(Windows) hardware discovery for network card with multiple adapters varies











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I have a network card with 4 adapters (Intel server adapter I350-T4). When I insert this card into a PC, the adapters are discovered e.g. as follows:




  • I350-T4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 4


When I get another PC, and another network card (same make and model of course), Windows iterates the devices as follows:




  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #1 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 4


This is a problem, as our technical documentation dictates which device is connected to which physical adapter. Since my software only has a reference to the "adapter name" windows assigns to the physical adapter I have no way of guaranteeing which "logical adapter" matches to which physical adapter.



I don't know how windows enumerates the devices on such a network card, and if there are network cards that do have a reproducing way of discovery.



I did test to swap the network cards between the PCs, and found that the way the adapters are discovered follows the network card.



Question1: how does windows discover network cards?



Question2: Is there anyway to influence this behavior?



Question3: Is there any logical property (thus in windows) to determine the physical port / position of the adapter?



Question4: If anybody would've experience with this specific topic, is there a better approach that let me couple logical adapters to physical adapters?










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  • While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
    – Twisty Impersonator
    Nov 13 at 14:55















up vote
0
down vote

favorite












I have a network card with 4 adapters (Intel server adapter I350-T4). When I insert this card into a PC, the adapters are discovered e.g. as follows:




  • I350-T4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 4


When I get another PC, and another network card (same make and model of course), Windows iterates the devices as follows:




  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #1 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 4


This is a problem, as our technical documentation dictates which device is connected to which physical adapter. Since my software only has a reference to the "adapter name" windows assigns to the physical adapter I have no way of guaranteeing which "logical adapter" matches to which physical adapter.



I don't know how windows enumerates the devices on such a network card, and if there are network cards that do have a reproducing way of discovery.



I did test to swap the network cards between the PCs, and found that the way the adapters are discovered follows the network card.



Question1: how does windows discover network cards?



Question2: Is there anyway to influence this behavior?



Question3: Is there any logical property (thus in windows) to determine the physical port / position of the adapter?



Question4: If anybody would've experience with this specific topic, is there a better approach that let me couple logical adapters to physical adapters?










share|improve this question






















  • While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
    – Twisty Impersonator
    Nov 13 at 14:55













up vote
0
down vote

favorite









up vote
0
down vote

favorite











I have a network card with 4 adapters (Intel server adapter I350-T4). When I insert this card into a PC, the adapters are discovered e.g. as follows:




  • I350-T4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 4


When I get another PC, and another network card (same make and model of course), Windows iterates the devices as follows:




  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #1 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 4


This is a problem, as our technical documentation dictates which device is connected to which physical adapter. Since my software only has a reference to the "adapter name" windows assigns to the physical adapter I have no way of guaranteeing which "logical adapter" matches to which physical adapter.



I don't know how windows enumerates the devices on such a network card, and if there are network cards that do have a reproducing way of discovery.



I did test to swap the network cards between the PCs, and found that the way the adapters are discovered follows the network card.



Question1: how does windows discover network cards?



Question2: Is there anyway to influence this behavior?



Question3: Is there any logical property (thus in windows) to determine the physical port / position of the adapter?



Question4: If anybody would've experience with this specific topic, is there a better approach that let me couple logical adapters to physical adapters?










share|improve this question













I have a network card with 4 adapters (Intel server adapter I350-T4). When I insert this card into a PC, the adapters are discovered e.g. as follows:




  • I350-T4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 4


When I get another PC, and another network card (same make and model of course), Windows iterates the devices as follows:




  • I350-T4 #4 => adapter 1

  • I350-T4 #1 => adapter 2

  • I350-T4 #2 => adapter 3

  • I350-T4 #3 => adapter 4


This is a problem, as our technical documentation dictates which device is connected to which physical adapter. Since my software only has a reference to the "adapter name" windows assigns to the physical adapter I have no way of guaranteeing which "logical adapter" matches to which physical adapter.



