User Guide

10/100 PCI Network Interface Cards

3C905CX For Complete PC Management
3C905C For Complete PC Management
3C905B
3C900B

http://www.3com.com/
http://www.3com.com/productreg

Published September 2001

User guide version 5.4.0
3Com Corporation ■ 5400 Bayfront Plaza ■ Santa Clara, California ■ 95052-8145 ■ U.S.A.

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 Contents

1 Learning About the NICs

3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICs 1
3C905B NICs 2
3C905B-TX NICs 3
3C905B-COMBO NIC 3
3C905B-FX NIC 4
3C900B NICs 5
Remote Wake-Up 6
Remote Wake-Up Cable 6
Multiple NIC Installations and Remote Wake-Up 6
Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) Software 6
3Com Connection Assistant 7
Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0s 8
DynamicAccess LAN Agent 8
Remote System Alerts 8

2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

Meeting PC Requirements 9
Obtaining Drivers 9
Installation Overview 9
Installing Multiple NICs 10
Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software 10
Installing From Diskette 10
Running the Preinstallation Program for Windows 95/98 10
Inserting the NIC in the PC 11
Connecting the Remote Wake-Up Cable 12
Connecting the NIC to the Network 14
RJ-45 Port 14
BNC Port 15
AUI Port 16
SC Port 17
ST Port 18

3 Installing the NIC Driver and Software in Windows

Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Me 19
Windows 95 and Windows 98 20
Installing the Driver in Windows 95 20
Installing the Driver in Windows 98 21
Windows NT 4.0 21
 Verifying Successful Installation 22
Windows XP and Windows 2000 22
Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95 22
Windows NT 4.0 23
Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program 23
Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software 24
Using Diskettes 24
Using the EtherCD 24
Installing Multiple NICs 25
Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Me 25
Windows 95 and Windows 98 25
Windows NT 4.0 26

4 Installing the NetWare Server Driver

Installing the Server Driver 27
Obtaining NetWare Loadable Modules 27
NetWare 3.12 27
NetWare 4.x and 5.x 28
Importing the Server Driver 28
Loading the Driver Manually 28
Installing Multiple NICs 29
Verifying the PCI Slot Number 29

5 Configuring the NIC

Default NIC Settings 31
Configuration Methods 32
Changing General NIC Configuration Settings 32
Booting From the Network 33
Using the EtherCD to Boot from the Network 33
Using the Boot ROM on the NIC to Boot from the Network 34
BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs 34
Non-BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs 34
Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting 35
Disabling the 3Com Logo 35

6 Troubleshooting the NIC

Installing and Using the 3Com Connection Assistant 37
System Requirements 37
Installation 37
Accessing 3Com Support Databases 38
Knowledgebase 38
NIC Help System 38
Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions 38
Troubleshooting the NIC Installation 39
Cleaning Up a Failed Installation 39
Other Installation Problems 40
Troubleshooting the Network Connection 41
Troubleshooting Remote Wake-Up 41
 Removing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program 42
Removing the Driver 43
Windows XP and Windows 2000 43
Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95 43
Windows NT 4.0 44

7 Running NIC Diagnostics

Interpreting the NIC LEDs 45
2-LED Configuration 45
3-LED Configuration 46
Viewing the NIC LEDs in the Diagnostics Program 46
Troubleshooting with the LEDs 47
Running the NIC Diagnostics Tests 47
Network Test 47
NIC Test 48
Viewing Network Statistics 48
Using the 3Com Icon in the Windows System Tray 48
Enabling the Icon 48
Displaying Network Statistics 49

A Specifications and Cabling Requirements

3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NIC Specifications 51
3C905B NICs Specifications 52
3C900B NICs Specifications 53
Cabling Requirements 54
Twisted-Pair Cable 54
10BASE-T Operation 55
100BASE-TX Operation 55
RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments 55

B Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

Client PC Requirements 57
Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent 58
Verifying Successful Installation 58
Configuring the DynamicAccess LAN Agent 59
Removing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent 59

C Installing the 3Com DMI Agent

About the 3Com DMI Agent 61
System Requirements 62
Client PC Requirements 62
Network Management Requirements 62
Installing the 3Com DMI Agent 62
D Installing From Diskette

E Technical Support
Online Technical Services 67
World Wide Web Site 67
3Com Knowledgebase Web Services 67
3Com FTP Site 67
Support from Your Network Supplier 68
Support from 3Com 68
Returning Products for Repair 70

Index
 1 Learning About the NICs

This guide describes how to use EtherCD version 5.4 to install, configure, and troubleshoot
the following 3Com® PCI network interface cards (NICs):

NIC Model Number

10/100 PCI For Complete PC Management 3C905CX-TX-M
3C905C-TX-M
10/100 PCI 3C905B
3C905B-TX-M
3C905B-TX-NM
3C905B-COMBO
100 PCI Fiber 3C905B-FX
10 PCI Fiber 3C900B-FL
10 PCI 3C900B-TPO
3C900B-COMBO

NOTE: Unless specifically indicated, information in this user guide refers to all
NIC models.

This guide is intended for those who install and configure Ethernet NICs. Some familiarity
with Ethernet networks and NICs is assumed.

3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICs

The 3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICs connect your PCI-compliant PC to either a
10 Mbps Ethernet network or a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network.
The NICs support a suite of desktop and network management features, including:
■ Remote Wake-Up

■ Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) software

■ 3Com Connection Assistant software

■ DynamicAccess LAN Agent for traffic prioritization and remote monitoring (RMON

and RMON2)
■ Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0s

■ Remote System Alerts

1
 1 Learning About the NICs

MBA Boot ROM

Remote Wake-Up
connector

TX DA
TA
LINK
ACT
10
L
100 N
K

ACT

3C905CX-TX-M 3C905C-TX-M

The following table outlines the features of the 3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICs.

Features Supported 3C905CX-TX-M NIC 3C905C-TX-M NIC

■ RJ-45 connector for 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX ✔ ✔
■ Remote Wake-Up ✔ ✔
■ 3Com Connection Assistant software ✔ ✔
■ DMI 2.0s ✔ ✔
■ Integrated boot ROM with Managed PC ✔ ✔
Boot Agent (MBA) software
■ Traffic prioritization ✔ ✔
■ Remote monitoring (RMON and RMON2) ✔ ✔
■ Efficient multicast control ✔ ✔
■ Remote system alerts ✔ ✔

3C905B NICs
The 3C905B NICs connect your PCI-compliant PC to either a 10 Mbps Ethernet network
or a 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network.
The 3C905B NICs support a suite of desktop and network management features, including:
■ Remote Wake-Up

■ Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) software

■ 3Com Connection Assistant software

■ DynamicAccess LAN Agent for traffic prioritization and remote monitoring (RMON

and RMON2)
■ Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0s

2
 3C905B NICs

3C905B-TX NICs

Boot ROM Boot ROM

socket MBA Boot ROM socket

TX TX

DATA TX DA DATA
TA

ACT ACT ACT

10
L
100 N
Remote 10
L
100 N
Remote 10
L
100 N
K
Wake-Up K
Wake-Up K

connector connector

3C905B-TX 3C905B-TX-M 3C905B-TX-NM

3C905B-COMBO NIC

Boot ROM socket

Remote Wake-Up
connector

3
1 Learning About the NICs

3C905B-FX NIC

Boot ROM socket

Remote Wake-Up
connector
100 LN
K

ACT

100

The following table outlines the features of the 3C905B NICs.

3C905B NIC Model

Features Supported -TX -TX-M -TX-NM COMBO -FX

■ RJ-45 connector for 10BASE-T or ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
100BASE-TX
■ AUI and BNC connectors for ✔
10BASE5 and 10BASE2
■ SC connector for 100BASE-FX ✔
■ Remote Wake-Up ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
■ 3Com Connection Assistant ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
software
■ DMI 2.0s ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Boot ROM socket ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Integrated boot ROM with ✔
Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA)
softwarea
■ Traffic prioritization ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Remote monitoring (RMON and ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
RMON2)
■ Efficient multicast control ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
a. A boot ROM with MBA software can be purchased separately for use with the 3C905B-TX, 3C905B-TX-NM,
3C905B-COMBO, and 3C905B-FX NICs.

4
 3C900B NICs

3C900B NICs
The 3C900B NICs connect your PCI-compliant PC to a 10 Mbps Ethernet network. The
3C900B NICs support the following desktop and network management features:
■ Remote Wake-Up (3C900B-FL only)

■ 3Com Connection Assistant Software

■ DynamicAccess LAN Agent for traffic prioritization and remote monitoring (RMON

and RMON2)
■ Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0s

Boot ROM
socket
Boot ROM
socket
Boot ROM
socket

10
Remote Wake-Up
connector
RX

10 LN
K
ACT

3C900B-COMBO 3C900B-TPO 3C900B-FL

The following table outlines the features of the 3C900B NICs.

3C900B NIC Model

Features Supported COMBO -TPO -FL

■ RJ-45 connector for 10BASE-T (10 Mbps only) ✔ ✔
■ AUI and BNC connectors for 10BASE5 and 10BASE2 ✔
■ ST connector for 100BASE-FL ✔
■ Remote Wake-Up ✔
■ 3Com Connection Assistant Software ✔ ✔ ✔
■ DMI 2.0s ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Boot ROM socketa ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Traffic prioritization ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Remote monitoring (RMON and RMON2) ✔ ✔ ✔
■ Efficient multicast control ✔ ✔ ✔
a. A boot ROM with MBA software can be purchased separately for use with the 3C900B NICs.

5
 1 Learning About the NICs

Remote Wake-Up
Remote Wake-Up is the ability to remotely power-on a PC for after-hours administration.
To use Remote Wake-Up, your NIC must support this feature. (See the tables in the
previous section if you are unsure whether your NIC supports Remote Wake-Up.)
Additionally, your PC or server must have a:
■ Management application that supports Remote Wake-Up.

■ BIOS that supports Remote Wake-Up.

■ PCI 2.2-compliant bus (3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICS only) or a 3-pin

Remote Wake-Up connector on the PC motherboard and a 5-volt standby power

supply unit rated at a minimum of 375 milliamperes.
If you are unsure whether your PC meets the requirements listed above, refer to your PC
documentation or contact your PC manufacturer.
For more information on Remote Wake-Up, including a list of PCs that currently support
this feature, go to:
http://www.3com.com

Remote Wake-Up Cable

A Remote Wake-Up cable is shipped with each NIC that supports this feature.
To order additional Remote Wake-Up cables, contact 3Com:
1-800-527-8677

Multiple NIC Installations and Remote Wake-Up

To use multiple NICs as Remote Wake-Up NICs in the same PC, the PC must have a power
supply that can support multiple Remote Wake-Up devices.
Refer to your PC documentation if you are unsure whether your PC power supply can
accommodate more than one Remote Wake-Up device.

Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) Software

The MBA software allows the PC to boot from the server rather than from its local hard drive.
This preboot support allows you a simple and universal way to use currently available
management applications to remotely:
■ Install and configure a PC that has never been connected to the network.

■ Upgrade software.

■ Configure or reconfigure multiple systems simultaneously.

■ Scan for viruses.

■ Back up hard drives and perform disaster recovery tasks.

MBA includes the Preboot Execution Environment (PXE) protocol, the industry standard for
network booting and a component of the Wired for Management 2.0 specification.
Previously available only on a boot ROM on the NIC, the MBA software is now available on
the EtherCD, where it can be used as a bootable CD. When you boot the PC with the
EtherCD, MBA uses the NIC to do a network boot, allowing the PC to be managed in the
preboot stage.
The bootable EtherCD feature supports most 3Com PCI NICs, LAN CardBus PC cards,
Mini PCI cards, and USB/Ethernet adapters.

6
 3Com Connection Assistant

Using the MBA software on the EtherCD to boot the PC:

■ Eliminates the need to change PC or NIC-specific settings.

■ Allows a user with an older version of MBA or PXE embedded in his or her system

BIOS to get up and running with the latest version of MBA without waiting for a PC
manufacturer's update.
■ Enables a PC with a LAN CardBus PC card that does not contain a boot ROM or with

a BIOS that does not enable the CardBus when the PC is booting to boot from the
network. This includes:
■ PCs with USB but lacking a NIC.

■ The installed base of legacy 3Com 3C509(B) ISA NICs.

For information on configuring the MBA to boot from the network, see “Booting From
the Network” on page 33.

3Com Connection Assistant

The 3Com Connection Assistant is an optional Web-based software component that
allows users access to a variety of interactive technical support services.
These services can help you:
■ Fix NIC installation problems.

■ Fix network connection problems.

■ Download the latest NIC drivers.

■ Access a list of frequently asked questions as well as the 3Com Knowledgebase.

Depending on your network connection, you can obtain self-service support or assisted-
service support via the Web:
■ Self-service support—installed with the 3Com Connection Assistant software. The
self-service support can detect and analyze installed NIC(s), and then run diagnostics
tests that check for NIC functionality and network connectivity. If either test fails,
step-by-step solutions appear, informing users how to correct the problem.
■ Assisted service support—links you directly with 3Com support analysts, where you can
receive answers to your support questions as well as help with diagnosing and fixing
NIC problems. The assisted service support can capture information about your NIC and
your system, and then use that information to automatically correct your NIC problem.
The assisted service support is available only with an active Internet connection.
The 3Com Connection Assistant can be installed after you install the NIC driver. For more
information, see “Installing and Using the 3Com Connection Assistant” on page 37.

