixed-width type`. Entries that are to be typed exactly as shown are in `boldface fixed-width type`.

## Product Support

Silicon Graphics, Inc., provides a comprehensive product support and maintenance program for its products. If you are in North America, and would like support for your Silicon Graphics-supported products, contact the Technical Assistance Center at 1-800-800-4SGI or your authorized service provider. If you are outside North America, contact the Silicon Graphics subsidiary or authorized distributor in your country.

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Network Load Balancing Software Administrator's Guide |  | Chapter 1. Network Load Balancing Software and the Ethernet