3Com EtherLink
EtherLink PCI Network Interface Card User Guide
Overview 

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Overview

This chapter describes how to configure the NIC.

     

     

    Before you change the NIC configuration settings, contact your system administrator.

Default NIC Settings

The table below lists the configuration settings for the NIC. The default setting is in bold in the Settings column.

     

    Option

    Description

    Settings

    Network Driver Optimization

    Specifies how to optimize the network driver for your network by allowing trade-offs between network performance and CPU utilization.

    • Normal balances CPU utilization and network performance.
    • Minimized CPU Utilization saves CPU resources for other tasks.
    • Maximized Network Performance is appropriate if no other applications are making major demands on CPU resources.
    • Normal
    • Minimized CPU Utilization
    • Maximized Network Performance

    Duplex

    Determines if the NIC transmits data across the network in both directions simultaneously (full-duplex) or in one direction at a time (half-duplex).

    • Auto Select allows the NIC to automatically connect at the duplex mode of the connected hub or switch. When you select this setting, the Media Type is automatically set to Auto Select.
    • Full-Duplex sets the NIC to operate in full-duplex mode. To use this setting, the switch that you are connected to must support full-duplex. You must also manually set the NIC Media Type setting.
    • Half-Duplex sets the NIC to operate in half-duplex mode. You must also set the NIC Media Type setting.
    • Auto Select
    • Full-Duplex
    • Half-Duplex

    (continued)

    Boot PROM

    Enables or disables the NICs boot ROM (if a boot ROM is installed on the NIC).

    • Enabled
    • Disabled

    Media Type

    Determines the type of media your network is using.

    • Auto Select allows the NIC to automatically select the Media Type for you.
    • If you set the NIC Duplex setting to Auto Select, the Media Type is automatically set to Auto Select.
    • If you set the NIC Duplex setting manually, you must set the Media Type setting manually.
    • Auto Select
    • 10BASE-T (10Mb/s)
    • 100BASE-TX (100Mb/s)
    • AUI
    • BNC
    • 100BASE-FX
    • 10BASE-FL

Configuration Methods

The NIC can be configured using any of the methods listed in the table below.

     

     

    This chapter describes how to configure the NIC using the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows. For instructions on using the other two methods, see the file or section mentioned in the table.
     

    Method

    Description

    Requirement(s)

    3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows

    Configure the NIC locally using the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows:

      1. Make sure that the 3Com NIC diagnostics program is installed. See Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program for instructions.
      2. Open the Windows Start menu.
      3. Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
      4. Click 3Com NIC Doctor.

    Windows 98, Windows 95, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000

    (continued)

    3Com Configuration and Diagnostics program for DOS

    Configure the NIC locally using the 3Com Configuration and Diagnostics program for DOS:

      1. Reboot the PC using a DOS-bootable diskette.
      2. Insert the EtherCD in the PC.
      3. Enter at the DOS prompt:

    d:\3c90xcfg.exe

    See the DOSDIAG.TXT file located in the HELP directory on the EtherCD for more information.

    Customers running Japanese DOS must switch to U.S. mode DOS before running this program.

    DOS, Windows NT 3.51, Windows 3.x, or Windows for Workgroups

    DMI 2.0 or 2.0s

    Configure the NIC remotely using the 3Com DMI Agent software.

    See Installing the 3Com DMI Agent for more information.

    3Com DMI Agent and a DMI-compatible browser or a network management application that supports DMI 2.0 or 2.0s