NOTE: The 3Com Connection Assistant is supported on U.S. English PCs only.

7
 1 Learning About the NICs

Desktop Management Interface (DMI) 2.0s

DMI 2.0s enables managed PCs and net PCs to report details about themselves and their
peripheral devices across the network to a DMI 2.0s-compliant management application.
A network administrator can then use this information to configure and manage a client
or server PC remotely.
For instructions on installing the 3Com DMI Agent, see “Installing the 3Com DMI Agent”
in Appendix C. For more detailed information on DMI, refer to the 3Com DMI Agent
User Guide located with the 3Com DMI Agent software on the EtherCD. Information is
also available at:
http://www.3com.com

DynamicAccess LAN Agent

The DynamicAccess LAN agent is advanced network software that improves performance,
management, and control of your network.
The DynamicAccess LAN agent enables the following features:
■ RMON SmartAgents—Enables full RMON reporting on all network segments,

including switched networks, without the need to place dedicated RMON probes
throughout the network. RMON SmartAgents are for use with the DynamicAccess
network edge monitor or other remote monitoring applications.
■ Traffic prioritization (IEEE 802.1p/Q)—Ensures that business-critical and delay-sensitive

traffic (such as multimedia applications) has priority over normal data.

■ Fast IP—Eliminates router bottlenecks and improves performance in switched networks.

■ Efficient multicast control—Prevents flooding of switched networks by multicast

applications such as video training, stock quotes, or online news.

The DynamicAccess LAN agent can be installed on a PC running Windows 95, Windows 98, or
Windows NT. See “Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent” in Appendix B for instructions.
For detailed information on the DynamicAccess LAN agent, refer to the DynamicAccess
Technology User Guide located on the EtherCD.

Remote System Alerts

Remote system alerts enable a PC to monitor itself proactively and report detected
problems to a management console on the network.
The 3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NICs can be configured to send two types of
remote system alerts:
■ Heartbeat alert—the NIC continuously transmits a packet to an alert target
management station. If the management station fails to receive the regularly scheduled
packet, an alert can be triggered that signals a possible PC power loss or theft.
■ Workgroup keep-alive alert—the NIC transmits a packet periodically while the PC is in
a sleep state. This packet prevents the PC workstation address from being aged-out of
switch and router tables.
NOTE: Only system administrators should configure these features. Refer to the
ADVCONFG.TXT file located in the HELP directory on the EtherCD for more
information.

8
 2 Installing and
Connecting the NIC

This chapter describes how to install the NIC in your PC and connect it to an Ethernet or Fast
Ethernet network.

Meeting PC Requirements
Your PC or server must meet the following requirements to install the NIC:
■ 80486 or Pentium processor

■ Available bus-mastering PCI slot

■ Minimum of 640 K of memory

Obtaining Drivers
To obtain the latest drivers, or for a list of additional drivers that are not included on the
EtherCD, go to the 3Com Web site and search for 3C905C drivers:
http://www.3com.com

Installation Overview
The NIC installation varies depending on your PC operating system. In some instances, you
must run a preinstallation program before installing the NIC in the PC. Review the
following table that summarizes the NIC installation before installing the NIC in the PC.

Operating System Installation Steps

Windows XP 1 Install the NIC in the PC and connect it to the network.
Windows 2000 2 Start the PC.
Windows Millennium The operating system detects the NIC and installs the driver.
Edition (Me) 3 After Windows starts, insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
4 Update the NIC driver.
5 Reboot the PC.
Windows 98 1 Run the EtherCD preinstallation program before installing the NIC in
Windows 95 the PC.
The preinstallation program prevents conflicts with the NIC and the
operating system. It guides you through the installation and must be
run before you physically install the NIC in the PC.
2 Install the NIC in the PC.
3 Connect the NIC to the network.
4 Install the NIC driver.
5 Reboot the PC.
Windows NT 4.0 1 Install the NIC in the PC.
2 Connect the NIC to the network.
3 Install the NIC driver.
4 Reboot the PC.

9
 2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

Installing Multiple NICs

If you are installing multiple 3Com NICs in a PC or server, follow the instructions in
“Installing Multiple NICs” on page 25.

Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software

If you already have a 3Com NIC installed and want to update the driver and/or NIC software,
follow the instructions in “Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software” on page 24.

Installing From Diskette

If your PC does not have a CD-ROM drive, access a PC that has a CD-ROM drive and
create installation diskettes from the EtherCD. For instructions, see “Installing From
Diskette” in Appendix D.

Running the Preinstallation Program for Windows 95/98

This section applies to Windows 95 and Windows 98 operating systems only.
If you are running Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Me, or Windows NT 4.0, go to
“Inserting the NIC in the PC” on page 11 to begin the installation.
Before you physically install the NIC in a Windows 95 or 98 PC, run the NIC preinstallation
program to properly set up your system environment. The preinstallation program prevents
conflicts between the NIC and your operating system. It guides you through the NIC
installation and must be run before you physically install the NIC in the PC.
To run the NIC preinstallation program:
1 Do not install the NIC in the PC.
2 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows.
3 Quit any open applications and disable the automatic protection feature of any anti-
virus software that may be running.
4 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears. If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear,
enter the following command from the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
5 Click NIC Software.
6 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
7 Click Install NIC Driver.
■ To install the network driver and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program, click

Install with Diagnostic Program.

■ To install the network driver only, click Install without Diagnostic Program.

Files are copied. Do not continue until a message box appears, stating that the
installation is complete.
8 Click OK.
9 Select your operating system to continue the installation.
The Completing NIC Installation screen appears.

10
 Inserting the NIC in the PC

10 Click Done.
11 Exit the EtherCD, shut down Windows, and then turn off the power to the PC.
Do not remove the EtherCD from the CD-ROM drive. The next step is to install the NIC
in the PC. Go to the next section, “Inserting the NIC in the PC.”

Inserting the NIC in the PC

The following instructions apply to installing the NIC in most PCs. If these instructions are
not appropriate for your PC, refer to the documentation that accompanied your PC.
NOTE: If you have a Windows 95 or Windows 98 PC, do not install the NIC in
your PC until you have run the preinstallation program, as described in the
previous section,“Running the Preinstallation Program for Windows 95/98.”
Before handling the NIC, touch the bare metal case of your PC to discharge static
electricity from your body. While you are handling the NIC, wear a wrist strap
grounded to the PC chassis.

To install the NIC in the PC:

1 Remove all jewelry from your hands and wrists. Use only insulated or nonconducting tools.
2 Turn off the power to the PC and unplug the power cord.
3 Remove the cover from the PC.
4 Locate an empty, nonshared bus-mastering PCI slot and remove its slot cover. Save
the screw.
NOTE: Do not install the NIC in a shared PCI slot. Avoid any PCI slot next to an ISA
slot. This slot is often shared and does not support bus mastering.
If you are planning to install the Remote Wake-Up cable, choose an empty PCI slot
that is close to the matching connector on the PC motherboard. The Remote
Wake-Up cable is required only if your NIC supports Remote Wake-Up and you
want to use this feature.
If you do not know how to identify a PCI slot, check your PC documentation or ask
your system administrator.

5 Carefully insert the NIC in the empty PCI slot.

Press firmly to ensure that the NIC is fully seated in the slot.

11
 2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

Remove slot cover

Insert NIC

PCI slots

6 Secure the NIC with the screw you removed earlier.

NOTE: If you want to install the Remote Wake-Up cable, go to the next section,
“Connecting the Remote Wake-Up Cable,” to continue the installation. If you do
not want to connect the cable, continue with step 7.

7 Replace the PC cover and plug in the power cord.

Do not turn on the power to the PC. The next step is to connect the NIC to the
network. Go to “Connecting the NIC to the Network” on page 14.

Connecting the Remote Wake-Up Cable

This section describes how to connect the Remote Wake-Up (RWU) cable from the NIC to
the PC motherboard.
Connecting the Remote Wake-Up cable is optional. Connect this cable only if your NIC
supports Remote Wake-Up and you want to use this feature. The following NICs support
Remote Wake-Up:
■ 3C905CX-TX-M
■ 3C905C-TX-M
■ 3C905B-TX
■ 3C905B-TX-M
■ 3C905B-COMBO
■ 3C905B-FX
■ 3C900B-FL

12
 Connecting the Remote Wake-Up Cable

NOTE: If you have a 3C905CX-TX-M or 3C905C-TX-M NIC and your PC is

compliant with PCI 2.2, Remote Wake-Up is automatically enabled through the
PCI bus. You do not need to connect the Remote Wake-Up cable.

To connect the Remote Wake-Up cable:

WARNING: Make sure that the PC power cord is unplugged. Only properly trained
and authorized personnel should perform service. Consult your PC manufacturer
for information about safe service techniques.

1 Make sure that the NIC is properly installed in a PCI slot.

2 Insert the Remote Wake-Up cable into the Remote Wake-Up connector on the NIC.
Twist the cable twice before attaching the cable to the PC.
3 Attach the other end of the cable to the connector on the PC motherboard.
Refer to your PC documentation if you need help locating the connector.
4 Replace the PC cover and plug in the power cord.
Do not turn on the power to the PC. The next step is to connect the NIC to the
network. Go to the next section, “Connecting the NIC to the Network.”

Remote Wake-Up
connector

13
 2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

Connecting the NIC to the Network

Follow the procedure for the port that matches your NIC and your network environment.

RJ-45 Port
On the 3C905CX-TX-M, 3C905C-TX-M and 3C905B NICs, the RJ-45 port provides a
10 Mbps or 100 Mbps connection automatically, depending on the speed of the
connected hub or switch.
On the 3C900B NIC, the RJ-45 port provides a 10 Mbps connection only.
The following table shows the cable requirements and maximum network cable lengths
for the RJ-45 port.

Network Environment Cable Required Maximum Cable Length

10 Mbps (10BASE-T) Category 3, 4, or 5 unshielded 100 m (328 ft)
twisted-pair
100 Mbps (100BASE-TX) Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair 100 m (328 ft)

ta
TX Da
ACT
10 NL
K
100

To connect the RJ-45 port:

1 Plug the RJ-45 connector on the twisted-pair network cable into the RJ-45 port on the
NIC backplate.
2 Connect the other end of the network cable to an active network port.
The next step is to install the NIC driver. Go to “Installing the NIC Driver and Software
in Windows” on page 19 or “Installing the NetWare Server Driver” on page 27.

14
 Connecting the NIC to the Network

BNC Port
The BNC port provides a 10 Mbps connection only.
The following table shows the cable requirement and maximum network cable length for
the BNC port.

Maximum Network
Port Cable Required Cable Length
BNC 10BASE2 thin Ethernet coaxial 185 m (607 ft)
(10 Mbps only)

To connect the BNC port:

1 Connect the BNC connector on the thin Ethernet cable to the BNC port on the NIC.
2 Connect the other end of the network cable to another PC or to a 50-ohm terminator.

NOTE: If your PC is the last physical device in the network daisy chain, you must
connect a 50-ohm terminator to the other end of the BNC T-connector.

The next step is to install the NIC driver. Go to “Installing the NIC Driver and Software
in Windows” on page 19 or “Installing the NetWare Server Driver” on page 27.

15
2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

AUI Port
The AUI port provides a 10 Mbps connection only.
The following table shows the cable requirement and maximum network cable length for
the AUI port.

Maximum Network
Port Cable Required Cable Length
15-pin AUI 10BASE5 thick Ethernet coaxial 500 m (1,640 ft)
(10 Mbps only)

To connect the AUI port:

1 Locate the 15-pin AUI port on the NIC and move the slide latch down to the open position.
2 Connect the thick Ethernet coaxial cable to the AUI port on the NIC.
This connector attaches in only one way. Orient the AUI connector to match the AUI
port on the NIC.
3 Move the slide latch up to the closed position to lock the AUI connector in place.
4 Connect the other end of the network cable to an external transceiver.
The next step is to install the NIC driver. Go to “Installing the NIC Driver and Software
in Windows” on page 19 or “Installing the NetWare Server Driver” on page 27.

16
 Connecting the NIC to the Network

SC Port
The SC port on the 3C905B-FX NIC provides a 100 Mbps fiber-based connection only.
The following table shows the cable requirements and maximum network cable lengths
for the SC port.

Port Cable Required Maximum Network Cable Length

SC Long-wavelength fiber-optic
(1300 nm):
■ 50 µ/125 µ multimode fiber Full-duplex: 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
Half-duplex: 412 m (1,351 ft)
■ 62.5 µ/125 µ multimode fiber Full-duplex: 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
Half-duplex: 412 m (1,351 ft)

K
100 LN

ACT

100

To connect the SC port:

1 Remove the protective cover from the SC connector on the NIC.
2 Connect the network cable to the SC connector on the NIC.
3 Connect the other end of the cable to an active 100BASE-FX Fast Ethernet network port.
The next step is to install the NIC driver. Go to “Installing the NIC Driver and Software
in Windows” on page 19 or “Installing the NetWare Server Driver” on page 27.

