©Copyright 1998-2003 Marvell®. All rights reserved

sk98diag.htm created 14-Nov-2003

Readme File for SK98DIAG.EXE v6.08
Diagnostics Utility for the 
SysKonnect SK-98xx and SK-95xx Gigabit Ethernet Adapter Family



This file contains





1  Overview

This README file explains how to use the program SK98DIAG.EXE to test
your network adapter or to maintain the Flash PROM contents of the adapter.

Chapter 2 contains a list of all network adapters that are supported by
this program.

Chapter 3 describes the command line options that can be used when
starting the Diagnostic program.

Chapter 4 explains how to use the Diagnostic program to test your network
adapter.

Chapter 5 explains how to use the repeater mode.

2  Supported Adapters

The program SK98DIAG.EXE supports the SysKonnect SK-98xx and SK-95xx Gigabit 
Ethernet Adapter Family. 

3  Command Line Options

The following lists shows the optional parameters supported by SK98DIAG.EXE.
You can obtain a list of all available driver options by typing the
following:

	SK98DIAG -?


Parameters specifying the network adapter to be tested
------------------------------------------------------

	-b  <bus>       PCI Bus number
	-d  <dev>       PCI Device number of the network adapter
	-y  <ven>       Additional PCI Vendor Id to search for
	-z  <dev>       Additional PCI Device Id to search for

Parameters influencing the tests to be made
-------------------------------------------

	-l              List all supported adapters installed
	-t <seconds>    Set Time Limit (in seconds)
	-a              Advanced mode of operation. This option should only
			be used if instructed by technical staff!
	-o <file>	Output file. This option generates an output file.
	-x		Create/append an output file. The file name is
			generated by taking some bytes of the MAC address.
	-c <file>	Script file. This option should only be
			used if instructed by technical staff!
	-p <file>	Parameter file. This option should only
    			be used if instructed by technical staff!

NOTE: The length of the file name <file> is limited to 13 characters.

4  How to use the Diagnostics Program

In order to test your adapter, proceed as follows:
1. Start the DOS-based utility program SK98DIAG.EXE using any of
   the available options to correctly specify the network adapter
   if required.


NOTE: The options '-b', and '-d' may be combined as required in order to
specify exact the network adapter which is to be tested.
All specified options are checked against the network adapters list.
You may also force a list of all installed SysKonnect Gigabit Ethernet 
adapters by using the '-l' option. 

2. Select the action you want to carry out.
   For testing the network adapter, 3(2) options are available:
	- "Diagnostics",
	- "Loopb. Wrap Plug",
	- "Loopb. Port to Port", (available only for dual link adapters)

	"Diagnostics":
	Select this option if no wrap plug or port-to-port loopback
	cable is available.

	"Loopb. Wrap Plug":
	This test mode is recommended for the adapter types SK-9841, SK-9842,
	SK-9843, SK-9844, and SK-9821. To run tests in this mode, wrap plug(s)
	must be installed, or another station must be connected to the test
	station in repeater mode before this test starts.

NOTE: Wrap plugs are not available for 1000BASE-T adapters.
      Please connect another station in repeater mode instead.
      For further information on the repeater mode, refer to the next section.

        "Loopb. Port to Port":
        This test mode is recommended for SK-9822 adapters.
        To run tests in this mode, both ports taking part in the test
        must be connected through a cable before this test starts.
        Other dual link adapters may also be tested through a port-to-port
        loopback cable. Single port adapters cannot be tested this way.

   For displaying additional information about the network adapter,
   2 options are available:
	- "Show Configuration",
	- "Show Sensors".

	"Show Configuration":
	Select this option to get the configuration of the network adapter.

	"Show Sensors":
	Select this option to get the sensor values of the network adapter.

3. If you intend to maintain your Flash PROM contents
   select the menu item "Flash PROM ...".
   A new menu will appear.
   Now, you may
	-  save your Flash PROM contents to a file
	   ("Save Flash PROM to File")
        - write a file into the Flash PROM (max. size 124 kB)
	  ("Load Flash PROM from File")
	- erase your Flash PROM contents
	  ("Clear Flash PROM").

4. If you intend to maintain the VPD Data contents
   select the menu item "VPD Data ...".
   The VPD menu will appear.
   Now, you may
	- display the adapter's VPD data
	  ("Display VPD Data")
	- clear error log entries
	  ("Clear Error Logs")
	- modify VPD data
	  ("Add/Modify VPD Data")
	- remove VPD keywords
	  ("Delete VPD Keywords").

NOTE: During the adapter tests, the diagnostic program must have
      exclusive rights to use that network adapter. All drivers
      running on the adapter will be stopped!

5  How to use the Repeater Mode

The repeater mode is intended to simulate a 'Wrap Plug' while
1000BASE-T adapters are tested. For running a "Loopb. Wrap Plug" test,
the device under test must be connected to an adapter running in
repeater mode before the test starts.

Although the repeater mode is available for fiber adapter, too, it is
not advisable to perform diagnostics loopback tests with a repeater
station because the link establishment for fiber adapter is different
and is not fully implemented in the diagnostics loopback tests.

To enable the diagnostics repeater mode, proceed as follows:

1. Choose the option 'Repeater Mode' from the main menu.
2. Select a port number.
   The repeater window appears. All incoming frames except pause frames
   are looped on the transmit side without modifications.

The following table shows the configuration parameters and
statistic counters displayed in the repeater mode window.


parameter/counter       start value       description
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link State              Down              The link state may be down or up.
                                          If up, frames can be received and
                                          transmitted.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link Master/Slave       Slave             This parameter indicates if the
Config                                    adapter is working as master or
                                          as slave.
                                          The parameter is only supported
                                          for 1000BASE-T adapters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link Estimate          	1E-15             This parameter indicates the
                                          the estimated link error rate.
                                          This parameter is only supported
                                          for 1000BASE-T adapters.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Link Changes            0                 The counter indicates the number
                                          of link operational changes since
                                          the repeater mode started.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
False Carrier           0                 The counter is only valid for
Sense Counter                             1000BASE-T adapters and shows the
                                          number of false carrier sense
                                          counters occured since the
                                          repeater mode started.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
FCS Errors             0                  The counter indicates the number
                                          of Frame Check Sequence (FCS) errors
                                          occured since the last link
                                          operational change.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frames Received        0                  The counter indicates the number
                                          of received frames. Received pause
                                          frames are neglected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Frames Transmitted     0                  The counter indicates the number
                                          of transmitted frames. Transmitted
                                          pause frames are neglected.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pause Frames Received  0                  The counter indicates the number
                                          of received pause frames.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pause Frames           0                  The counter indicates the number
Transmitted                               transmitted pause frames.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
***End of Readme file***