IBM 16/4 Token-Ring CardBus Adapter User's Guide

Problem solving

This chapter contains procedures that help you troubleshoot problems and optimize the performance of your IBM 16/4 Token-Ring CardBus Adapter.

Starting the troubleshooting process

If you cannot successfully install the adapter or the adapter does not operate properly, refer to the following table. Locate the symptom that best describes the problem.

Symptom Solution
Problem with adapter operation See Running adapter diagnostics.
Problem indicated by the LEDs See Understanding the LEDs.
Problem with loading the drivers See Solving problems with driver installation.
Unable to communicate with the network See Solving an adapter communication problem.

Symptom	Solution
Problem with adapter operation	See Running adapter diagnostics.
Problem indicated by the LEDs	See Understanding the LEDs.
Problem with loading the drivers	See Solving problems with driver installation.
Unable to communicate with the network	See Solving an adapter communication problem.

Running adapter diagnostics

Notes:

If your adapter came with the CD-ROM titled IBM 16/4 Token-Ring CardBus and PCI Management Adapters Installation and CD-ROM Guide, you can either build a diagnostic diskette to use for running diagnostics or use the CD-ROM to run diagnostics. To use the CD-ROM, your computer must have a bootable CD-ROM drive. The CD-ROM option allows you to perform diagnostics on a computer that does not have a diskette drive.
If your adapter came with the CD-ROM titled IBM 16/4 Token-Ring CardBus Adapter Installation and CD-ROM Guide, you cannot use the CD-ROM to perform diagnostics.

To create a diagnostic diskette, download and run the DIAGDISK.EXE located on the adapter CD-ROM. Perform the following procedure:

Insert a blank, high-density diskette into your diskette drive (usually drive A).
Point your Web browser to x:\startcd.htm on the CD-ROM (where x is your CD-ROM drive).
Select CD-ROM (Product Support) and then select Downloads.
Select Diagnostics to download the executable.
Run the executable to create the diagnostic diskette.

Use the following procedure to run diagnostics:

Attention: To avoid potentially erroneous results, you should always perform a power-on reboot of your computer before running the diagnostics.

Insert the diagnostic diskette in drive A and reboot your computer.
At the DOS Boot Menu, select IBM Cardbus adapter family extended diagnostics for 16 Mb/s and 4 Mb/s.
If the system will not boot with the CardBus adapter installed, but will boot without the adapter, go to step 6.
If your computer has more than one CardBus adapter installed, a selection menu displays the universally administered address for each adapter. Use the cursor keys or the mouse to select the CardBus adapter to test.
Connect the CardBus adapter to the network and press the Enter key to select Test.
There are two test options: wrap test and on-ring test.
- The wrap test tests the adapter and cable through the hub or concentrator, or through a wrap plug attached to the cable.
- For the on-ring test, the adapter must be connected to a network with other adapters, so the ring speed of the network can be automatically sensed. If the adapter is the only one in the network, the on-ring test will fail.
Select the option for the test to perform.
If the test indicates that there is no CardBus adapter in the system, or that diagnostics cannot be run, perform the following steps:
- Check that the CardBus adapter is correctly seated in the slot.
- Make sure that the LEDs blink alternately amber and green after you power up your computer.
- See Table 3 for LED states.
- Run the CardBus adapter diagnostics again. If the tests are completed successfully, and your computer still is not communicating, contact your network administrator.
If an error does not occur during the wrap test and on-ring test, the CardBus adapter is ready for use. Exit the diagnostic program, and follow the directions for reactivating the computer.
If an error occurs, record any messages that appear, record the LED sequences, and contact your network administrator.
Note: This procedure does not verify that the data rate of the device driver setting matches the data rate of the LAN segment.

Understanding the LEDs

The LEDs on the adapter cable connector provide useful information for monitoring the status of the CardBus adapter and for solving problems. If the green LED is on and the amber LED is off, the adapter is operating correctly. If the amber LED is blinking and the green LED is on, a problem with the adapter has been detected. Table 3 indicates the sequence that displays when the you start the computer and the adapter reaches the open state successfully. Some of the states might be too brief to observe.

Table 3. Startup sequence of LED states

Amber Green Explanation
Blinking Blinking

Slow blink.
The adapter is waiting for initialization.
Fast blink.
The adapter has detected a wake-up frame and is attempting to wake up the system.