17
2 Installing and Connecting the NIC

ST Port
The ST port on the 3C900B-FL NIC provides a 10 Mbps fiber-based connection only.
The following table shows the cable requirements and maximum network cable lengths
for the ST port.

Port Cable Required Maximum Network Cable Length

ST Short-wavelength fiber-optic
(850 nm):
■ 50 µ/125 µ multimode fiber Full-duplex: 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
Half-duplex: 412 m (1,351 ft)
■ 62.5 µ/125 µ multimode fiber Full-duplex: 2,000 m (6,560 ft)
Half-duplex: 412 m (1,351 ft)

10

RX

K
10 LN

ACT

To connect the ST port:

1 Remove the protective covers from the ST connector on the NIC.
2 Connect the network cable to the ST connector on the NIC.
The cable that you use for the 3C900B-FL NIC consists of two individual cables. You
can insert either cable into the transmit (10) and receive (RX) connectors on the NIC.
3 Connect the other end of the network cable to a 10BASE-FL Ethernet network hub
or switch.
■ Insert the cable that is connected to the transmit (10) connector on the NIC into the

receive (RX) connector on the network hub or switch.

■ Insert the cable that is connected to the receive (RX) connector on the NIC into the

transmit (TX) connector on the network hub or switch.

The next step is to install the NIC driver. Go to “Installing the NIC Driver and Software
in Windows” on page 19 or “Installing the NetWare Server Driver” on page 27.

18
 3 Installing the NIC Driver and
Software in Windows

This chapter explains how to install the NIC driver and software using EtherCD version 5.4
after you have physically installed the NIC in the PC, as described in Chapter 2.
It also explains how to:
■ Install the NIC diagnostics program after you have already installed the driver.

■ Update the driver or NIC diagnostics program.

■ Install multiple NICs.

To obtain the latest shipping version of a driver, go to:

http://www.3com.com/
The driver can be used in both Microsoft and NetWare network environments.
NOTE: For instructions on creating installation diskettes from the EtherCD to install
the driver, see “Installing From Diskette” in Appendix D.

Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Me

After you have physically installed the NIC in the PC and connected it to the network, as
described in Chapter 2, follow the steps below to install the driver and NIC software.
1 Turn on the power to the PC.
Windows detects the NIC and installs the driver. The driver that ships with Windows
needs to be updated to the latest version on the EtherCD.
2 After Windows starts, insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
3 Click NIC Software, NIC Drivers and Diagnostics, and then Update Drivers and
Diagnostics.
4 To install the driver only, click Update NIC Driver. To install the driver and the NIC
diagnostics program, click Update with Diagnostics Program.
The NIC diagnostics program allows you to run tests that verify if the NIC is
functioning correctly in the PC. It also allows you to view and configure NIC settings
such as duplex mode and media type.
You can install other NIC software, such as the 3Com Connection Assistant,
DynamicAccess LAN Agent, or DMI Agent, after the NIC driver is installed. See the
appropriate sections in this guide for more details:
■ Installing and Using the 3Com Connection Assistant on page 37

■ Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent on page 57

■ Installing the 3Com DMI Agent on page 61

5 Follow the prompts on the screen and then exit the EtherCD when the update is complete.
6 Reboot the PC.
The installation is complete. Go to “Verifying Successful Installation” on page 22 to
confirm that the NIC is installed properly.

19
 3 Installing the NIC Driver and Software in Windows

Windows 95 and Windows 98

Before installing the driver, make sure that:
■ You have run the preinstallation program, as described in “Running the Preinstallation

Program for Windows 95/98” on page 10.

■ The NIC is installed in the PC and that it is connected to the network.

■ You have the Windows installation files. These files may be on a CD or diskettes, or they

may have been copied to your hard drive when Windows was installed on your PC.

Installing the Driver in Windows 95

To install the network driver and NIC software:
1 Turn on the power to the PC.
Windows 95 detects the NIC. The Insert Disk dialog box appears, prompting you to
insert the EtherCD.
NOTE: If the New Hardware Found screen appears or the Update Device Driver
Wizard starts, the NIC preinstallation program was not run on the PC. You can
follow the prompts on the screen to install the driver only.

2 Make sure that the EtherCD is inserted in the CD-ROM drive.

3 Click OK.
4 Open the pull-down menu and select:
c:\windows\options\cabs
5 Click OK.
Files are copied.
If this is the first time that networking is being installed on your PC, the Identification
tab of the Network screen appears. Go to step 6.
If networking has already been installed, go to step 7.
6 In the specified fields of the Identification tab screen, enter the following information,
and then click OK:
Computer Name—Identifies the PC on the network for other users. This entry must
be a unique name of 15 characters or fewer, containing no spaces.
Workgroup—Identifies the group (for example, your department name) to which
your PC belongs. If you belong to a peer-to-peer network, this entry must be exactly
the same for all the PCs on your network.
Computer Description—Displays additional details to other users on the network
about this PC. For example, you could specify that the PC has a printer attached.
Filling in this field is optional.
7 Follow the prompts on the screen to continue the installation.
If you are prompted to restart the PC, click Yes. You must restart the PC to complete
the installation.
NOTE: After Windows restarts, double-click the Network icon in the Windows
Control Panel and make sure that the correct configuration settings are selected
for your network environment. Contact your system administrator for assistance.

The installation is complete. Go to “Verifying Successful Installation” on page 22 to

confirm that the NIC is installed properly.

20
 Windows NT 4.0

Installing the Driver in Windows 98

To install the network driver and NIC software:
1 Turn on the power to the PC.
The operating system detects the NIC. The Insert Disk dialog box appears, prompting
you to insert the EtherCD.
NOTE: If the Add New Hardware Wizard starts, the NIC preinstallation program
was not run on the PC. You can follow the prompts on the screen to install the
network driver only. For instructions, see the WIN98.TXT file located in the
HELP directory on the EtherCD.

2 Make sure that the EtherCD is inserted in the CD-ROM drive.

3 Click OK.
4 Open the pull-down menu and select:
c:\windows\options\cabs
5 Click OK.
Files are copied.
NOTE: If you are prompted for the EtherCD, click OK. Make sure that the drive
letter of the CD-ROM drive (for example, d:\) appears in the dialog box, and then
click OK.

You are prompted for the Windows 98 CD.

6 Remove the EtherCD, insert the Windows 98 CD, and then click OK.
Files are copied. You are prompted to restart the PC.
7 Remove the Windows 98 CD, and then click Yes to restart the PC.
NOTE: You must restart the PC to complete the installation. After Windows
restarts, double-click the Network icon in the Windows Control Panel and make
sure that the correct configuration settings are selected for your network
environment. Consult your system administrator for assistance.

The installation is complete. Go to “Verifying Successful Installation” on page 22 to

confirm that the NIC is installed properly.

Windows NT 4.0
After you have physically installed the NIC in the PC and connected it to the network, as
described in Chapter 2, follow the steps below to install the driver and NIC software.
1 Turn on the power to the PC.
2 Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon, and then the
Network icon.
The Network window appears.
3 Click the Adapters tab.
If networking has not been installed on your PC before, Windows NT asks you if you want
to install networking. Click Yes. Refer to the WINNT.TXT file located on the EtherCD or
your Windows NT documentation for instructions.
4 Click Add.
The Select Network Adapter dialog box appears.

21
 3 Installing the NIC Driver and Software in Windows

5 Click Have Disk.

The Insert Disk dialog box appears.
6 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
7 Make sure that the letter name of the CD-ROM drive (for example, d:\) appears in the
entry box, and then click OK.
The Select OEM Option dialog box appears.
8 Make sure that the 3Com EtherLink PCI NIC is selected, and then click OK.
The Adapters tab of the Network screen appears.
9 Click Close.
If the Microsoft TCP/IP Properties screen appears, enter the requested information for
your network environment. Consult your system administrator or refer to the
Windows NT documentation for assistance.
If the Microsoft TCP/IP Properties screen does not appear, the installation is complete.
10 Click Yes to restart the PC.
The network driver installation is complete. Go to the next section, “Verifying
Successful Installation,” to confirm that the NIC is installed properly.

Verifying Successful Installation

Follow the steps for your operating system.

Windows XP and Windows 2000

To verify successful NIC installation:
1 Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
2 Select the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager in the middle panel.
3 Double click Network Adapters and make sure that the name of the 3Com EtherLink
NIC appears.
If a red X or a yellow exclamation point (!) appears by the name of the NIC, the
installation was not successful. See “Troubleshooting the NIC Installation” on page 39
for troubleshooting help.

Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95

To verify successful NIC installation:
1 Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
2 Select the Device Manager tab.
3 Double-click Network adapters and make sure that the name of the 3Com EtherLink
NIC appears.
If a red X or a yellow exclamation point (!) appears by the name of the NIC, the
installation was not successful. See “Troubleshooting the NIC Installation” on page 39
for troubleshooting help.

22
 Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program

Windows NT 4.0
To verify successful NIC installation:
1 Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon, and then the
Network icon.
2 Select the Adapters tab.
3 Make sure that the name of the NIC appears in the list of network adapters.
If the name of the NIC does not appear in the list of network adapters, the installation
was not successful. See “Troubleshooting the NIC Installation” on page 39 for
troubleshooting help.

Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program

If you installed the driver only and at a later time want to install the 3Com NIC Diagnostics
program, you must run the Update NIC Driver program on the EtherCD.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics program allows you to run tests that determine the status of
your network and the NIC. It also allows you to configure the NIC, view network statistics
and LEDs, and access support databases.

NOTE: When you install the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program, the network driver is
automatically updated to the latest version on the EtherCD.

To install the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program:

1 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows.
2 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
3 Click NIC Software.
4 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
5 Click Update NIC Driver.
6 Click Update Drivers and Diagnostic Program.
7 Follow the prompts on the screen, and then exit the EtherCD when the update is complete.
8 Restart Windows.
The installation is complete.
To start the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program:
1 Open the Windows Start menu.
2 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
3 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
For instructions on using the program, see “Running the NIC Diagnostics Tests” on
page 47.

23
 3 Installing the NIC Driver and Software in Windows

Updating the Network Driver and NIC Software

The latest 3Com drivers can be downloaded from:
http://www.3com.com/

Using Diskettes
To update the driver using diskettes that were downloaded from the Web or that were
created using the EtherCD:
1 Open the Windows Device Manager.
2 Locate the 3Com NIC under Network Adapters, and then click Properties.
3 Select the Driver tab.
4 Click Update Driver.
5 Follow the prompts on screen and insert the correct diskette when prompted.

Using the EtherCD

To update the driver and NIC diagnostic software using the EtherCD:
1 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows.
2 Insert the EtherCD in the appropriate drive in the PC.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the drive your are using.
3 Click NIC Software.
4 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
5 Click Update.
To update the network driver only, click Update Drivers and remove Diagnostics
Program.
To update the network driver and NIC diagnostics software, click Update Drivers and
Diagnostics Program.
6 Follow the prompts on the screen.

24
 Installing Multiple NICs

Installing Multiple NICs

This section describes how to install multiple 3Com PCI NICs in a PC.
NOTE: You must use these procedures to install multiple NICs. Failure to follow these
procedures may lead to problems requiring you to reinstall your operating system.

Windows XP, Windows 2000, and Windows Me

To install multiple NICs in a PC running Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows Me,
install and configure each NIC individually, following these steps:
1 Install the first NIC in your PC and connect it to the network, as described in
“Inserting the NIC in the PC” on page 11.
CAUTION: Do not physically install the second NIC in your PC until you complete
the driver installation for the first NIC, following the steps below.

2 Turn on the power to the PC.

Windows detects the NIC and installs the driver. The driver that ships with Windows
needs to be updated to the latest version on the EtherCD.
3 After Windows starts, insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
4 Click NIC Software, NIC Drivers and Diagnostics, and then Update Drivers and
Diagnostics.
5 To install the driver only, click Update NIC Driver. To install the driver and the NIC
diagnostics program, click Update with Diagnostics Program.
6 Follow the prompts on the screen and then exit the EtherCD when the update is complete.
7 Reboot the PC.
8 After the PC restarts, shutdown Windows and turn the power off to the PC. Make
sure that the PC is unplugged.
9 Install the second NIC in your PC and connect it to the network.
10 Plug in the PC power cord, turn on the power to the PC, and then start Windows.
Windows detects the second NIC. The second NIC uses the same network driver as
the first NIC. You are not prompted for the EtherCD.
When Windows starts, the second NIC appears under Network adapters in the
Device Manager.
11 Repeat the process for each additional NIC to be installed.

