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Hello,
I recently purchased 10x Intel X550-AT based NIC cards (Startech ST10GPEXNDPI to be exact) for NBase-T network testing. When I received the card I installed them into an Ubunto 18.04.3 x86 machine (4.15 kernel) and confirmed both ports were functional. However I discovered that with the firmware version currently on the units, only 100M/1G/ and 1G speeds were supported.
Looking at the X550 datasheet I found a note saying a firmware update would be required to support the NBase-T speeds. So I downloaded the X550 NVM Linux Update Utility at the link below and followed the readme instructions to update the NVM configuration on the card.
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/28338/Non-Volatile-Memory-NVM-Update-Utility-for-Intel-Ethernet-Adapters-550-Series-Linux-?product=93524
The process completed successfully and after a power cycle I confirmed that 2.5GBase-T link was operational on port 0 (bottom RJ45 port). However Port 1 (top RJ45 port) will no longer link up at any speed.
In linux the IXGBE driver displays no error messages or warnings about this non functional interface. I can ifup/down the port without error however link is never reported in the OS and the LEDs on the RJ45 port never turn on.
tl;dr X550-AT based NIC worked fine out of the box but did not support 2.5GBase-T. After a firmware update port 0 (bottom RJ45) works at NBase-T speeds, port 1 (Top RJ45) will not link up at all.
Any thoughts?
--- EDIT ---
Okay I decided to take a fresh card and check which NVM version it uses:
[00:001:00:00]: Intel(R) Ethernet Controller X550-T2
Vendor : 8086
Device : 1563
Subvendor : 8086
Subdevice : 0000
Revision : 1
LAN MAC : 000ACD38FE90
Alt MAC : 000ACD38FE90
SAN MAC : FFFFFFFFFFFF
ETrackId : 80000498
NVM Version : 1.00(1.00)
PBA : 000500-000
VPD status : Valid
VPD size : 38
NVM update : No config file entry
checksum : Valid
OROM update : No config file entry
CIVD : 1.1276.0
PXE : 2.3.58, checksum Valid
EFI : 5.1.19, checksum None
[00:001:00:01]: Intel(R) Ethernet Controller X550-T2
Vendor : 8086
Device : 1563
Subvendor : 8086
Subdevice : 0000
Revision : 1
LAN MAC : 000ACD38FE91
Alt MAC : 000ACD38FE91
SAN MAC : FFFFFFFFFFFF
ETrackId : 80000498
NVM Version : 1.00(1.00)
PBA : 000500-000
VPD status : Valid
VPD size : 38
NVM update : No config file entry
checksum : Valid
OROM update : No config file entry
CIVD : 1.1276.0
PXE : 2.3.58, checksum Valid
EFI : 5.1.19, checksum None
It turns out I was not correct when I said 2.5G does not work with this firmware above. The NIC / Linux side reports link up, however my partner device does not report any link.
After performing the NVM firmware upgrade above both sides report link up.....
What is different between NVM versions 1.0 and 2.1? Does this have something to do with additional support of the NBase-T 2.5G Standard or something?
The partner device uses an AQR412C PHY chip which has been tested against many other devices without issue.
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Hello jdaws6,
Thank you for posting in Intel Ethernet Communities.
Please provide the PBA marking of your Intel Ethernet adapter fore us to check on your query. This would allow us to identify if you are using a Retail or OEM version of the adapter. It consist of 6-digit number located at the last part of the serial number.You may refer to the link below on where to find the requested information.
Looking forward to your response.
In case we don't hear from you, we'll follow up after 3 business days.
Best regards,
Crisselle C
Intel® Customer Support
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Hello jdaws6,
Good day!
Please provide the requested information for us to proceed checking on your query.
Awaiting to your reply
In case we don't hear from you, we'll follow up after 3 business days.
Best regards,
Crisselle C
Intel® Customer Support
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Hello jdaws6,
How are you today?
We'd like to inform you that we will now close this request since we haven't received any response from our previous follow ups. Just feel free to post a new question if you may have any other inquiry in the future.
May you have lovely day ahead!
Best regards,
Crisselle C
Intel® Customer Support
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