Off Off The adapter initialization is in progress, or the computer is powered off.
Off Blinking The adapter did not detect any problems during its self-diagnostic tests and is waiting to open.
If this LED state occurs after the adapter has been opened, this state indicates that the adapter has been closed under software control.
Off On The adapter is open and operating correctly.

Amber	Green	Explanation
Blinking	Blinking	Slow blink. The adapter is waiting for initialization. Fast blink. The adapter has detected a wake-up frame and is attempting to wake up the system.
Off	Off	The adapter initialization is in progress, or the computer is powered off.
Off	Blinking	The adapter did not detect any problems during its self-diagnostic tests and is waiting to open. If this LED state occurs after the adapter has been opened, this state indicates that the adapter has been closed under software control.
Off	On	The adapter is open and operating correctly.

Table 4 lists LED states that indicate problems.

Table 4. Problems shown by LED states

Amber Green Explanation Action
On Off The adapter self-diagnostic tests failed or there is a problem with the adapter. Go to Running adapter diagnostics to test the adapter.
Blinking Off The adapter is closed due to one of the following conditions:

The adapter open failed.
The adapter detected a wire fault.
The adapter failed the auto-removal test.
Perform the following procedures, as appropriate:

Go to Solving an adapter communication problem.
Verify that the adapter is configured correctly.
If other stations on the network are having problems communicating, contact your network administrator.

Blinking On The adapter has detected beaconing or a hard error. Go to Solving an adapter communication problem
On On The adapter has failed before running the self-diagnostic tests. Go to Running adapter diagnostics to test the adapter.

Amber	Green	Explanation	Action
On	Off	The adapter self-diagnostic tests failed or there is a problem with the adapter.	Go to Running adapter diagnostics to test the adapter.
Blinking	Off	The adapter is closed due to one of the following conditions: The adapter open failed. The adapter detected a wire fault. The adapter failed the auto-removal test.	Perform the following procedures, as appropriate: Go to Solving an adapter communication problem. Verify that the adapter is configured correctly. If other stations on the network are having problems communicating, contact your network administrator.
Blinking	On	The adapter has detected beaconing or a hard error.	Go to Solving an adapter communication problem
On	On	The adapter has failed before running the self-diagnostic tests.	Go to Running adapter diagnostics to test the adapter.

See Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations for definitions of the terms used in Table 4.

Solving an adapter communication problem

If the CardBus adapter cannot communicate on the network, but other stations on the network can communicate, perform the following steps:

Verify that the adapter is in the socket and that the cable and the CardBus adapter are connected.
Verify that theadapter is firmly seated in the expansion slot.
Verify that the setting for the adapter's Data Rate option matches the data rate of the network. If your adapter is not the first station on the ring, verify that the data rate is set to AutoSense. Run the software configuration again to determine the current setting.
Replace the adapter cable with one that is known to be good.

Solving problems with driver installation

If you have a problem with installing a driver, perform the following procedure.

Make sure that you correctly followed the instructions for installing the CardBus adapter.
In the following table, locate the row that describes the computer's operating system or network application and perform the recommended actions.

Environment	Message Type and Action
OS/2 with MPTS	Check LANTRAN.LOG, usually found in the subdirectory \IBMCOM, for messages. LAN Server users can use the NET ERROR function to view the error log. Message prefix LA1 or reference to IBMTRP: See Appendix C, "NDIS 2 device driver messages".
Other OS/2 stations	Refer to the documentation provided with the network operating system or network application that you used to install the adapter and protocol driver.
DOS NDIS 2	See Appendix C, "NDIS 2 device driver messages".
Windows NT	Check for messages from the IBMTRP service using the Windows NT Event Viewer tool.

Contacting IBM product support

You can call the following telephone numbers for product support:
1-800-237-5511 IBM Support Services (U.S. only)
1-800-772-2227 IBM HelpCenter (U.S. only)
1-800-565-3344 HelpPC (Canada)

Customers outside the U.S. and Canada should contact their place of purchase.

Downloading code from the Web

You can download the latest code from the following location on the Web:

  http://www.ibm.com/networking/support

Tech tips and frequently asked questions

To find tips about specific hardware and software situations, go to x:\startcd.htm on the CD-ROM (where x is your CD-ROM drive).

Other performance enhancements

There is a white paper on this subject at the following Web site:

http://www.ibm.com/networking/per/per10.html

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