TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

Network Adapters Knowledge

Base
eBUS SDK Technical Note

March 17th 2011

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Version: 1.0
Last Revision: NA
TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

Overview
This document present the knowledge about different manufacturer driver we acquire based on experience, validation
and customer reports. This is a work in progress and this document will be updated as our knowledge improves about
the different products on the market.
Limitations noted were found during the eBUS Universal Pro validation process. Information may be relevant to other
drivers but was not validated with them.

Limitation of PCI network adapters

On most desktop PCs, the PCI bus is a 32 bits bus clocked at 33 MHz. The theorical bandwidth of the bus is
1.064Gbps ( 133 MBps ). In theory, this allows a full gigabit to be transfer.
The PCI bus is a shared bus so all the cards on the bus share the same bandwidth and the usage of the bus which
leads to some overhead.
For this reason, in practice, a gigabit PCI network adapter is limited by the bus to stream at around 850 Mbps. So
there is a potential problem if:
• A single device outputs a bandwidth of more than 850 Mbps
• The cumulative bandwidth of multiple devices connected to a switch to a PCI adapter is more than 850
Mbps
• Multiple PCI card are on the same bus and the overall bandwidth more than 850 Mbps
This high bandwidth can be in theory reached with multiple types of devices and one of the common cases is the SB-
Pro where the output can be at around 990 Mbps for some configurations ( 720p_50Hz, YUV444 ).
The symptom of this bus saturation is an operation result set to MISSING_PACKET for most images (this depends on
the system configuration).
In theory, the other versions of the PCI bus ( 66 MHz – 32 bits, 66 MHz – 64 bits and the 33 MHz – 32 bits ) generally
only available on servers, should not have this issue. In practice, the clock of the bus is limited by the lowest clock
capabilities of the cards on the bus. So even if you have a 66 MHz bus, the bus can operate at 33 MHz because of
another card plugged into the bus.
Solutions:
1. Moving to a PCI Express bus will fix the issue. The PCI Express allows a higher bandwidth so the limitation
will be adapter capability ( 1 Gbps ) and not the bus.
2. Potential, a motherboard can have PCI slot linked to different bus. In some case, the traffic from multiple
devices can be split to different PCI network adapters on different buses. This requires a good
understanding of the motherboard and the chipset design.
The solution 1 is easier to suggest and implement and works for all the situations so this is the preferred solution.
As this is a bus issue, changing the network adapter model or brand is not a solution.

Choosing a network adapter to use with the eBUS Universal

Pro
We have had minor issues with a couple of adapters but the eBUS Universal Pro can install on top of any network
adapters with good results.
Intel are still selling really good network adapter and are more likely to provide a great experience to work with. Intel
is the preferred vendor.

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

For the adapters, you will see performance as well as the adapter can provide. If you expect to use the eBUS
Universal Pro on other adapters, it will work as long as the adapter provides the requirements for the application.

Choosing a laptop
The eBUS Universal Pro doesn’t have all the limitation of the HPD and eBUS Optimal. So the requirements are
easier to meet when looking at a laptop.
We have had some great success on laptops with the Intel Pro 82567 chipset. For now, we do not have a list of
laptop as they keep changing parts and models are obsolete too quickly. For this reason, we propose network
chipsets which you can find in some laptops.

Choosing an add-in laptop gigabit card

It is really hard to find what chipset these add-in card have and they keep changing so as per the laptops. For this
reason, we do not have a list to provide to customer for now.
For test, we can confirm that ExpressCards will allow a laptop to stream correctly at maximum bandwidths.

List of network adapters with potential issues

Commercial Name: Marvell Yukon 88E8058 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller ( On MacBook Pro )
Vendor ID: 11AB
Device ID: 436A
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 – 64 bits
Problem: Drops packets when streaming at around 400 Mbps
Solution: Use another adapter or another bandwidth range

Commercial Name: SysKonnect SK-9521 V2.0 10/100/1000 Base-T Adapter

( Marvell Yukon )
Vendor ID: 1148
Device ID: 4320
OS : Microsoft Windows 7 – 23 and 64 bits
Problem: Number of RX descriptors to low with the default driver
Solution: Increase the number of RX descriptors in the driver configuration page.

