User Guide

User Guide
Using the Network Interface Controller: Dell Precision WorkStation 410 Desktop Systems

Using the Network Interface Controller: Dell™ Precision™ WorkStation 410 Desktop Systems

Overview

This chapter describes how to connect your computer system to an Ethernet network using the integrated 3Com Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) 3C905b-TX network interface controller (NIC). The NIC provides all the functions normally provided by a separate network expansion card.

The integrated NIC includes a Wakeup On LAN feature that enables the computer to be started up by a special local area network (LAN) signal from a server management console. Wakeup On LAN capability allows remote computer setup, basic input/output system (BIOS) upgrades, software downloading and installation, file updates, and asset tracking after hours and on weekends when LAN traffic is typically at a minimum. For instructions on using this feature, see "Wakeup On LAN".

NOTES: The Wakeup On LAN feature functions even when the computer is turned off; however, the computer must be plugged into a working electrical outlet at all times and must be shut down in the normal method expected by the operating system. Thus, if you disconnect the system power cable from the electrical outlet, if a power failure occurs, or if you shut down the system abnormally, the Wakeup On LAN feature will not work.

When Wakeup On LAN is enabled in the System Setup program, the green link integrity indicator on the NIC connector (see Figure 5-1) remains on when the computer is turned off.

This chapter also provides instructions for configuring the NIC under the following operating systems:

  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 95

NOTE: The NIC drivers for systems running a Dell-installed Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 operating system are automatically detected and installed. Instructions for reinstalling these NIC drivers are included later in this chapter.

The NIC connector on the computer's back panel (see Figure 5-1) has the following indicators:

  • A yellow activity indicator flashes when the system is transmitting or receiving network data. (A high volume of network traffic may make this indicator appear to be in a steady "on" state.)
  • A green link integrity indicator lights up when there is a good connection between the network and the NIC. When the green indicator is off, the computer is not detecting a physical connection to the network or the power source to the computer has been shut off.
Figure 5-1. NIC Connector and Indicators

Connecting to a Network

To connect your system to and configure it for use on an Ethernet network, you must complete the following steps:

  1. Connect the network cable to the back of your computer.

    See the following subsection, "Network Cable Requirements," for detailed instructions.

  2. Verify that the NIC is enabled in the System Setup program.

    See "NIC" in for instructions.

  3. Configure the NIC and install the network driver.

    See "Configuring the NIC" found later in this chapter for detailed instructions.

  4. Run the Network Interface Test Group in the Dell Diagnostics to verify that the NIC is operating properly.

    See the chapter titled "Running the Dell Diagnostics" in your Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guide for detailed instructions.

Network Cable Requirements

Your computer's NIC connector (an RJ45 connector located on the back panel; see Figure 5-1) is designed for attaching an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet cable. Press one end of the UTP cable into the NIC connector until the cable snaps securely into place.

Connect the other end of the cable to an RJ45 jack wall plate or to an RJ45 port on an Ethernet UTP concentrator or hub, depending on your network configuration. Observe the following cabling restrictions for 10BASE-T and 100BASE-TX networks:

  • For 10-megabit (Mb) operation, use Category 3, 4, or 5 wiring and connectors. For 100-Mb operation, use Category 5 wiring and connectors. Voice and data lines should be in separate sheaths.
  • The maximum cable run length (from a workstation to a concentrator) is 100 meters (m) (328 feet [(ft]).
  • The maximum number of workstations (not counting concentrators) on a network is 1024.
  • The maximum number of daisy-chained concentrators on one network segment is four.

Setting the Network Frame Type

This section describes how to set the network frame type for an Internetwork Packet eXchange/Sequenced Packet eXchange (IPX/SPX)-compatible network protocol,

If your system is connected to a network, follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the Network Neighborhood icon on the Windows desktop, and click Properties in the pop-up menu.
  2. Under the Configuration tab in the Network window, click IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol if it is not already selected.
  3. Click Properties to open the IPX/SPX-compatible Protocol Properties window.
  4. Click the Advanced tab, and then select Frame Type from the Property list.
  5. Select the appropriate frame type (according to your network requirements) from the Value menu, and click OK.
  6. Follow the instructions on your screen to complete the configuration.
    7.