Windows 95 and Windows 98

To install multiple NICs in a PC running Windows 95 or Windows 98, install and configure
each NIC individually, following these steps:
1 Run the preinstallation program before installing the NICs in the PC, as described in
“Running the Preinstallation Program for Windows 95/98” on page 10.
2 Install the first NIC in your PC and connect it to the network, as described in
“Inserting the NIC in the PC” on page 11.
CAUTION: Do not physically install the second NIC in your PC until you complete
the driver installation for the first NIC, following the steps below.

3 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows.

25
3 Installing the NIC Driver and Software in Windows

4 Insert the EtherCD when prompted, and then click OK.

5 Follow the prompts on the screen to install the network driver.
See the “Installing the Driver in Windows 95” or “Installing the Driver in Windows 98”
section earlier in this chapter for instructions.
6 After the network driver is installed, restart the PC.
7 After the PC restarts, exit Windows and turn the power off to the PC. Make sure that
the PC is unplugged.
8 Install the second NIC in your PC and connect it to the network.
9 Plug in the PC power cord, turn on the power to the PC, and then start Windows.
Windows detects the second NIC. The second NIC uses the same network driver as
the first NIC. You are not prompted for the EtherCD.
When Windows starts, the second NIC appears under Network adapters in the
Device Manager.
10 Repeat the process for each additional NIC to be installed.

Windows NT 4.0
To install multiple NICs in a PC running Windows NT 4.0:
1 Install the NICs in your PC and connect each to the network.
2 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows NT.
3 Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon, and then the
Network icon.
The Network screen appears.
4 Select the Adapters tab.
5 Click Add.
The Select Network Adapter screen appears.
6 Click Have Disk.
7 Insert the EtherCD.
8 Make sure that d:\ appears in the entry box (where d:\ represents the letter name of
the CD-ROM drive), and then click OK.
The Select OEM Option screen appears with the name of one of the NICs selected.
Only one NIC appears on this screen.
9 Click OK.
Files are copied. The Network screen appears with the name of the first installed NIC.
10 Close the Network screen.
If you are prompted for network information, enter the requested information.
11 Restart the PC.
12 After Windows NT starts, repeat steps 3 through 11 for each NIC that is installed in the PC.
NOTE: You will not be prompted for the EtherCD when you install the network
driver for the second NIC.

26
 4 Installing the
NetWare Server Driver

This chapter describes how to install the NetWare 3.x, 4.x, and 5.x server drivers. To obtain
the latest shipping version of a driver, go to:
http://www.3com.com/

Installing the Server Driver

The \NWSERVER directory on the EtherCD contains the network driver file (3C90XC.LAN)
to be used for servers running NetWare 3.x, 4.x or 5.x.
Additional files (NetWare Loadable Modules [NLMs]) that are required for servers running
NetWare are on the EtherCD in the \NWSERVER directory, or they can be obtained from Novell.
NOTE: The 3Com PCI NICs do not support NetWare 3.xx or 4.xx servers that are
not updated to the latest driver pack.

Obtaining NetWare Loadable Modules

You can obtain current NLMs for the NetWare servers listed in the table below from the
Novell World Wide Web site:
http://www.support.novell.com

Netware Server NLM Name

NetWare 3.12 ETHERTSM.NLM
NBI31X.NLM
MSM31X.NLM
NetWare 4.10, 4.11 ETHERTSM.NLM
NBI.NLM
MSM.NLM
NetWare 5.x ETHERTSM.NLM
MSM.NLM

NetWare 3.12
To install the driver in a NetWare 3.12 server:
1 Copy the MSM31X.NLM, ETHERTSM.NLM, and NBI31.NLM files from the EtherCD to
the directory on your hard drive where other NLM files are located.
2 Copy the LAN driver file (3C90XC.LAN) from the EtherCD to the same directory.
3 Add the following two lines to the AUTOEXEC.NCF file:
load C:\NWSERVER\3C90XC.LAN slot=<slot> NAME=<name>
FRAME=<frametype>
bind ipx to <name> net=<number>
4 Save and exit the file, and then reboot the server.

27
4 Installing the NetWare Server Driver

NetWare 4.x and 5.x

There are two ways to install the NetWare 4.x or 5.x driver:
■ Import the driver when installing the NetWare server software.

■ Copy the driver to the server's hard disk, and then load the driver manually.

NOTE: Make sure that you have the latest NetWare Support Pack installed. The
support pack changes the LOADER.EXE file and provides the NBI.NLM, MSM.NLM,
and ETHERTSM.NLM files. 3Com has provided the latest *.NLM files (at time of
testing) on the EtherCD in the \NWSERVER directory. Copy these files to the same
location as the server driver. Under some circumstances, where NBI.NLM
(NBI31x.NLM for 3.x) will be loaded at server startup time, you should also copy
the NBI.NLM file to the server startup directory.

Importing the Server Driver

To import the server driver into a NetWare 4.x or 5.x server:
1 Install the NetWare server software.
2 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM when the NIC selection menu appears.
3 Press the [Insert] key.
This key tells the server installation program that you want to add a driver externally.
4 Press the [F3] key.
This key tells the server installation program that you want to change the path.
5 At the prompt, enter the command:
<drive>:\NWSERVER
For example:
a:\nwserver
The installation program gathers the files and prompts you for a NIC selection.
6 Press the [Enter] key to select the driver displayed and continue the installation.

Loading the Driver Manually

To update an existing server driver manually:
1 Copy all of the files from the \NWSERVER subdirectory on the EtherCD to the server's
hard drive.
2 Boot the server and launch the Install program.
3 Edit the AUTOEXEC.NCF file to add the following line (assuming the server start
directory is C:\NWSERVER, where the LAN drivers and NLM files were copied):
LOAD C:\NWSERVER\3C90XC.LAN SLOT=<slotnumber>
The <slotnumber> variable is the hexadecimal slot number of the PCI NIC. This address
can be obtained by issuing a load command, where the driver identifies the slot
numbers. Pressing the [Esc] key prevents loading of the driver. Because of the Novell
scheme for identifying PCI slots, it is not possible for 3Com to pre-identify the slot
number. See “Verifying the PCI Slot Number” on page 29 for instructions on obtaining
this number.

28
 Installing the Server Driver

Installing Multiple NICs

To support more than one NIC in a NetWare server, change the AUTOEXEC.NCF file to the
following format:
load C:\NWSERVER\3C90XC.LAN slot=<slot1> NAME=<name1>
FRAME=<frametype1>
bind ipx to <name1> net=<net1>
load C:\NWSERVER\3C90XC.LAN slot=<slot2> NAME=<name2>
FRAME=<frametype2>
bind ipx to <name2> net=<net2>
The values <slot1> and <slot2> are the numbers of the PCI slots in which the NICs are
physically installed. To view the numbers of these PCI slots, use the 3Com Configuration
and Diagnostic program for DOS. See “Verifying the PCI Slot Number” on page 29
for instructions.
The values <name1> and <name2> are unique names assigned to each NIC by your
system administrator. The values <name1> and <name 2> must be different.
The frame parameters <frametype1> and <frametype2> can be one of the following:
■ Ethernet_802.2

■ Ethernet_802.3

■ Ethernet_II

■ Ethernet_SNAP

Make sure that the frametype for the server and the workstation is the same. For example,
if the server uses Ethernet_802.2, the workstation must also use Ethernet_802.2.
The values <net1> and <net2> are unique numbers assigned by the system administrator
to each NIC. Make sure that <net1> and <net2> are different numbers.
Refer to the appropriate Novell NetWare manuals for further information.

Verifying the PCI Slot Number

To verify the PCI slot number in which a NIC is installed:
1 Boot the NetWare server with the -na option.
This boot prevents the AUTOEXEC.NCF file from loading. For example, enter:
server -na
2 Issue the load command for the NIC LAN driver without a slot parameter.
For example, enter:
load c:\nwserver\3C90XC.LAN
3 NetWare lists the valid slot number(s) for the NIC, depending on how many NICs are
installed. The values appearing in the list are the slot values that you should use.

29
 5 Configuring the NIC

This chapter describes how to configure the NIC.

NOTE: Before you change the NIC configuration settings, consult 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 ■ Normal
allowing trade-offs between network performance and CPU utilization. ■ Minimized CPU
■ Normal balances CPU utilization and network performance. Utilization
■ Minimized CPU Utilization saves CPU resources for other tasks. ■ Maximized Network
■ Maximized Network Performance is appropriate if no other Performance
applications are making major demands on CPU resources.
Duplex Determines if the NIC transmits data across the network in both ■ Auto Select
directions simultaneously (full-duplex) or in one direction at a time ■ Full-Duplex
(half-duplex).
■ 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 manually set the NIC Media Type setting.
Boot PROM Enables or disables the NIC’s boot ROM (if a boot ROM is installed on ■ Enabled
the NIC). ■ Disabled
Media Type Determines the type of media your network is using. ■ Auto Select
■ Auto Select allows the NIC to automatically select the Media Type ■ 10BASE-T (10Mb/s)
for you. ■ 100BASE-TX (100Mb/s)
■ If you set the NIC Duplex setting to Auto Select, the Media Type is ■ AUI
automatically set to Auto Select.
■ BNC
■ If you set the NIC Duplex setting manually, you must set the Media
Type setting manually. ■ 100BASE-FX
■ 10BASE-FL

31
 5 Configuring the NIC

Configuration Methods
The NIC can be configured using any of the methods listed in the table below.
NOTE: This chapter describes how to configure the NIC using the 3Com NIC
Diagnostics program for Windows. For instructions on using the other methods,
see the file or section mentioned in the table.

Method Description Requirement(s)

3Com NIC Diagnostics Configure the NIC locally using the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program Windows 2000, Windows XP,
program for Windows for Windows: Windows Me,
1 Make sure that the 3Com NIC diagnostics program is installed. Windows 98, Windows 95, or
See “Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program” on page 23 Windows NT 4.0
for instructions.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
Advanced tab in the Windows Configure the NIC locally using the Advanced tab in the Windows Windows XP or
Device Manager Device Manager. Windows 2000
Refer to your Windows documentation for instructions.
3Com Configuration and Configure the NIC locally using the 3Com Configuration and DOS, Windows NT 3.51,
Diagnostics program for DOS Diagnostics program for DOS: Windows 3.x, or Windows for
1 Copy the 3C90xcfg.exe file from the EtherCD to a diskette. Workgroups

2 Reboot the PC using a DOS-bootable diskette.

3 Insert the diskette containing the 3C90xcfg.exe file in the PC.
4 Enter at the DOS prompt:
a:\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.
DMI 2.0s Configure the NIC remotely using the 3Com DMI Agent software. 3Com DMI Agent and a
See Appendix C, “Installing the 3Com DMI Agent,” for more DMI-compatible browser or a
information. network management
application that supports
DMI 2.0s

Changing General NIC Configuration Settings

Before you configure the NIC, make sure that the:
■ NIC is installed in the PC and is connected to the network.

■ Driver is installed.

■ 3Com NIC Diagnostics program is installed.

To change the NIC general configuration settings, such as network driver optimization,
duplex mode, and media type:
1 Open the Windows Start menu.
2 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
3 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.

32
 Booting From the Network

NOTE: Click Help to obtain general information about the function of a screen. To
obtain specific information about any topic on a screen, click the question mark (?)
in the upper right corner of the screen, move it over a topic, and click once.

4 If your PC has more than one NIC installed, open the Network Interface Card (NIC) list
box and select the NIC to be configured.
5 Click the Configuration tab.
The Configuration screen appears.
6 Under Network Parameter, select the setting to be changed.
For a description of each setting, click the question mark (?) in the upper right corner
of the screen, move it over a setting, and click once.
7 Open the Set Value list box and select a new value from the list of available options.
Repeat the process to change any other configuration setting.
To undo changes and return the settings to their previous values, click Undo Changes.
To return the settings to the factory default settings, click Set Factory Defaults.
8 Click OK to save the changes and exit the program.

Booting From the Network

This section explains how to use the Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) to boot from the network.
NOTE: For detailed information on using, configuring, and troubleshooting the
MBA, refer to the Managed PC Boot Agent User Guide, located with the MBA
software on the EtherCD.

The MBA allows the PC to boot from the server rather than from its local hard drive.
Previously available only on a boot ROM on the NIC, the MBA software is now available on
the EtherCD, where it can be used as a bootable CD. When you boot the PC with the
EtherCD, MBA uses the NIC to do a network boot, allowing the PC to be managed in the
preboot stage.

Using the EtherCD to Boot from the Network

These instructions apply to NICs that do not contain a boot ROM.
If the NIC installed in your PC does contain a boot ROM and you want to use the EtherCD
instead of the boot ROM to boot from the network, you must first either disable the boot
ROM on the NIC (see “Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting” on page 35 for
instructions), or place the CD-ROM drive before the boot ROM in the order of boot
devices on the PC. (The order of boot devices can be modified through the PC BIOS setup.
Refer to your PC documentation for instructions.)

NOTE: The default MBA configuration setting on the EtherCD is the PXE boot
method. If you need another boot method, you must create a bootable MBA
floppy disk or CD containing the new boot method. For instructions, see the
“MBA on Disk” section in the Managed PC Boot Agent User Guide located with
the MBA software on the EtherCD.

