Thinkpads Forum

Im have a T60p running XPSP2. It has a:
Intel(R) PRO/1000 PL Network Connection
Driver date: 1-12-2007
Driver version: 9.6.31.1

installed. I have bought a LaCie Ethernet Big Disk which has a Gigbit tcp/ip interface supporting up to 9000 in jumbo frame size. However, when running ping using -p -l "framesize" it shows that an mtu of 1300 is set (max framesize is 1472).

So:
1: How do I get my laptop and the NAS disk communicating using the bigger framesize and network rate (it appears to run like a 100 network and not Gb network)

2: Can I use a setting such that it works well - both when on a gigabit network with devices supporting the jumbo size and when on a normal 100 LAN?

[b]MOD EDIT:[/b] Pic Warning added.

Have you tried using ProSet to see if you can set Jumbo Frames there? Intel documentation states that Jumbo packet size 9000 is supported.

If you wired LAN isn't running at Gig-e, you probably have a 100BaseT device on your LAN. You hub/switch should support 1000BaseT.

Thanks for taking the trouble to answer but forgive me for not understanding this quite. What is Proset?

Concerning the connection I have a Cat5 cable connected directly between the disk and the T60 - no other device. From the configuration menu of the disk it appears as if it reckognizes that it is on a Gbit network.

I am not som familiar with tweaking and altering the tcp/IP settings so..

Anybody else out there who have experience with running a T60 on a gigabit network?

In order for Jumbo frames to work on a network, it must be supported accross the the entire network, end to end, including all devices in the middle. Jumbo frames will also not pass through a router w/out TCP segmentation occurring. Fast ethernet (100MB/s) in most cases also does not support Jumbo frame sizes.

Proset is Intel's advanced network services interface.

So given that I have only the disk and my T60 and they are connected directly to each other without a router, they should find each other comaptible - provided that the T60 supports Jumbo Frames. So the question is - does it? and if yes - how does one enable it?

The Proset tools do not seem to be available on my T60. All I have is the "Advanced" tab in the device property setting window. How do I obtain Proset and is it likely to help me?

I am having the same problem when trying to enable Jumbo Frames on the PRO/1000 PL adapter that comes with my T60 (2007-66U).
Can anyone tell me where can I find the option to change the frame size?

BTW, here is a screenshot of the control panel configuration for the NIC:

In the Windows Device Manager, in the properties for the Intel NIC, under the Advanced tab there is an property for Jumbo Frames which will need to be set to enabled.

Cheers,

Bill B.

bkahler wrote: (...)
Concerning the connection I have a Cat5 cable
(...)

You mean Cat 5e? Cat 5 non-e isn't GBit proof. (Correct me if I am wrong).

OK, I guess I found some answer to the question after talking to someone on the e1000 mailing list.
The PRO/1000 PL NIC is based on Intel 82573L chip, and all the 82573 chips (including 82573E/V/L) have some flaw in their design. Therefore, the 82573E/V version does not support jumbo frame at all. The 82573L chip only supports jumbo frame when the ASPM(Active State Power Management) is disabled(ASPM will corrupt data when jumbo frame is used). Since in my case the PRO/1000 PL network card (82573L) is installed in a laptop, its ASPM is enabled. The only way to get jumbo frame to work is to modify the eeprom to disable ASPM, which is risky IMHO.

The following Intel documents (item 17) has described the problem:
http://download.intel.com/design/networ ... /82573.pdf

Intel does not plan to resolve this erratum in the 82573 Gigabit Ethernet
Controller. Jumbo frames is not supported in 82573E/V & is supported with the
workaround above in 82573L.

Where "workaround" means flash the eeprom.

Shame on you, Intel

Jumbo frames works flawlessly on my T60p (Windows 7 Pro, x86) (jumbo packet: 9014).
You need Microsoft PRO/1000 PL driver version 9.13.4.10 and please do not update this driver to any version supplied by Lenovo or Intel. Uninstall Intel PROset (despite intel's statement). If you have different driver, try to run PROUnstl.exe, included in Intel PRO/1000 LAN Adapter Software, Version 9.12.41.1001 (Build 201490) (package 7krv26ww_v32.exe).
Finally just set jumbo frames size in Advanced properties of your NIC.