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Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet can get to gigabit speed

I have a dell server running windows 2003 and it has 2 built in nic cards that are Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet. The speed and duplex options only go up to 100mb full or auto. I would like to force it to gig speed. How do I do this?

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poserthesequel

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ISHUC

ASKER

There is where the problem is, the BACS does not give an option for 1000mbps/Full Duplex. The highest option is 100mbps/Full Duplex. I would think that with a name like Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet, it would have the capability of doing so. Could this be an OS issue?

poserthesequel

I would look at drivers, also have you teamed the adapters at all? I would look at the second option I gave you as well. See if you can do it through device manager.

akahan

There isn't supposed to be an option for 1000mb. Per the IEEE standard, the only IEEE compliant way to operate at 1000Mb/s-Full duplex is through auto-negotiation. If the network switch being used is IEEE compliant, the link speed will auto-negotiate to 1000Mb/s-Full duplex when "Auto" is selected.

You SHOULD have "Auto" as one of the options in the advanced settings in Windows. If you set it there, and whatever it's talking to at the other end of the wire is also set to Auto, and both are capable of 1000mbs, they'll autonegotiate to that speed.

This is all explained in Broadcom's FAQ, here:

http://www.broadcom.com/support/ethernet_nic/faq_drivers.php

In particular, see the question:

"Why is there no option to force the speed and duplex to 1000Mb/s - Full Duplex?"