33
5 Configuring the NIC

To boot from the network using the MBA software on the EtherCD:
1 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
2 Reboot the PC.
The MBA code runs and attempts to boot from the network using the default
protocol PXE.
NOTE: To cancel the network boot, press the [Esc] key anytime during the network
boot process.

Using the Boot ROM on the NIC to Boot from the Network
The boot process for the MBA boot ROM varies depending on the type of PC you have
(BBS BIOS-compatible or non-BBS BIOS-compatible).
If your PC was purchased recently, it may be BBS (BIOS Boot Specification) BIOS-
compatible. The BBS determines how the system BIOS identifies boot devices in a PC (such
as a CD-ROM drive, a hard drive, or a floppy drive), allows the user to select the boot
order of these devices, and then attempts to boot from each device in the specified order.
Refer to your PC documentation if you do not know which type of PC you have.

BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs

To enable a BBS BIOS-compatible PC to boot from the network using the MBA boot ROM:
1 Make sure that the NIC boot ROM setting is Enabled.
See the previous section, “Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting,” for instructions.
2 Set the MBA manually as the first boot device in the PC BIOS.
Refer to your PC documentation for instructions on accessing and configuring the PC BIOS.
3 Reboot the PC.
The MBA attempts to boot from the network using the default boot method PXE.
To change the default method or any other MBA configurations, press the Ctrl+Alt+B
keys when the following message appears:
Initializing MBA. Press Ctrl+Alt+B to configure...
If the network boot fails, the following message appears:
Network boot aborted, press any key to continue
The BIOS continues to the next device in the boot order (for example, the local hard drive).
NOTE: To cancel the network boot, press the [Esc] key anytime during the network boot
process.

Non-BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs

To enable a non-BBS BIOS-compatible PC to boot from the network using the MBA boot ROM:
1 Make sure that the NIC boot ROM setting is Enabled.
See “Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting” below for instructions.
2 Change the MBA default boot setting from Local to Network.
To change the default boot setting or any other MBA configurations, use the
MBACFG utility located on the MBA utility diskette or press the Ctrl+Alt+B keys when
the following message appears:
Initializing MBA. Press Ctrl+Alt+B to configure...

34
 Disabling the 3Com Logo

NOTE: For more information on using, configuring, and troubleshooting the MBA
boot ROM, refer to the Managed PC Boot Agent User Guide, located with
the MBA software on the EtherCD.

Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting

To enable or disable the boot ROM setting on the NIC:
1 Make sure that the NIC is installed and is connected to the network and that the
driver is installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.
5 Click the Configuration tab.
The Configuration screen appears.
6 Under Network Parameter, select Boot PROM.
7 Open the Set Value list box and select Enabled to enable the boot ROM or Disabled to
disable the boot ROM.
8 Click OK to save the setting and exit the program.

Disabling the 3Com Logo

To disable the 3Com logo that appears on the screen when the NIC first connects to
the network:
1 Make sure that the NIC, the network driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program
are installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.
5 On the General screen, make sure that the check box next to Show 3Com Logo on
Startup is not selected.
6 Exit the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program.

35
 6 Troubleshooting the NIC

This chapter explains how to:

■ Install and use the 3Com Connection Assistant.

■ Access 3Com support databases.

■ Troubleshoot NIC installation problems.

■ Troubleshoot NIC and network connection problems.

■ Troubleshoot Remote Wake-Up.

■ Remove the NIC diagnostics software.

■ Remove the network driver.

NOTE: To access a database of technical information that can help you diagnose
and solve NIC installation, configuration, and upgrade problems, go to:
http://knowledgebase.3com.com

Installing and Using the 3Com Connection Assistant

The 3Com Connection Assistant is an optional Web-based software component that
allows users access to a variety of interactive technical support services.
These services can help you:
■ Fix NIC installation problems.

■ Fix network connection problems.

■ Download the latest NIC drivers.

■ Access a list of frequently asked questions as well as the 3Com Knowledgebase.

System Requirements
To install and use the 3Com Connection Assistant requires:
■ Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0.

■ Internet Explorer version 4.0 or later or Netscape Navigator version 4.06 or later.

■ Microsoft Java Virtual Machine (JVM)

Refer to your PC documentation if you are unsure whether your PC is a Microsoft Java
Virtual Machine (JVM).
NOTE: The 3Com Connection Assistant is currently not supported in Windows XP.
Check the 3Com Web site for support updates.

Installation
1 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears. If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear,
enter the following command from the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
2 Click NIC Software.

37
 6 Troubleshooting the NIC

3 Click 3Com Connection Assistant.

4 Click Install 3Com Connection Assistant.
5 Follow the prompts on the screen.
A 3Com Connection Assistant icon appears on your Windows desktop. Double-click
the icon to start the program. For help on using the 3Com Connection Assistant, refer
to the online help included with the software.

Accessing 3Com Support Databases

In addition to the 3Com support databases listed in this section, refer to the README.TXT
and the Help text files located in the HELP directory on the EtherCD for troubleshooting
information.

Knowledgebase
To access a database of technical information that can help you diagnose and solve NIC
installation, configuration and upgrade problems, go to:
http://knowledgebase.3com.com

NIC Help System

To access the 3Com NIC Help system:
1 Make sure that the NIC, its driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program are installed.
See “Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program” on page 23 for instructions.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Select 3Com NIC Doctor Help.
The main Help screen appears.
5 Click Help Topics to display a list of Help topics or click Find to search for a Help topic.

Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions

To access release notes and frequently asked questions about the NIC:
1 Make sure that the NIC, its driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program are installed.
See “Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program” on page 23 for instructions.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.
5 Click the Support tab.
The Support screen appears.

38
 Troubleshooting the NIC Installation

6 Click Support Databases to display customer support databases about the NIC in
three categories:
■ Release notes—Display tips about installing and using the NIC.

■ Frequently asked questions—Display common questions asked by customers

and answered by 3Com support experts.

■ Knowledgebase topics—Display NIC compatibility topics.

Troubleshooting the NIC Installation

If you encounter any of the following problems or error messages, follow the steps in
“Cleaning Up a Failed Installation” below to resolve the problem.
■ A red X or a yellow exclamation point (!) appears by the name of the NIC in the
Windows Device Manager.
■ The Network Neighborhood icon does not appear on the Windows desktop.

■ The NIC does not appear in the Network Configuration or Properties window.

■ Error: “This device is not present, not working properly, or does not have all of the

driver installed. Code 22.”

■ Error: “Windows was unable to locate a driver for this device.”

■ Error: “You have selected a plug and play adapter. Please turn off your machine and

install the adapter. Then turn on your machine and reinstall.”

Cleaning Up a Failed Installation

If the network driver installation failed, follow the steps below to clean up your system
and install the NIC correctly. This procedure:
■ Removes all 3C90x NICs from your system.

■ Removes the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program.

■ Installs the latest network driver only.

You can reinstall the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program after completing this procedure. See
“Installing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program” on page 23 for instructions.
1 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
2 Click NIC Software.
3 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
4 Click Installation Utilities.
5 Click Undo Broken Installation and Uninstall.
6 Click Proceed.
A message appears stating that all of the 3Com NICs will be removed from your system.
7 Click OK.
A message appears stating that the NIC has been removed.
8 Click OK.
9 Exit the EtherCD, and then exit Windows.
10 Reboot the PC.

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6 Troubleshooting the NIC

11 Install the network driver, as described in “Installing the NIC Driver and Software in
Windows” on page 19.
If you are prompted for 3Com files when Windows restarts on Windows 95 and
Windows 98 PCs, open the drop-down box and select the following path:
\options\cabs
To verify successful installation, see “Verifying Successful Installation” on page 22.

Other Installation Problems

3Com has found that some PCI computers require additional configuration steps to install
a PCI NIC. 3Com recommends these steps:
1 Determine whether you have the latest BIOS version for your PC. Consult the PC
manufacturer to make sure that you are using the latest BIOS.
2 Make sure that the BIOS is set up correctly.
In some PCI computers, you may need to enable the PCI slot using the BIOS Setup program.
Enabling the PCI slot is especially common in PCI computers with a Phoenix BIOS.
a After installing the NIC, turn on the PC and enter the Setup program during system
initialization (usually by pressing the [F1], [F2], or [Ctrl]+[Alt]+[S] keys). The correct
key to press is usually shown on the screen.
b Once in the Setup program, find the entry for PCI slots and set these parameters as
shown in the table below. The entry for the PCI slots may be in the main menu, or
sometimes in advanced system configuration.

BIOS System Parameters Setting

PCI Slot Number Slot where the 3Com PCI NIC is installed (1-3)
Master ENABLED
Slave ENABLED
Latency Timer 40
Interrupt Choose any one of several available interrupts that Setup provides.
Edge or Level Level Triggered Interrupt

NOTE: The exact wording of each of the parameters varies from computer to
computer. Save the changes, exit the Setup program, and continue with the
installation.

40
 Troubleshooting the Network Connection

Troubleshooting the Network Connection

If you encounter problems with the NIC or connecting to the network, check the table
below for troubleshooting tips.
CAUTION: Before inserting or removing the NIC from the PC, turn the PC power
off and unplug the power cord.

Tip Description
Check the NIC installation On a Windows 98, 95, or NT 4.0 PC, make sure that you have run the preinstallation program, as
described in "Running the Preinstallation Program for Windows 95/98" on page 10. This program must
be run before installing the NIC in a PC with one of these operating systems.
Make sure that the NIC is installed correctly in a PCI slot. Check for specific hardware problems, such as
broken traces or loose or broken solder connections.
Check the network Inspect all cables and connections. Make sure that the cable complies with length and rating
connection specifications described in "Connecting the NIC to the Network" on page 14.
Check your PC BIOS Make sure that you are running the latest BIOS for your PC. If your BIOS has not been upgraded in the
previous 12 months, consult your PC manufacturer to obtain the current version of your BIOS software.
Run the NIC diagnostic tests Run the NIC and Network Tests, as described in “Running the NIC Diagnostics Tests” on page 47.
If the tests fail, replace the NIC with a known working NIC and run the tests again, using the same
configuration settings as those used on the failed NIC. If the working NIC passes all tests, the original
NIC is probably defective. For information on product repair, see “Technical Support” in Appendix E.
Run the 3Com Connection Install the 3Com Connection Assistant and run the self-service option. This option analyzes your NIC and
Assistant self-service. system, and guides you through troubleshooting steps to help resolve the problem.
Download the latest Download and install the latest NIC driver from:
NIC driver http://www.3com.com
Run the Undo Broken The Undo Broken Installation and Uninstall program is located on the EtherCD. See “Cleaning Up a
Installation and Uninstall Failed Installation” on page 39 for instructions.
program
Check the 3Com support Review the known problems and solutions found in the following areas:
databases ■ 3Com Knowledgebase
■ 3Com NIC Help system
■ Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions
See “Accessing 3Com Support Databases” on page 38 for instructions on using these databases.

Troubleshooting Remote Wake-Up

If your PC does not boot in response to a Remote Wake-Up event, perform these
troubleshooting steps:
1 Make sure that the PC meets the Remote Wake-Up requirements listed in Chapter 1.
2 Make sure that you are using the latest driver for the NIC.
This driver is shipped with the NIC on the EtherCD. It can also be downloaded from:
http://www.3com.com

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 6 Troubleshooting the NIC

3 Check the PC BIOS.

a Boot the PC and enter the BIOS.
If you do not know how to enter the BIOS, refer to the reference manual for your
PC or consult your PC vendor.
b Locate the Wake-Up on LAN event setting.
c Verify that the setting is enabled.
4 Check the Remote Wake-Up cable connection.
NOTE: If you have a 3C905C-TX-M NIC and your PC is compliant with PCI 2.2, the
Remote Wake-Up cable is not required. Remote Wake-Up is automatically enabled
through the PCI bus.

a Turn off the power to the PC and remove the PC cover.

b Make sure that the Remote Wake-Up cable is plugged into the RWU connector on
the NIC and into the appropriate connector on the PC motherboard. Unplug and
reinsert the cable, if necessary.
c Replace the Remote Wake-Up cable with a known functioning Remote Wake-Up
cable and perform the Remote Wake-Up Test again.
5 If the previous steps have failed, install a known functioning Remote Wake-Up NIC in
the PC.
If Remote Wake-Up works with the new NIC installed, consult your PC vendor for a
replacement NIC.
If Remote Wake-Up does not work with the new NIC installed, there may be a
problem with the PC motherboard. Consult your PC manufacturer.

Removing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program

The 3Com NIC Diagnostics Program can be removed using the Add/Remove Programs
Wizard in Windows, or by using the EtherCD. For instructions on using the Add/Remove
Programs Wizard in Windows, refer to your Windows documentation.
To remove the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program using the EtherCD:
1 Start Windows.
2 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
3 Click NIC Software.
4 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
5 Click Installation Utilities.
6 Click Remove Diagnostics.
7 Click Proceed, and then follow the prompts on the screen.

42
 Removing the Driver

Removing the Driver

To remove the 3Com NIC driver from your PC, follow the steps for your operating system.

