Linux ixgbe* Base Driver Overview and Installation

Documentation

Install & Setup

000005688

03/11/2020

Using the Linux ixgbe* base driver for 10 gigabit network connections

The ixgbe driver supports 82598- and 82599-based PCI Express* 10 Gigabit Network Connections.

For information concerning driver configuration details, refer to the README file in the ixgbe driver download.

Overview

The Linux* base driver supports the 2.6.x kernel, and includes support for any Linux-supported system, including Intel® Itanium® Processors: 2, x86_64, i686, and PPC.

These drivers are only supported as a loadable module at this time. Intel isn't supplying patches against the kernel source to allow for static linking of the driver. A version of the driver may already be included by your distribution and/or the kernel.org kernel. For questions related to hardware requirements, refer to the documentation supplied with your adapter. All hardware requirements listed apply to use with Linux.

The following features are now available in supported kernels:

  • Native VLANs
  • Channel Bonding (teaming)
  • SNMP
  • Generic Receive Offload
  • Data Center Bridging

You can find Channel Bonding documentation in the Linux kernel source /Documentation/networking/bonding.txt.

The driver information previously displayed in the /proc file system isn't supported in this release. Alternatively, you can use ethtool (version 1.6 or later), lspci, and ifconfig to obtain the same information.

The driver in this release is compatible with 82598- and 82599-based Intel Network Connections.

SFP+ devices with pluggable optics

82599-based adapters

Notes
  • If your 82599-based Intel® Network Adapter came with Intel® optics or is an Intel® Ethernet Server Adapter X520-2, it only supports Intel optics and/or the direct attach cables listed below.

  • When 82599-based SFP+ devices are connected back to back, they should be set to the same Speed setting via ethtool. Results may vary if you mix speed settings.

Supplier Type Part Numbers Works with Intel®
Ethernet Converged
Network Adapter
X520 Series
SR Modules      
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ SR (bailed) AFBR-703SDZ-IN2 Yes
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ SR (bailed) FTLX8571D3BCV-IT Yes
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ SR (bailed) AFBR-703SDDZ-IN1 Yes
LR Modules      
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ LR (bailed) FTLX1471D3BCV-IT Yes
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ LR (bailed) AFCT-701SDZ-IN2 Yes
Intel DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ LR (bailed) AFCT-701SDDZ-IN1 Yes

The following is a list of 3rd party SFP+ modules that have received some testing. Not all modules are applicable to all devices.

Supplier Type Part Numbers Works with Intel®
Ethernet Converged
Network Adapter
X520 Series
Finisar SFP+ SR bailed, 10g single rate FTLX8571D3BCL No
Avago SFP+ SR bailed, 10g single rate AFBR-700SDZ No
Finisar SFP+ LR bailed, 10g single rate FTLX1471D3BCL No
Finisar DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ SR (No Bail) FTLX8571D3QCV-IT No
Avago DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ SR (No Bail) AFBR-703SDZ-IN1 No
Finisar DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ LR (No Bail) FTLX1471D3QCV-IT No
Avago DUAL RATE 1G/10G SFP+ LR (No Bail) AFCT-701SDZ-IN1 No
Finisar 1000BASE-T SFP FCLF8522P2BTL Yes
Avago 1000BASE-T SFP ABCU-5710RZ Yes

82599-based adapters support all passive and active limiting direct attach cables that comply with SFF-8431 v4.1 and SFF-8472 v10.4 specifications.

Laser turns off for SFP+ when ifconfig down

  • ifconfig down turns off the laser for 82599-based SFP+ fiber adapters.
  • ifconfig up turns on the laser.

82598-based adapters

Notes
  • Intel® Network Adapters that support removable optical modules only support their original module type (for example, the Intel® 10 Gigabit SR Dual Port Express Module only supports SR optical modules). If you plug in a different type of module, the driver won't load.

  • Hot Swapping/hot plugging optical modules isn't supported.

  • Only single speed, 10 gigabit modules are supported.

  • LAN on Motherboard (LOMs) may support DA, SR, or LR modules. Other module types aren't supported. See your system documentation for details.

The following is a list of SFP+ modules that have received some testing. Not all modules are applicable to all devices.

Supplier Type Part Numbers
Finisar SFP+ SR bailed, 10g single rate FTLX8571D3BCL
Avago SFP+ SR bailed, 10g single rate AFBR-700SDZ
Finisar SFP+ LR bailed, 10g single rate FTLX1471D3BCL

82598-based adapters support all passive direct attach cables that comply with SFF-8431 v4.1 and SFF-8472 v10.4 specifications. Active direct attach cables aren't supported.

Related topics
Network Connectivity: Retail Intel® Ethernet Adapter PCI Device ID and Part Number List
Network Connectivity: Intel® Ethernet Adapters
Linux* Operating System Vendor Websites