A Guide to HP Network Configuration Utility for Windows Server 2008 12: How to Set Up and Manage Teaming of Network Adapters
HP Network Configuration Utility for Windows Server 2008 12: What You Need to Know
If you are running a Windows Server 2008 12 system with multiple network adapters, you might want to use HP Network Configuration Utility (NCU) to optimize your network performance and reliability. NCU is a software tool that allows you to configure and manage fault-tolerant teams of network adapters installed in HP ProLiant servers. In this article, we will explain what NCU is, how to install and configure it, and how to use it effectively.
Hp Network Configuration Utility For Windows Server 2008 12
Introduction
NCU is a software tool that allows you to configure and manage fault-tolerant teams of network adapters installed in HP ProLiant servers. A team is a group of network adapters that work together as a single virtual adapter, providing load balancing, failover, and fault tolerance capabilities. By using NCU, you can improve your network performance, availability, and security.
Some of the benefits of using NCU are:
You can increase your network bandwidth by distributing traffic across multiple network adapters.
You can enhance your network reliability by automatically switching traffic to another adapter in case of a failure.
You can protect your network data by encrypting traffic between team members.
Some of the main features of NCU are:
You can create and manage up to 32 teams per server, with up to eight adapters per team.
You can choose from different teaming modes, such as switch-assisted load balancing (SLB), transmit load balancing (TLB), or network fault tolerance (NFT).
You can configure various team properties and settings, such as team name, IP address, VLAN ID, priority, encryption, etc.
You can monitor team status and performance, such as link speed, utilization, packets sent and received, errors, etc.
You can troubleshoot team issues and errors, such as broken links, misconfigured switches, incompatible adapters, etc.
How to Install NCU on Windows Server 2008 12
To install NCU on your Windows Server 2008 12 system, you need to follow these steps:
Download the latest version of NCU from the HP website. You can find it under the Driver-Network category for your server model. The current version is 11.50.0.0 as of October 24, 2016.
Run the installation wizard and follow the instructions on the screen. You might need to reboot your system after the installation is complete.
Verify that the installation was successful by checking if NCU appears in the Start menu or Control Panel under HP Network.
How to Configure NCU on Windows Server 2008 12How to Use NCU on Windows Server 2008 12
To use NCU on your Windows Server 2008 12 system, you need to follow these steps:
Monitor team status and performance by clicking on the Status tab at the top of the main window of NCU. You will see a graphical representation of each team and its members, showing their link speed, utilization, packets sent and received, errors, etc. You can also view detailed statistics for each adapter by clicking on it.
Troubleshoot team issues and errors by clicking on the Diagnostics tab at the top of the main window of NCU. You will see a list of common problems and solutions for each team and its members, such as broken links, misconfigured switches, incompatible adapters, etc. You can also run diagnostic tests for each adapter by clicking on it.
Update or uninstall NCU by downloading and running the latest version of NCU from the HP website or by using the Add/Remove Programs feature in Control Panel. You might need to reboot your system after updating or uninstalling NCU.
Conclusion
NCU is a useful software tool that allows you to configure and manage fault-tolerant teams of network adapters installed in HP ProLiant servers. By using NCU, you can improve your network performance, availability, and security. In this article, we have explained what NCU is, how to install and configure it, and how to use it effectively.
Some tips and best practices for using NCU are:
Make sure that all network adapters in a team are compatible with each other and with the teaming mode.
Make sure that all network switches connected to a team are configured properly and support the teaming mode.
Make sure that all network cables and connectors are in good condition and securely attached.
Make sure that all network drivers and firmware are up to date.
Make sure that NCU is enabled on all network adapters in a team.
If you want to learn more about NCU or have any questions or feedback, please visit the HP website or contact HP support.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about NCU:
What are the system requirements for NCU?The system requirements for NCU are:
A Windows Server 2008 12 system with one or more network adapters installed.
An HP ProLiant server that supports NCU.
A minimum of 50 MB of free disk space.
A minimum of 256 MB of RAM.
What are the supported network adapters for NCU?The supported network adapters for NCU are:
HP Ethernet 1Gb 2-port 361T Adapter
HP Ethernet 1Gb 4-port 366T Adapter
HP Ethernet 10Gb 2-port 560SFP+ Adapter
HP Ethernet 10Gb 2-port 561T Adapter
HP FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 534FLR-SFP+ Adapter
HP FlexFabric 10Gb 2-port 534M Adapter
What are the supported teaming modes for NCU?The supported teaming modes for NCU are:
Switch-assisted load balancing (SLB): This mode provides load balancing and failover for both transmit and receive traffic by using the MAC address of the team as the source address for all packets sent from the server. The switch must support IEEE 802.3ad link aggregation or static trunking.
Transmit load balancing (TLB): This mode provides load balancing and failover for transmit traffic only by using the MAC address of one of the adapters in the team as the source address for each packet sent from the server. The switch does not need to support any special features.
Network fault tolerance (NFT): This mode provides failover for both transmit and receive traffic by using the MAC address of the primary adapter in the team as the source address for all packets sent from the server. The switch does not need to support any special features.
How to enable or disable NCU on a network adapter?To enable or disable NCU on a network adapter, you need to follow these steps:
Select the adapter from the list in the main window of NCU and click on the Properties button at the bottom of the window.
Check or uncheck the Enable HP Network Configuration Utility checkbox in the Adapter Properties dialog box.
Click on OK to save the changes.
How to contact HP support for NCU-related questions?To contact HP support for NCU-related questions, you can use one of the following methods:
Visit the HP website and use the online chat, email, or phone options to reach a customer service representative.
Visit the HP Support Center and use the search, forums, or feedback options to find answers or solutions to your questions.
Visit the HP Customer Support - Software and Driver Downloads page and use the product identification, category, or keyword options to find and download the latest version of NCU or other related software and drivers.
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