Windows XP and Windows 2000

To remove the driver:
1 Right-click the My Computer icon, and then click Properties.
2 Select the Hardware tab, and then click Device Manager in the middle panel.
3 Double-click Network Adapters.
4 Right-click on the name of the NIC, and then select Uninstall.
A warning message appears.
5 Click OK to confirm the device removal.
The network driver is removed.
6 Exit the Device Manager and shut down Windows.
If you want to physically remove the NIC from the PC, shut down the system and turn
the power off before removing the NIC.
If you want to reinstall the NIC driver and software, restart the PC.

Windows Me, Windows 98, and Windows 95

To remove the driver:
1 Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon, and then the
System icon.
2 Click the Device Manager tab.
3 Double-click Network adapters.
4 Highlight the name of the NIC.
5 Click Remove.
6 Click OK to confirm the device removal.
You are prompted to restart the PC.
If you are physically removing the NIC from the PC, click No. Do not restart the PC until you
shut down the system, turn the power off, and remove the NIC from the PC.
If you are reinstalling the NIC software, click Yes to restart the PC.

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6 Troubleshooting the NIC

Windows NT 4.0
To remove the driver:
1 Double-click the My Computer icon, then the Control Panel icon, and then the
Network icon.
The Network screen appears.
2 Click the Adapters tab.
3 Highlight the name of the NIC in the Network Adapters box, and then click Remove.
4 Click Yes to confirm the removal.
5 Click Close to close the Network screen.
You are prompted to restart the PC.
If you are physically removing the NIC from the PC, click No. Do not restart the PC
until you shut down the system, turn the power off, and remove the NIC from the PC.
If you are reinstalling the NIC software, click Yes to restart the PC.

44
 7 Running NIC Diagnostics

This chapter explains how to:

■ Interpret the NIC LEDs.

■ Run the NIC diagnostic tests.

■ View network statistics.

■ Use the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray.

Interpreting the NIC LEDs

The NICs have light-emitting diodes (LEDs), as described in the following tables, that can
assist with network diagnostics and troubleshooting.
Some LNK LED states do not apply to the AUI, BNC, SC, and ST connectors that are
present on some NICs, as indicated by N/A in the table.
Depending on your NIC model, the NIC may have two or three LEDs.

2-LED Configuration

Connector

LED State Meaning RJ-45 AUI BNC SC ST

If drivers are installed, the 10Mbps Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A
LNK (link) Green connection is active.
If drivers are installed, the 100Mbps Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A
Amber connection is active.
Something is preventing the Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A
connection between the NIC and the
Off hub or switch.

ACT (activity) Blinking Network traffic is present. Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A

Steady Heavy network traffic is present. Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A

Off No network traffic is present. N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

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7 Running NIC Diagnostics

3-LED Configuration

Connector

LED State Meaning RJ-45 AUI BNC SC ST

If drivers are installed, the 10Mbps Yes N/A N/A N/A Yes
10 LNK (link) On connection is active.
If drivers are not installed, the NIC is Yes Yes Yes N/A Yes
receiving power.
Something is preventing the Yes N/A N/A N/A Yes
connection between the NIC and the
Off hub or switch.
The cable polarity is reversed. Try a Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A
different network cable or contact
Blinking your system administrator.
If drivers are installed, the 100Mbps Yes N/A N/A Yes N/A
100 LNK (link) On connection is active.
If drivers are not installed, the NIC is Yes Yes Yes Yes N/A
receiving power.
Something is preventing the Yes N/A N/A Yes N/A
connection between the NIC and the
Off hub or switch.
The cable polarity is reversed. Try a Yes N/A N/A N/A N/A
different network cable or contact
Blinking your system administrator.

ACT (activity) Blinking Network traffic is present. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Steady Heavy network traffic is present. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Off No network traffic is present. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Viewing the NIC LEDs in the Diagnostics Program

In addition to the LEDs that are on the NIC, you can view LEDs in the 3Com NIC
Diagnostics program.
1 Make sure that the NIC, the driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program are installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, 3Com NIC Utilities, and then 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears and displays the following LEDs:
■ Link—lights if there is a valid connection between the NIC and the network. The

color denotes link speed:

■ Yellow: 10 Mbps

■ Green: 100 Mbps

■ Transmit—lights if the NIC is transmitting information.

■ Receive—lights if the NIC is receiving information.

■ Duplex—indicates if the NIC is transmitting data across the network in half-duplex

mode (half the LED lights), or in full-duplex mode (the entire LED lights).

46
 Running the NIC Diagnostics Tests

Troubleshooting with the LEDs

If a link (LNK) LED indicates a problem, ensure that:
1 Your network hub or switch and the cable connecting to your NIC comply with the
specifications appropriate for your network connection.
2 The hub or switch is powered on.

Running the NIC Diagnostics Tests

The 3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows contains tests that can check the status
of the following items:
■ Network

■ NIC

NOTE: To run NIC diagnostic tests on a PC running DOS, Windows NT 3.51,

Windows 3.x, or Windows for Workgroups, use the 3Com Configuration and
Diagnostics program for DOS. Refer to the DOSDIAG.TXT file located in the
HELP directory on the EtherCD for instructions.

To run the NIC Test or Network Test:

1 Make sure that the NIC, the driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program are installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.
NOTE: Click Help to obtain general information about the function of a screen. To
obtain specific information about any topic on a screen, click the question mark (?)
in the upper right corner of the screen, move it over a topic, and click once.

5 Click the Diagnostics tab.

The Diagnostics screen appears.

Network Test
Run the Network Test to check the NIC connectivity to the network. Do not remove the
network cable while the Network Test is running.
1 Click Run Network Test on the Diagnostics screen.
The Network Connectivity Test screen appears.
2 Click Start.
If the test passes, the NIC connection to the network is functioning correctly.
3 Click Close.
If the test fails, make sure that the:
■ NIC is properly connected to the network cable.

■ Hub or switch to which the NIC is connected is powered on.

■ Cable complies with the proper length and specifications for your network.

47
 7 Running NIC Diagnostics

NIC Test
Run the NIC Test to check the physical components, connectors, and circuitry on the NIC.
1 Click Run NIC Test on the Diagnostics screen.
The NIC Test screen appears.
2 Click Perform NIC Test.
While the test is running, a progress bar indicates test progress. If the test passes, the
NIC is functioning correctly. If the test fails, a message indicates the error type.
Click Help in the error message screen to obtain more information.
3 Click Close.

Viewing Network Statistics

To view statistical information about the network:
1 Make sure that the NIC, the network driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program
are installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.
5 Click the Statistics tab.
The Statistics screen appears.
The information is updated by the NIC driver every 5 seconds.
For a description of each statistic, click the question mark (?) in the upper right corner
of the screen, drag it over a statistic and click once. A pop-up box appears, displaying
information about the statistic.
6 Click OK to exit the diagnostics program. To go to another diagnostics screen, click
the associated tab.

Using the 3Com Icon in the Windows System Tray

The 3Com icon, which can be enabled to appear in the Windows system tray, allows you
to start the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program. It also allows you to view the NIC’s link speed
and number of frames sent and received.

Enabling the Icon

To show the 3Com icon in the Windows system tray:
1 Make sure that the NIC, the network driver, and the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program
are installed.
2 Open the Windows Start menu.
3 Select Programs, and then 3Com NIC Utilities.
4 Click 3Com NIC Doctor.
The 3Com NIC Diagnostics General screen appears.

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 Using the 3Com Icon in the Windows System Tray

5 On the General screen, select the check box next to Show Icon in System Tray.
6 Close the 3Com NIC Diagnostic program.
The NIC icon appears in the Windows system tray.
When you double-click the icon, the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program starts.

Displaying Network Statistics

When you drag the mouse pointer over the icon (but do not double-click the icon) a
network statistics box appears, displaying the following information:
■ Frames Sent and Received—A count of the number of frames (packets) sent and

received through the NIC since the last time statistics were reset.
■ Link Speed—The speed (10 Mbps or 100 Mbps) at which the NIC is connected to

the network.
The information is updated each time you move your mouse pointer over the 3Com icon.

49
 A Specifications and
Cabling Requirements

This appendix lists the specifications, standards conformance, cable requirements, and
connector pin assignments for the EtherLink PCI NICs.

3C905CX-TX-M and 3C905C-TX-M NIC Specifications

Hardware
Bus interface PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2
32-bit bus
PCI master Supports bus master scatter-gather DMAs.
Dimensions 3C905CX-TX-M:
Height: 2.00 in (5.08 cm)
Length: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)
3C905C-TX-M:
Height: 3.00 in (7.62 cm)
Length: 5.85 in (14.86 cm)
Power requirements +5 V ±5% @ 375 mA maximum
+3.3 V ± 5% @ 375 mA maximum
+3.3 V @ 20mA maximum in sleep state with RWU disabled
+3.3 V Aux for RWU supplied over PCI 2.2-compliant PCI bus

Network Interface
10 Mbps Ethernet 10BASE-T Ethernet IEEE 802.3 industry standard for a 10 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local area network
100 Mbps Ethernet Ethernet IEEE 802.3u industry standard for a 100 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local area network
100BASE-TX

Environment
Operating temperature 32˚ to 158˚ F (0˚ to 70˚ C)
Storage temperature –22˚ to 194˚ F (–30˚ to 90˚ C)
Operating humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing
Storage humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing
Altitude –984 ft to 9,840 ft (–300 to 3,000 m)
(continued)

51
 A Specifications and Cabling Requirements

Standards Conformance
■ IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T
■ IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-TX
■ IEEE 802.3x Full Duplex auto-negotiation and flow control
■ NWay 10/100 auto-negotiation
■ IEEE 802.1p/Q
■ IEEE 802.3x
■ RMON-1/RMON-2
■ Microsoft PC99
■ Microsoft PC2001
■ PCI 2.2
■ DMI 2.0s
■ ACPI
■ ASF specification
■ Wired for Management (WfM) 1.1a, 2.0, including: PXE 2.0 and BIS
■ SMBus 2.2
■ Pre-OS boot protocol support (PXE, BootP/DHCP, NCP, RPL)

3C905B NICs Specifications

Hardware
Bus interface PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.1
32-bit bus
PCI master Supports bus master scatter-gather DMAs.
Dimensions -TX, -TX-M, -TX-NM:
Height: 3.57 in (8.57 cm)
Length: 4.75 in (12.07 cm)
-COMBO:
Height: 3.950 in (10.033 cm)
Length: 6.874 in (17.459 cm)
-FX:
Height: 3.75 in (9.53cm)
Length: 4.75 in (12.07cm)
Power requirement +5 V ±5% @ 650 mA maximum
(continued)

52
 3C900B NICs Specifications

Network Interface
10 Mbps Ethernet 10BASE-T Ethernet IEEE 802.3 industry standard for a 10 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local area network
100 Mbps Ethernet 100BASE-TX Ethernet IEEE 802.3u industry standard for a 100 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local area network
100 Mbps Ethernet 100BASE-FX Ethernet IEEE 802.3q industry standard for 100BASE-FX

Environment
Operating temperature 32˚ to 158˚ F (0˚ to 70˚ C)
Storage temperature –22˚ to 194˚ F (–30˚ to 90˚ C)

Operating humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing

Storage humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing

Altitude –984 ft to 9,840 ft (–300 to 3,000 m)

Standards Conformance
■ IEEE 803.3x flow control
■ Microsoft PC98
■ PCI 2.1
■ DMI 2.0s

3C900B NICs Specifications

Hardware
Memory 4 KB internal RAM
Bus interface PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.1
32-bit bus
PCI master Supports bus master scatter-gather DMAs.
Dimensions -TPO:
Height: 3.00 in (7.62 cm)
Length: 4.80 in (12.19 cm)
-COMBO:
Height: 3.95 in (10.03 cm)
Length: 6.82 in (17.32 cm)
-FL:
Height: 9.53cm (3.75 in)
Length: 12.07cm (4.75 in)
Power requirement +5 V ±5% @ 650 mA maximum

Network Interface
10 Mbps Ethernet 10BASE-T Ethernet IEEE 802.3 industry standard for a 10 MBPS baseband CSMA/CD local area network.
(continued)

53
 A Specifications and Cabling Requirements

Environment
Operating temperature 32˚ to 158˚ F (0˚ to 70˚ C)
Storage temperature –22˚ to 194˚ F (–30˚ to 90˚ C)
Operating humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing
Storage humidity 10 to 90% noncondensing
Altitude –984 ft to 9,840 ft (–300 to 3,000 m)

Standards Conformance
■ IEEE 803.3x flow control
■ Microsoft PC98
■ PCI 2.1
■ DMI 2.0 s

Cabling Requirements
The cable, quality, distance, and connectors must comply with the Electronic Industries
Association/Telecommunications Industries Association (EIA/TIA) 568 Commercial Building
Wiring Standard and the Technical Services Bulletin TSB38 standards.