Commercial Name: Intel ® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter ( Intel Pro 1000 CT – 82574L )
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 10D3
OS : Microsoft Windows XP – 32 bits, other Microsoft Windows versions are working properly
Problem: Major streaming problem
Solution: Need to try with another OS or another adapter.

Commercial Name: Intel ® Gigabit PL Desktop Adapter ( Intel Pro 1000 PL – 82573L )
Vendor ID: 8086
Device ID: 10D3
OS : Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4 32 and 64 bits
Problem: Jumbo frames may not working properly on some laptops
Solution: By design. Refer to the document “Intel ® 82573 Family Gigabit Ethernet Controllers
Specification Update ( http://download.intel.com/design/network/specupdt/82573.pdf )” in
section “17 - ASPM/Jumbo Frames Disabled Due to Early Receive Threshold Overrun
Buffer”

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

List of Intel Gigabit Network Adapters

Product Name DevID Additional eBUS eBUS eBUS HPD Linux Comments and
Information Universal Optimal Universal HPD Known Issues
Pro
Intel® PRO/1000 Server Adapter 0x1000 SC, 1000Full, 32&64bit PCI, Yes No Yes No No
82542
Gigabit Ethernet Controller 0x1000 Yes No Yes No No
Intel® PRO/1000 F Server Adapter 0x1001 SC, 1000Full, 32&64bit PCI, Yes No Yes No NT
82543GC
Intel® PRO/1000 T Server Adapter 0x1001 RJ45, 10/100/1000, 64&32bit Yes No Yes No NT
0x1004 PCI, 82543GC

Intel® PRO/1000 XT Low Profile 0x1008 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-X, Yes No Yes NT NT
Server Adapter 82544EI

Intel® PRO/1000 XT Server 0x1008 RJ45, PCI-X, 10/100/1000, 2 Yes No Yes NT No

Adapter LEDs, 82544EI
Intel® PRO/1000 XF Server 0x1009 SC, 1000Full, PCI-X, 82544EI Yes No Yes NT NT
Adapter
Intel PRO/1000 MT Low Profile 0x100C RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Adapter 82541El
Intel® PRO/1000 T Desktop 0x100C RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes No Yes NT No
Adapter 82544GC
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x100D Yes No Yes NT NT
(82544 GC)
Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop 0x100E RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter 82540EM
Intel® PRO/1000 MT Low Profile 0x100E RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Adapter 82540EM

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

Intel® PRO/1000 MT Server 0x100F RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter 0x1026 82545EM,
82545GM(C36840-xxx)
Intel® PRO/1000 MT Dual Port 0x1010 2xRJ45, 10/100/1000,PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 0x1079 82546EB, 82546GB(C41421-
xxx)
Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server 0x1011 LC, 1000Full, PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter (SX) 0x1027 82545EM
82545GM(C36851-xxx)
Intel® PRO/1000 MF Server 0x1011 LC, 1000Full, PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter (LX) 0x1027 82545EM
82545GM(C37793-xxx)
Intel® PRO/1000 MF Dual Port 0x1012 2xLC, 1000Full, PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter (SX Fiber) 82546EB, 82546GB(C41300-
xxx)
Intel® PRO/1000 MT Desktop 0x1013 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter 82541El
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1014 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82541 ER)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1015 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82540 EM)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1016 Yes No Yes NT NT
(82540 EP)
Gigabit Ethernet Controller (LOM) 0x1017 Yes No Yes No NT

Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1018 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82541 EI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1019 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82547 EI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x101A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82547 EI)
Intel® PRO/1000 MT QUAD Port 0x101D RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-X Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 82546EB
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x101E Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82540 EP)

