3Com Etherlink XL PCI 3C900-TPO/COMBO/TPC, 10TP

The 3C900 network interface cards (NICS) connect your PCI-compliant PC to an Ethernet network.

This chapter describes the 3C900 NIC features and PC and server system requirements.

Features

The 3C900 NIC has the following features:

• Dynamic Access features to optimize network performance.

• Interactive Access technology to minimize CPU utilization.

• PACE drivers that enable prioritization of applications such as video.

• Distributed RMON agents (dRMON).

• Parallel Tasking architecture for high throughput and low processor utilization.

• Full-duplex 10 Mbps support.

• Automatic selection of media type.

• 32-bit bus master design.

• Microsoft® Windows® 95 automatically senses the presence of the 3C900 NIC and loads the network driver from the 3Com EtherDisk diskette.

• Windows-based diagnostics program for Windows 95 and Windows NT® that provides a graphical interface to 3Com's diagnostic and configuration tools.

• AutoLink installation software, which automatically installs all Novell® NetWare® DOS ODI client software into your operating system.

• Status LED.

• Single shielded RJ-45 connector (3C900-TPO).

• Single shielded RJ-45 connector, AUI socket, and BNC connector (3C900-COMBO).

• Support for Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP cabling for 10BASE-T Ethernet networks.

• Remote network management support.

Dynamic Access

Dynamic Access is a features set that optimizes network performance. Dynamic Access features include: PACE Interactive Access technology, dRMON support, Efficient Multicast Control, PACE real-time and multimedia application support.

PACE Support

PACE offers the ability to prioritize multimedia and real-time data. You must have the 3C900 NIC and the PACE-compliant application installed. This feature is operational only with a PACE-enabled switch such as the LinkBuilder 1000.

PACE prioritization increases the efficiency of bandwidth utilization and allows data and time-sensitive voice, video or data to share the same physical network infrastructure.

Distributed RMON

The 3C900 NIC collects remote management information on command and sends it to supported network management applications to provide network management in both switched and Fast Ethernet networks.

Automatic Selection of the Media Type

While the 3Com network driver installs, it automatically selects the media type (TP, AUI, or coax) based on the type of cable connected. If you change the cable type, you can either reinstall the driver for it to auto-detect the cable type or change the configuration as described in Chapter 6.

If the driver cannot detect which cable is connected or whether a cable is connected, the Auto Select Media Type function for the 3C900-COMBO uses the on-board transceiver as the default with thin Ethernet cable.

Remote NIC Management

3Com's Transcend PC Link SmartAgent driver agents, which need 6 KB of memory, provide network management of the 3C900 NIC in the PC. Driver agents for this NIC are provided on a 3C900 EtherDisk diskette. You can get the latest driver agents from 3Com's Transcend PC Link SmartAgent, or from 3Com's bulletin board service (BBS).

PC and Server Requirements

Your PC or server must meet the following requirements:

• 80386, 80486, Pentium, Power PC, or Alpha-based PC or server

• Available PCI bus master expansion slot

• 640K of memory (minimum)