Twisted-Pair Cable
Twisted-pair cable consists of copper wires surrounded by an insulator. Two wires are
twisted together (the twisting prevents interference problems) to form a pair, and the pair
forms a circuit that can transmit data. A cable is a bundle of one or more twisted pairs
surrounded by an insulator.
Unshielded twisted pair (UTP) is the most commonly used type of twisted-pair cable.
Shielded twisted pair (STP) provides protection against crosstalk. Twisted-pair cable is now
commonly used in Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and other network topologies.
The EIA/TIA defines five categories of unshielded twisted-pair cable.

Category Use
1 Traditional telephone cable.
2 Data transmission up to 4 MHz.
3 Voice and data transmission up to 25 MHz. The cable typically has four pairs of wires.
Category 3 is the most common type of installed cable found in older corporate
wiring schemes.
4 Voice and data transmission up to 33 MHz. The cable normally has four pairs of wire.
This grade of UTP is not common.
5 Voice and data transmission up to 125 MHz. The cable normally has four pairs of
copper wire and three twists per foot. Category 5 UTP is the most popular cable used
in new installations today.

54
 RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments

10BASE-T Operation
10BASE-T is the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.3 standard for
Ethernet signaling over unshielded twisted-pair wire at 10 Mbps.
Ethernet, as the most widely used network protocol, uses 10BASE-T as its primary cabling
scheme. Ethernet characteristics include a:
■ Data rate of 10 Mbps.

■ Broadcast architecture.

■ Specific media-access control (MAC) scheme.

The 10BASE-T name indicates a signaling speed of 10 Mbps and twisted-pair wiring. Base
stands for baseband, which denotes a technique for transmitting signals as direct-current
pulses rather than modulating them onto separate carrier frequencies.
A wiring topology using 10BASE-T specifies a wiring hub, cable arranged in a star
configuration, and unshielded twisted-pair cable. Each node has a separate cable run that
must not exceed 100 meters (328 ft) from the node to the hub.

100BASE-TX Operation
100BASE-TX is the IEEE 802.3u standard for Fast Ethernet signaling over Category 5 UTP
or STP wire at 100 Mbps.
Based on an extension to the IEEE 802.3 Ethernet specification, Fast Ethernet
characteristics include a:
■ Data rate of 100 Mbps.

■ Broadcast architecture.

■ Specific media-access control (MAC) scheme.

A wiring topology using 100BASE-TX specifies a wiring hub, cable arranged in a star
configuration, and Category 5 UTP or STP wiring. Each node has a separate cable run that
must not exceed 100 meters (328 ft) from the node to the hub.

RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments

The following illustration shows the RJ-45 connector pin assignments for the EtherLink
PCI NICs.

TX D
ATA

ACT
1 TD+
10
L
100 N
2 TD_
K 3 RD+
4
5
6 RD_
7
8

12345678

55
 B Installing the
DynamicAccess LAN Agent

This chapter explains how to install and configure the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a PC
running Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT.
NOTE: For an overview of the DynamicAccess LAN agent, see “DynamicAccess
LAN Agent” on page 8. For detailed information on using, configuring, and
troubleshooting the DynamicAccess LAN agent, refer to the 3Com DynamicAccess
Technology User Guide on the EtherCD.

Client PC Requirements
The DynamicAccess LAN agent can be installed on a PC running Windows 95, Windows
98, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows NT 3.51.
The DynamicAccess LAN agent is not supported on a PC running Windows 2000,
Windows XP, or Windows Me.
CAUTION: Do not install the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a PC running
Windows 98 SE 1. The installation will result in system failure.

CAUTION: If you plan to install the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a multiprocessor

PC running Windows NT 4.0, Service Pack 4, you must first download and install
the appropriate Microsoft patch available at:
http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q195/7/25.asp?FR=0
Failure to install the patch will result in system failure.

The following table lists the minimum client requirements and recommended
Microsoft Service Packs (if any) for the version of the DynamicAccess LAN agent that is
included on the EtherCD.

Recommended Microsoft
Operating System PC Requirements Service Pack
Windows 95 486/75 MHz CPU Windows 95 OSR2 or Service Pack 1
16 MB RAM (32 MB recommended)
5 MB available hard drive space
Windows 98 486/75 MHz CPU Any Service Pack except
16 MB RAM (32 MB recommended) Windows 98 SE 1
5 MB available hard drive space
Windows NT 4.0 Pentium/100 MHz CPU Latest Service Pack available from
32 MB RAM Microsoft
5 MB available hard drive space
Windows NT 3.51 Pentium/100 MHz CPU Service Pack 5
32 MB RAM
5 MB available hard drive space

57
 B Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

Installing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

To install the DynamicAccess LAN agent:
1 Make sure that the NIC and the network driver are installed on your PC.
See “Verifying Successful Installation” on page 22 to confirm that the NIC is properly
installed in the PC.
2 Start Windows.
3 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
4 Click NIC Software.
5 Click DynamicAccess Technologies.
6 Click DynamicAccess LAN Agent.
7 Click Install DynamicAccess LAN Agent Now.
8 Exit the EtherCD, and then exit Windows.
9 Restart the PC.
NOTE: You must restart the PC to complete the installation.

Verifying Successful Installation

After the DynamicAccess LAN agent is installed, the following changes are visible in the
Windows Network control panel:
■ For each physical NIC installed in the PC, a virtual NIC entry appears in the list of

network adapters.
All protocols are re-bound to the virtual NIC. The bindings to the physical NIC are
still intact.
■ A 3Com DynamicAccess LAN agent entry appears as a protocol.

■ A 3Com DynamicAccess LAN agent icon is installed in the Windows Control Panel.

58
 Configuring the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

Configuring the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

Consult your system administrator about using DynamicAccess technology at your site.
NOTE: The DynamicAccess LAN agent configuration instructions are intended for
network administrators who have experience installing software and using
management tools for an Ethernet network.

The instructions in this section are for configuring the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a
local PC. You can obtain the complete configuration instructions by accessing the 3Com
DynamicAccess Technology User Guide on the EtherCD.
To configure the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a local PC:
1 Double-click the 3Com DynamicAccess icon in the Windows Control Panel.
The Traffic Prioritization tab of the DynamicAccess Setup screen appears.
2 Select the tab containing the information you want to configure.
Traffic Prioritization — Allows you to prioritize applications, which can ease
bottlenecks in your network and allow critical applications to take network
precedence.
Fast IP—Allows you to enable and configure Fast IP.
Administration—Allows you to set DynamicAccess control panel access, set VLAN
options, enable efficient multicast control, and enable the prioritizing of traffic.
NOTE: For specific instructions on configuring any of the DynamicAccess
technology options, click Help on the 3Com DynamicAccess screen or go to:
http://www.3com.com/dynamicaccess

Removing the DynamicAccess LAN Agent

For instructions on removing the DynamicAccess LAN agent from your PC, refer to the
DynamicAccess Software User Guide. This user guide can be accessed on the EtherCD.

59
 C Installing the 3Com DMI Agent

This appendix explains how to install the 3Com Desktop Management Interface (DMI)
Agent on your PC.
The 3Com DMI Agent allows any DMI-compatible browser or network management
application that supports DMI 2.0s to remotely manage and configure advanced features
of the NIC.

NOTE: For detailed information on the 3Com DMI Agent, refer to the 3Com DMI
Agent User Guide included with the 3Com DMI Agent software on the EtherCD.

For more information on DMI, go to:

http://www.3com.com

About the 3Com DMI Agent

The 3Com DMI Agent allows you to obtain basic NIC information, including:
■ Node address

■ MAC address

■ Driver version

Additionally, depending on the features of your NIC, the 3Com DMI Agent allows you to
view and configure advanced NIC features, including:
■ Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA) software

■ Remote Wake-Up events

■ Remote system alerts

Each PC that contains a 3Com NIC and the 3Com DMI Agent generates a Management
Information Format (MIF) file that contains information about the PC and the NIC. DMI
applications use the information from the MIF to manage the PC and the NIC.
The content of the MIF is based on the capabilities of the NIC driver found in the PC. For
example, if a NIC with an MBA boot ROM is found, all groups related to the boot ROM
are included in the MIF for that particular NIC. This ensures that the network management
application does not receive irrelevant information for the NIC.
For a description of each MIF that is supported by the 3Com DMI Agent, refer to the
3Com DMI Agent User Guide included with the 3Com DMI Agent software on
the EtherCD.

61
 C Installing the 3Com DMI Agent

System Requirements
This section lists the client PC and network management requirements for installing and
using the 3Com DMI Agent.

Client PC Requirements
Your PC requires the following items to use the 3Com DMI Agent:
■ DMI Service Provider 2.0s or greater (such as Smart Technologies Service Provider 2.0)

■ NDIS 3, 4, or 5 driver

■ Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows NT, Windows 2000, Windows Me, or

Windows XP using the latest available Service Pack from Microsoft.

Network Management Requirements

Your network management station requires a DMI-compatible browser or a network
management application that supports DMI 2.0s, such as:
■ Hewlett Packard TopTools

■ Tivoli Management Suite

■ Dell OpenManage

■ Compaq Insight Manager Management Station

■ Intel LANDesk Client Manager

Installing the 3Com DMI Agent

This section describes how to install the 3Com DMI Agent. For instructions on how to
install the 3Com DMI Agent on a PC running Windows NT 3.51, refer to the 3Com DMI
User Guide included with the 3Com DMI Agent software on the EtherCD.
NOTE: Before installing the DMI Agent, log on to the PC with an account that has
system administration privileges.

To install the 3Com DMI Agent:

1 Make sure that the PC meets the requirements listed in “Client PC Requirements” above.
2 Make sure that the 3Com NIC is installed in the PC and is connected to the network.
3 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
4 Click NIC Software.
5 Click DynamicAccess Technologies.
6 Click 3Com DMI Agent.

62
 Installing the 3Com DMI Agent

7 Follow the prompts on the screen.

8 Restart the PC when prompted.
To verify successful installation, use a DMI-compatible browser or a network
management application that supports DMI 2.0s to verify that the 3Com NIC is
present. Refer to the 3Com DMI Agent User Guide or contact your system
administrator for instructions.

63
D Installing From Diskette

This appendix describes how to create installation diskettes from the EtherCD.
If your PC does not have a CD-ROM drive, access a PC that has a CD-ROM drive and
create installation diskettes from the EtherCD.
You can also download the EtherCD software and place it on diskettes from the 3Com
World Wide Web site:
http://www.3com.com/
NOTE: The installation diskettes allow you to install only the driver. If you want to
install the NIC diagnostics or desktop management software, you must install
them from the EtherCD.

Before you start, make sure that you have two blank, formatted diskettes. Label the
diskettes EtherDisk 1 and EtherDisk 2.
■ EtherDisk 1 contains:
■ NDIS 3/4/5 drivers

■ NetWare server drivers

■ Windows for Workgroup drivers

■ NIC preinstallation program

■ README.TXT file

■ EtherDisk 2 contains:
■ NDIS 2 driver

■ PACKET driver

■ Help text files

■ DOS utilities

To create installation diskettes from the EtherCD:

1 Turn on the power to the PC and start Windows.
2 Insert the EtherCD in the CD-ROM drive.
The EtherCD Welcome screen appears.
If the EtherCD Welcome screen does not appear, enter the following command from
the Run option of the Windows Start menu:
d:\installs\setup.exe
where d:\ represents the letter name of the CD-ROM drive.
3 Click NIC Software.
4 Click NIC Drivers and Diagnostics.
5 Click Installation Utilities.
6 Click Create Installation Diskettes.
The EtherCD Diskette Creation Utility Welcome screen appears.

65
D Installing From Diskette

7 Click Next.
8 Insert the blank, formatted diskette labeled EtherDisk 1 in the PC, and then click Next.
Files are copied.
9 Remove the disk and insert the disk labeled EtherDisk 2 when prompted, and then
click OK.
Files are copied. The diskette creation is complete.
NOTE: For instructions on using the installation diskettes to install the network
driver, refer to the text file for your operating system in the HELP directory on
the EtherCD.

66
 E Technical Support

3Com provides easy access to technical support information through a variety of services.
This appendix describes these services.
Information contained in this appendix is correct at time of publication. For the most
recent information, 3Com recommends that you access the 3Com Corporation World
Wide Web site.

Online Technical Services

3Com offers worldwide product support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, through the
following online systems:
■ World Wide Web site

■ 3Com Knowledgebase Web Services

■ 3Com FTP site

World Wide Web Site

To access the latest networking information on the 3Com Corporation World Wide Web
site enter this URL into your Internet browser: http://www.3com.com/
This service provides access to online support information, such as technical
documentation and a software library, as well as support options that range from
technical education to maintenance and professional services.

3Com Knowledgebase Web Services

This interactive tool contains technical product information compiled by 3Com expert
technical engineers around the globe. Located on the World Wide Web at http://
knowledgebase.3com.com, this service gives all 3Com customers and partners
complementary, around-the-clock access to technical information on most 3Com products.

3Com FTP Site

Download drivers, patches, software, and MIBs across the Internet from the 3Com public
FTP site. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
To connect to the 3Com FTP site, enter the following information into your FTP client:
■ Hostname: ftp.3com.com

■ Username: anonymous

■ Password: <your Internet e-mail address>

NOTE: You do not need a user name and password with Web browser software
such as Netscape Navigator and Internet Explorer.