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1028 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82545 GM)
ICH8_IGP_M_AMT Gigabit 0x1049 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
Network Connection Interface no jumbo frames.
Controller
ICH8_IGP_AMT Intel 82566DM 0x104A Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
Gigabit Ethernet Adapter no jumbo frames.
ICH8_IGP_C Gigabit Ethernet 0x104B Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH8_IFE Intel Gigabit 82566MC 0x104C Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH8_IGP_M 0x104D Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
Intel® PRO/1000 PF Dual Port 0x105E 2xLC, 1000Full, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 82571GB
Intel® PRO/1000 PT Dual Port 0x105F 2xRJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 82571GB
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1060 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82571 EB)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1075 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82547 GI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1076 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82541 GI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1077 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82541 GI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1078 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82541 ER)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x107A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82546 EB)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x107B Yes No Yes NT NT
(82546 EB)
Intel® PRO/1000 GT Desktop 0x107C RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Issues reported by customer on
Adapter 82541PI older Linux drivers. Fixed by
using more recent drivers.

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TECHNICAL NOTE eBUS SDK

Intel® PRO/1000 GT Low Profile 0x107C RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Adapter 82541PI
Intel® PRO/1000 PT Server 0x107D RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter 82572Gl
Intel® PRO/1000 PF Server 0x107E LC, 1000Full, PCI-e, 82572Gl Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x107F Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82572 EI)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x108A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82546 EB)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x108B Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82572 E)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x108C Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82572 E)
Intel PRO/1000 Grabber Adapter 0x1096 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
(82563 EB)
80003ES2LAN_SERDES_DPT 0x1098 Yes No Yes No NT
82546GB_QUAD_COPPER 0x1099 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Intel PRO/1000 PL Network 0x109A Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adaptor
Intel® PRO/1000 PT Quad Port 0x10A4 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 82571GB
Intel® PRO/1000 PF Quad Port 0x10A5 LC, 1000BASE-SX Yes No Yes No NT
Server Adapter multimode, PCI-e, 82571GB

Intel® PRO/1000 GT QUAD Port 0x10B5 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-X, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Server Adapter 82546GB
Intel® PRO/1000 PT Desktop 0x10B9 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Adapter 82572El
Intel® PRO/1000 PT Low Profile 0x10B9 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Desktop Adapter 82572El
80003ES2LAN_COPPER_SPT 0x10BA Yes No Yes No NT
80003ES2LAN_SERDES_SPT 0x10BB Yes No Yes No NT

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Intel® PRO/1000 PT Low Profile 0x10BC RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Quad Port Server Adapter 82571GB
ICH9_IGP_AMT Intel 82566DM 0x10BD Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
Gigabit Ethernet Adapter no jumbo frames.
ICH9_IFE 0x10C0 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH9_IFE_G 0x10C2 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH9_IFE_GT 0x10C3 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH9_IFE_G 0x10C4 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
ICH8_IFE_G 0x10C5 Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
no jumbo frames.
Intel® Gigabit ET Dual Port Server 0x10C9 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes No Yes No No
Adapter 82576
Intel® Gigabit CT Desktop Adapter 0x10D3 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes Yes Yes Yes No Issues reported on Linux in
82574L certain conditions when using
MTU above 4000. No known fix
other than limiting the MTU.
Works well up to expected 8k on
Windows Vista and 7. Major
streaming issue in XP.
Intel® Gigabit EF Dual Port Server 0x10E6 LC, 1000, PCI-e, 82576 Yes No Yes No NT
Adapter
Intel® Gigabit ET Quad Port Server 0x10E8 RJ45, 10/100/1000, PCI-e, Yes No Yes No No
Adapter 82576
ICH9_IGP_C Intel(R) 82566DC-2 0x294C Yes No Yes No NT Embedded, simplified Pro1000,
Gigabit Network Connection no jumbo frames.
Intel® PRO/1000 T IP Storage RJ45, 10/100/1000, 32&64bit Yes No Yes No No
Adapter PCI
Intel PRO/1000 T IP Storage RJ45, 10/100/1000, 32&64bit Yes No Yes No No
Adapter PCI

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Intel® 82566DM/DC/MM/MC/DC- RJ45, 10/100/1000, LOM Yes No Yes No No Embedded family, simplified
2/DM-2 Gigabit Network Pro1000, no jumbo frames.
Connections
Intel® 82567LM/LF/V/LM-2/LF-2/V- RJ45, 10/100/1000, LOM Yes No Yes No No
2/LF-3/LM-3/LM-4 Gigabit Network
Connections

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