Configuring the NIC

This section provides instructions for configuring the computer's integrated, 10/100-megabits-per-second (Mbps) 3Com NIC under the following operating systems:

  • Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows 95
NOTE: If you reinstall Windows NT 4.0, you must install Service Pack 3 and the bus-mastering EIDE device driver before you can install the NIC drivers.

Windows NT 4.0 NIC Driver

The Windows NT 4.0 operating system automatically detects and installs the NIC driver. To reinstall the driver, complete the following steps:

  1. Use the Program Diskette Maker (located in the Dell Accessories program folder) to make a diskette copy of the NIC drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
  2. Connect the network cable to the back of your computer.

    See "Network Cable Requirements" found earlier in this chapter for detailed instructions.

  3. Verify that the NIC is enabled in the System Setup program.

    See "NIC" for more information.

  4. Start the Windows NT operating system, and log in as user Administrator or as a user with Administrator privileges.

    For information on administrative users and privileges, see your Windows NT documentation.

  5. Double-click My Computer, double-click Control Panel, and then double-click the Network icon.

    NOTE: If you are installing networking on your system for the first time, the Windows NT operating system displays a message asking if you want to install networking. Click Yes, and refer to your Windows NT documentation for instructions.

  6. Click the Adapters tab in the Network Control Panel, and then click Add to access the Select Network Adapter window.
  7. Click Have Disk. Insert the NIC driver diskette 2 into drive A, type a:\, and then click OK.

    The Select OEM Option dialog box appears.

  8. Select 3Com Fast EtherLink/EtherLink XL PCI Busmaster NIC (3C905B) for the 10/100-Mbps NIC, and then click OK.
  9. When prompted, remove the NIC driver diskette 2 from the diskette drive and insert the NIC driver diskette 1.
  10. When the Setup Message confirms that the 3Com dRMON SmartAgent PC Software has been successfully installed, click OK.

    The operating system continues copying the appropriate driver files.

  11. When the operating system has finished copying files from the NIC driver diskette 1, click Close in the Windows Welcome screen. Then click Close in the Network window.
  12. If you are prompted to do so, enter information about your specific network.
    13.

    See your network administrator for information.

  13. Click Yes in the Network Settings Change window to restart your system.
    14.

Windows 95 NIC Driver

The Windows 95 operating system automatically detects and installs the NIC driver. This subsection provides instructions for reinstalling the NIC driver on systems running a Dell-installed Windows 95 Service Release 2.1 operating system. Instructions for reinstalling the NIC driver on systems running a Windows 95 operating system not installed by Dell are also provided.

To determine your operating system version, click the Start button, point to Settings, and click the Control Panel. Double-click the System icon to access the System Properties window, and click the General tab. If your system version is 4.00.950 B, then the operating system is Dell-installed Windows 95 Service Release 2 or later. The system version is 4.00 for Windows 95 operating systems not installed by Dell.

NOTE: If you reinstall Windows 95, you must use either the Windows 95 operating system release version provided by Dell or its equivalent. Because of the advanced architecture of your Dell Precision 410, some components will not function correctly with Windows 95 versions earlier than Service Release 2.0 or 2.1.
Dell-Installed Windows 95 Service Release 2.1

To reinstall the NIC driver in a system running Dell-installed Windows 95 Service Release 2.1, perform the following steps:

  1. Use the Program Diskette Maker (located in the Dell Accessories program folder) to make a diskette copy of the NIC drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
  2. Connect the network cable to the back of your computer.

    See "Network Cable Requirements" found earlier in this chapter for detailed instructions.

  3. Verify that the integrated NIC is enabled and connected to its network.

    See "NIC" for more information.

  4. Start the Windows 95 operating system.
  5. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Then double-click the System icon.
  6. In the System Properties window, click the Device Manager tab.
  7. In the list of system devices, double-click Unknown Devices. Then select PCI Ethernet Controller.
  8. Click Properties to access the PCI Ethernet Controller window.
  9. Select the Driver tab, and then click Update Driver.

    The Update Device Driver Wizard starts.

  10. Insert the NIC driver diskette 2 into drive A, and select Yes (Recommended).
  11. Click Next and then click Finish to access the Insert Disk dialog box.
  12. Click OK to access the Copying Files dialog box. Type a:\, and then click OK.

    The Windows 95 operating system begins to copy files to the system's hard-disk drive.

  13. Follow the instructions in the Update Device Driver window by inserting the NIC driver diskette 2 and continuing the installation procedure.