I don't know how windows enumerates the devices on such a network card, and if there are network cards that do have a reproducing way of discovery.



I did test to swap the network cards between the PCs, and found that the way the adapters are discovered follows the network card.



Question1: how does windows discover network cards?



Question2: Is there anyway to influence this behavior?



Question3: Is there any logical property (thus in windows) to determine the physical port / position of the adapter?



Question4: If anybody would've experience with this specific topic, is there a better approach that let me couple logical adapters to physical adapters?







windows networking






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asked Nov 13 at 12:59









bas

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  • While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
    – Twisty Impersonator
    Nov 13 at 14:55


















  • While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
    – Twisty Impersonator
    Nov 13 at 14:55
















While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
– Twisty Impersonator
Nov 13 at 14:55




While I don't know the exact details, I expect the order of enumeration is out of Windows' control. The process is probably controlled by the adapter's driver.
– Twisty Impersonator
Nov 13 at 14:55










1 Answer
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Found this article



Get-NetAdapterHardwareInfo | select Name, InterfaceDescription, DeviceType, Busnumber, Devicenumber, Functionnumber | FL



Name (This is what you see in Control Panel > .. > Network Connections)
InterfaceDescription (This is what you see in Device Manager)
DeviceType (This is connector type of the NIC)
Busnumber (This is where the NIC is slot on motherboard)
Devicenumber (This is the location number of slot on motherboard)
Functionnumber (This is what you are looking for. Physical port)






share|improve this answer





















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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
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    up vote
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    Found this article



    Get-NetAdapterHardwareInfo | select Name, InterfaceDescription, DeviceType, Busnumber, Devicenumber, Functionnumber | FL



    Name (This is what you see in Control Panel > .. > Network Connections)
    InterfaceDescription (This is what you see in Device Manager)
    DeviceType (This is connector type of the NIC)
    Busnumber (This is where the NIC is slot on motherboard)
    Devicenumber (This is the location number of slot on motherboard)
    Functionnumber (This is what you are looking for. Physical port)






    share|improve this answer

























      up vote
      0
      down vote













      Found this article



      Get-NetAdapterHardwareInfo | select Name, InterfaceDescription, DeviceType, Busnumber, Devicenumber, Functionnumber | FL



      Name (This is what you see in Control Panel > .. > Network Connections)
      InterfaceDescription (This is what you see in Device Manager)
      DeviceType (This is connector type of the NIC)
      Busnumber (This is where the NIC is slot on motherboard)
      Devicenumber (This is the location number of slot on motherboard)
      Functionnumber (This is what you are looking for. Physical port)






      share|improve this answer























        up vote
        0
        down vote










        up vote
        0
        down vote









        Found this article



        Get-NetAdapterHardwareInfo | select Name, InterfaceDescription, DeviceType, Busnumber, Devicenumber, Functionnumber | FL



        Name (This is what you see in Control Panel > .. > Network Connections)
        InterfaceDescription (This is what you see in Device Manager)
        DeviceType (This is connector type of the NIC)
        Busnumber (This is where the NIC is slot on motherboard)
        Devicenumber (This is the location number of slot on motherboard)
        Functionnumber (This is what you are looking for. Physical port)






        share|improve this answer












        Found this article



        Get-NetAdapterHardwareInfo | select Name, InterfaceDescription, DeviceType, Busnumber, Devicenumber, Functionnumber | FL



        Name (This is what you see in Control Panel > .. > Network Connections)
        InterfaceDescription (This is what you see in Device Manager)
        DeviceType (This is connector type of the NIC)
        Busnumber (This is where the NIC is slot on motherboard)
        Devicenumber (This is the location number of slot on motherboard)
        Functionnumber (This is what you are looking for. Physical port)







        share|improve this answer












        share|improve this answer



        share|improve this answer










        answered Nov 14 at 18:57









        bas

        1691212




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