Using Logical Boards

A LAN driver can be loaded with multiple frame types. Each instance of a LAN driver and an associated frame type is one logical board. Therefore, while there might be only one physical network board in the server with one LAN driver, there can be multiple logical boards.

For example, if your server contains an NE2000^TM board, you can load the NE2000 LAN driver with frame types Ethernet_802.2 and Ethernet_II. In this situation there is one physical board and one LAN driver, but there are two logical boards.

In older versions of NetWare, you could not unload individual logical boards. To remove a particular logical board, you had to unload the LAN driver, which in turn deactivated all network adapters associated with the LAN driver, and also unloaded all the frame types associated with the driver. You then had to reload the driver for each board you wanted to use and each frame type you wanted to keep. On large networks this process was extremely time consuming.

In NetWare, you can now unload, shut down, and reset individual logical boards, and also remove or reset individual adapters associated with a LAN driver.

Unloading Logical Boards

1. Determine the logical board number or name.

   A name can be assigned to a logical board when the board is loaded with the LOAD command. If no name was assigned to the board, you can determine the logical board number by using MONITOR.

   1. At the server console prompt, load MONITOR.

   2. Select LAN/WAN Drivers and highlight the desired LAN driver.

      A screen is displayed containing the logical board numbers and other data associated with the driver. Note the logical board number you want to unload.

2. Enter the following at the server console prompt:

   REMOVE NETWORK INTERFACE board_number | board_name

   Specify either the logical board number or the board name. NetWare unloads the logical board and deletes its resources.

Shutting Down and Resetting Logical Boards

You can shut down a logical board without removing its resources. In this case, you can restart the board, if needed, without reloading and binding the LAN driver.

1. Determine the logical board number or name.

   A name can be assigned to a logical board when the board is loaded using the LOAD command. If no name was assigned to the board, you can determine the logical board number by using MONITOR.

   1. At the server console prompt, load MONITOR.

   2. Select LAN/WAN Drivers and highlight the desired LAN driver.

      A screen is displayed containing logical board numbers and other data associated with the driver. Note the logical board number you want.

2. Enter the following at the server console prompt:

   SHUTDOWN NETWORK INTERFACE board_number | board_name

   Specify either the logical board number or the board name.

3. To restart the logical board, enter the following at the server console prompt:

   RESET NETWORK INTERFACE board_number | board_name

   NOTE:  Resetting the logical board does not reset the network board.