    As files are copied to the system's hard-disk drive, a pop-up window asks you to provide computer and workgroup names that will identify your computer on the network.

  14. Click OK.
  15. The Network dialog window appears. It contains tabs and text fields in which you must supply identifying information about your computer and network.

    Contact your network administrator for information.

  16. When you have supplied the necessary computer and network identification information, click Close to exit the Network window.
  17. If a pop-up window like the one in Figure 5-2 appears, click the check box beside the message Device can be removed safely and then click the Test button.

    18. Figure 5-2. NIC Pop-up Window
  18. When you are prompted for the location of additional files, specify the c:\windows\options\cabs directory on your hard-disk drive or the \win95 directory on your CD-ROM drive. Then click OK to access the System Properties dialog box.

    The Windows 95 operating system finishes copying all of the files to the system's hard-disk drive.

    NOTE: To make future updates easier, Dell recommends that the contents of the cabs directory is on your hard-disk drive. You can copy the contents of \win95\cabs from the Windows 95 CD to a directory on your hard-disk drive within the Windows directory; for example, c:\windows\options\cabs.

  19. When the System Settings Change dialog box appears, remove the diskette from drive A and click Yes to restart the system.
  20. When the system restarts, the Enter Network Password dialog box appears. Enter the username and password you want to use for network access.

    See your Windows 95 documentation for information about usernames and passwords.
Windows 95 Operating Systems Not Installed by Dell

To reinstall the NIC driver in a system running a Windows 95 operating system not installed by Dell, perform the following steps:

  1. Use the Program Diskette Maker (located in the Dell Accessories program folder) to make a diskette copy of the NIC drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
  2. Connect the network cable to the back of your computer.

    See "Network Cable Requirements" found earlier in this chapter for detailed instructions.

  3. Verify that the integrated NIC is enabled and connected to its network.

    See "NIC" for more information.

  4. Start the Windows 95 operating system.
  5. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click the Control Panel. Then double-click the System icon.
  6. In the System Properties window, click the Device Manager tab.
  7. In the list of system devices, double-click Unknown Devices. Then select PCI Ethernet Controller.
  8. Click Properties to access the PCI Ethernet Controller window.
  9. Select the Driver tab, and then click Change Driver to access the Select Hardware Type dialog box.
  10. Select Network Adapter, and then click OK to access the Select Device window.
  11. Click Have Disk to access the Install From Disk dialog box.
  12. Insert the NIC driver diskette 2 into drive A, and click OK.

    The system reads the files on the diskette and then displays the Select Network Adapters window.

  13. Select 3Com Fast EtherLink XL 10/100Mb Ethernet Adapter, and click OK to access the PCI Ethernet Controller Properties dialog box.
  14. Click OK to access the Network dialog box. Enter your computer name and workgroup/domain. Then click Close.
  15. Click OK in the Insert Disk dialog box.
  16. When prompted for the location of additional files, insert the Windows 95 CD and specify the \win95 directory on your CD-ROM drive. Then click OK to access the System Properties dialog box, and click OK.
  17. Remove the diskette from drive A. Click the Start button, click Shutdown, and then click Restart the Computer.
  18. Click Yes when prompted to restart the system.
    19.
Using the NDIS 2.01 Driver With Windows 95

To install the NDIS 2.01 NIC driver in systems running Dell-installed Windows 95 Service Release 2.1 or a Windows 95 operating system not installed by Dell, perform the following steps:

  1. Install the Windows 95 NIC driver.

    See the appropriate instructions for your Windows 95 operating system found earlier in this chapter.

  2. Start the Windows 95 operating system.
  3. Click the Start button, point to Settings, and click Control Panel. Then double-click the Network icon.
  4. In the Network window, select 3Com Fast EtherLink XL 10/100Mb TX Ethernet Adapter, and then click Properties.
  5. Select Real Mode (16bit) NDIS driver, and click OK to return to the Network window.
  6. Click OK, and then click Yes to restart your system.
    7.
Using 3Com EtherDisk XL Version 3.01 Diskettes

The 3Com EtherDisk XL version 3.01 diskettes provided by Dell are compatible with the 3C905 family of NICs. If you purchased a 3Com 3C905b-TX NIC separately, do not attempt to use the 3Com EtherDisk XL diskettes that came with the NIC. Use only the 3Com EtherDisk XL version 3.01 diskettes that were provided by Dell.

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