67
 E Technical Support

Support from Your Network Supplier

If you require additional assistance, contact your network supplier. Many suppliers are
authorized 3Com service partners who are qualified to provide a variety of services,
including network planning, installation, hardware maintenance, application training, and
support services.
When you contact your network supplier for assistance, have the following information ready:
■ Product model name, part number, and serial number

■ A list of system hardware and software, including revision levels

■ Diagnostic error messages

■ Details about recent configuration changes, if applicable

If you are unable to contact your network supplier, see the following section on how to
contact 3Com.

Support from 3Com

If you are unable to obtain assistance from the 3Com online technical resources or from
your network supplier, 3Com offers technical telephone support services. To find out more
about your support options, call the 3Com technical telephone support phone number at
the location nearest you.
When you contact 3Com for assistance, have the following information ready:
■ Product model name, part number, and serial number

■ A list of system hardware and software, including revision levels

■ Diagnostic error messages

■ Details about recent configuration changes, if applicable

Here is a list of worldwide technical telephone support numbers. These numbers are
correct at the time of publication. Refer to the 3Com Web site for updated information.

Country Telephone Number

Asia, Pacific Rim
Australia 1 800 678 515
Hong Kong 800 933 486
India +61 2 9937 5085 or
000800 6501111
Indonesia 001 800 61 009
Japan 03 5783 1270
Malaysia 1800 801 777
New Zealand 0800 446 398
Pakistan +61 2 9937 5083
Philippines 1235 61 266 2602
P.R. of China 10800 61 00137 or
021 6350 1590 or
00800 0638 3266
Singapore 800 6161 463
S. Korea 82 2 3455 6455
From anywhere in S. Korea: 00798 611 2230
From Seoul: 00798 611 2230
Taiwan, R.O.C. 0080 611 261
Thailand 001 800 611 2000
(continued)

68
 Support from 3Com

Country Telephone Number

Europe, Middle East, and Africa
From anywhere in these regions, call: +44 (0)1442 435529 phone
+44 (0)1442 436722 fax
Europe and South Africa
From the following countries, you may use the toll-free numbers:
Austria 0800 297468
Belgium 0800 71429
Denmark 800 17309
Finland 0800 113153
France 0800 917959
Germany 0800 1821502
Hungary 06800 12813
Ireland 1800 553117
Israel 1800 9453794
Italy 800 8 79489
Luxembourg 0800 3625
Netherlands 0800 0227788
Norway 800 11376
Poland 00800 3111206
Portugal 0800 831416
South Africa 0800 995014
Spain 900 983125
Sweden 020 795482
Switzerland 0800 55 3072
U.K. 0800 966197
Latin America
Brazil 0800 13 3266
Mexico 01 800 849CARE
Puerto Rico 800 666 5065
Central and South America AT&T +800 998 2112
North America 1 800 527 8677

69
 E Technical Support

Returning Products for Repair

Before you send a product directly to 3Com for repair, you must first obtain an
authorization number. Products sent to 3Com without authorization numbers will be
returned to the sender unopened, at the sender’s expense.
To obtain an authorization number, call or fax:

Country Telephone Number Fax Number

Asia, Pacific Rim +65 543 6500 +65 543 6348
Europe, South Africa, and +31 30 6029900 +31 30 6029999
Middle East
Central and South America 525 201 0075 none
Argentina 0810 222 3266 none
Bolivia 511 241 1691
Brazil 0800 133266 or
55 11 5643 2700
Caribbean 525 201 0004
Chile 562 240 6200
Colombia 525 201 0004
Ecuador 525 201 0004
Mexico 525 201 0004
Paraguay 525 201 0004
Peru 511 241 1691
Uruguay 525 201 0004
Venezuela 525 201 0004
From the following countries, you may call the toll-free numbers; select option 2 and
then option 2:
Austria 0800 297468 none
Belgium 0800 71429
Denmark 800 17309
Finland 0800 113153
France 0800 917959
Germany 0800 1821502
Hungary 00800 12813
Ireland 1800553117
Israel 1800 9453794
Italy 1678 79489
Netherlands 0800 0227788
Norway 800 11376
Poland 00800 3111206
Portugal 0800 831416
South Africa 0800 995014
Spain 900 983125
Sweden 020 795482
Switzerland 0800 55 3072
U.K. 0800 966197
U.S.A. and Canada 1 800 527 8677 none

70
 Index

Numerics 3C905B-TX-M NIC B

10 LNK LED 46 features 4 BNC port
picture of 2 picture of 3 connecting to network 15
troubleshooting with 45, 46 specifications 52 specifications 15
100 LNK LED 46 3C905B-TX-NM NIC boot ROM, MBA
picture of 2 features 4 booting from network 34
troubleshooting with 46 picture of 3 default setting 31
100BASE-FX specifications 52 enabling or disabling 35
cable requirements 17 3C905C-TX NIC
link LED 46 features 2
100BASE-TX picture of 2 C
cable requirements 14 specifications 51 cabling
link LED 2 3C905CX NIC fiber-optic 17, 18
operation 55 features 2 Remote Wake-Up 6
picture of 2 requirements 54
100Mbps, link LED 46
specifications 51 specifications
10BASE2
3C90XC.LAN file 27 BNC port 15, 16
cable requirements 15
3Com Configuration and Diagnostics RJ-45 port 14
link LED 46
Program for DOS 32 SC port 17, 18
10BASE5 thick Ethernet coaxial 16
cable requirements 16 3Com Connection Assistant
installing 37 thin Ethernet coaxial 15
link LED 46 troubleshooting 41
10BASE-FL overview 7
starting 38 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) 14
cable requirements 18 carrier sense lost, viewing 48
link LED 5 system requirements 37
3Com DMI Agent cleaning up a failed installation 39
10BASE-T coaxial cable
cable requirements 14 client PC requirements 62
installing 62 thick 16
link LED 2
network management thin 15
operation 55
requirements 62 collisions, viewing 48
10Mbps, link LED 46
overview 61, 65 configuring
3C900B-COMBO NIC
3Com icon, in Windows system tray DynamicAccess LAN agent 59
features 5
removing 48 NIC 32
picture of 5
showing 48 CRC errors, viewing 48
specifications 53
3C900B-FL NIC 3Com Knowledgebase 67
features 5 3Com logo, disabling 35 D
picture of 5 3Com NIC Diagnostics program diagnostics tests, running 47
specifications 53 installing 23
diskettes, creating 65
3C900B-TPO NIC removing 42
starting 32, 48 DOS, 3Com Configuration and
features 5 Diagnostics Program 32
picture of 5 3Com support services, accessing 38
50-ohm terminator 15 driver, removing 43
specifications 53 drivers
3C905B-COMBO NIC NetWare server, installing 27
features 4 A Windows 2000, installing 19
picture of 3 accessing Help 38 Windows 95, installing 20
specifications 52 ACT (activity) LED, troubleshooting Windows 98, installing 21
3C905B-FX NIC with 45 Windows Me, installing 19
features 4 Windows NT 4.0, installing 21
activity on the network, verifying 48,
picture of 4 Windows XP, installing 19
49
specifications 52 Duplex LED, viewing 46
AUI port
3C905B-TX NIC duplex mode
connecting to network 16
features 4 configuring 32
specifications 16
picture of 3 default setting 31
specifications 52 AUTOEXEC.NCF file 29

71
 Index

DynamicAccess LAN agent installing drivers network supplier support 68

administration 59 Windows 2000 19 NIC
client requirements 57 Windows 95 20 diagnostic tests 47
configuring 59 Windows 98 21 driver installation 27
efficient multicast control 8 Windows Me 19 driver, removing 43
Fast IP 8 Windows NT 4.0 21 test, running 48
features 8 Windows XP 19 Novell NetWare server driver,
Help, accessing 59 installing multiple NICs installing 27
installing 58 NetWare server 29
removing 59 Windows 25
traffic prioritization 8 O
verifying installation 58 online Help 38
K online Knowledgebase 38
keep-alive packet, workgroup 8 online technical services 67
E Knowledgebase topics
efficient multicast control accessing through diagnostics
configuring 59 program 39 P
overview 8 accessing through Web site 38 packets, viewing 48, 49
EIA/TIA 568 standards 54 PC requirements 9
EtherCD, using to boot from the PCI slot, identifying 11
network 33
L pin assignments 55
Ethernet cable late collisions, viewing 48 preinstallation program, running 10
fiber-optic 17, 18 LEDs
thick coaxial 16 description 45
thin coaxial 15 picture of 1, 2 R
Ethernet protocol, characteristics of 55 troubleshooting 47 Receive LED, viewing 46
viewing 45, 46 receive overruns, viewing 48
excessive collisions, viewing 48
viewing in Diagnostics program 46 received frames, viewing 49
external transceiver 16
Link LED, viewing 46 red X in Windows Device Manager 39
link speed, viewing 49 release notes, accessing 39
F logo, 3Com, disabling 35 remote monitoring (RMON) 8
Fast Ethernet protocol, characteristics remote system alerts, overview 8
of 55 M Remote Wake-Up
Fast IP cable
Managed PC Boot Agent (MBA)
configuring 59 connecting 12
overview 8 software
obtaining 6
overview 33
fiber-optic cable 17, 18 multiple NIC Installations 6
using on the EtherCD 33
frame alignment errors, viewing 48 troubleshooting 41
using on the NIC boot ROM 34
frames, sent and received, viewing 49 removing DynamicAccess LAN
media type
frequently asked questions 39 agent 59
configuring 32
full-duplex default setting 31 removing NIC driver 43
configuring 31 multiple collisions, viewing 48 removing NIC software 43
viewing 46 requirements
multiple NIC installations
NetWare server 29 3Com Connection Assistant 37
3Com DMI Agent 62
H Windows 25
cabling 54
half-duplex DynamicAccess LAN agent 57
configuring 31 N NIC 9
viewing 46 returning products for repair 70
NetWare
heartbeat alert 8 NLMs 27 RJ-45 port
Help system, accessing 38 server driver 27 connecting to network 14
Netware Loadable Modules (NLMs) 27 connector pin assignments 55
I network specifications 14
icon, 3Com 48 activity, verifying 48, 49 RMON (remote monitoring) 8
installation booting 33
cable, maximum length 15, 16, 17,
3Com Connection Assistant 37
18
S
3Com DMI Agent 62 SC (fiber) port
connecting to the network 14 connecting to 14
connection, testing 47 connecting to network 17
diskettes, creating 65 specifications 17
DynamicAccess LAN agent 58 connection, troubleshooting 41
statistics, viewing 48 sent frames, viewing 49
multiple NICs 29
test, running 47 shielded twisted-pair (STP) cable 54
overview 9
network driver optimization single collisions, viewing 48
preinstallation program, running 10
Remote Wake-Up cable 12 configuring 32
verifying 22 default setting 31
installation steps 9 description 31

72
 Index

software traffic prioritization W

3Com Connection Assistant, configuring 59 Windows 2000
installing 37 overview 8 installing driver 19
3Com DMI Agent, installing 61 transmit deferrals, viewing 48 installing multiple NICs 25
3Com NIC Diagnostics program, Transmit LED, viewing 46 removing NIC software 43
installing 23 transmit underruns, viewing 48 verifying installation 22
DynamicAccess LAN Agent, troubleshooting Windows 95
installing 57 10 LNK LED 46 installing driver 20
NetWare drivers, installing 27 ACT (activity) LED 45 installing multiple NICs 25
updating 24 cable 41 removing NIC software 43
Windows drivers, installing 19 cleaning up a failed installation 39 verifying installation 22
specifications error messages 39 Windows 98
cabling LEDs 47 installing driver 21
BNC port 15, 16 MBA boot ROM 33 installing multiple NICs 25
RJ-45 port 14 network connection 41 removing NIC software 43
SC port 17, 18 NIC installation 39 verifying installation 22
NIC 51 Remote Wake-Up 41 Windows Me
speed, link, viewing 49 twisted-pair cable, description 54 installing driver 19
SQE errors, viewing 48 installing multiple NICs 25
ST (fiber) port verifying installation 22
connecting to network 18 U
uninstalling the NIC 43 Windows NT 4.0
specifications 18 installing driver 21
statistics, network, viewing 48 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable 14,
multiple NIC installations 26
STP wire 54 54
removing NIC software 44
support databases, accessing 38 updating
verifying installation 23
network driver 24
Windows system tray, 3Com icon 48
NIC diagnostic program 24
T Windows XP
technical support installing driver 19
3Com Knowledgebase 67 V installing multiple NICs 25
3Com URL 67 verifying successful installation 22 removing NIC software 43
network suppliers 68 verifying installation 22
product repair 70 workgroup keep-alive packet 8
test World Wide Web (WWW) 67
Network 47
NIC 48 Y
thick Ethernet coaxial cable 16 yellow exclamation point (!) in Windows
thin Ethernet coaxial cable 15 Device Manager 39

73