3Com Server User manual

http://www.3com.com/
Token Ring-in-Fast
Ethernet Server
Network Interface Card
User Guide
Part No. 09-1128-000
Published February 1998

ii
3Com Corporation
■
5400 Bayfront Plaza
■
Santa Clara, California
■
95052-8145
Copyright © 1998, 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. No part of this documentation may be
reproduced in any form or by any means or used to make any derivative work (such as translation,
transformation, or adaptation) without written permission from 3Com Corporation.
3Com Corporation reserves the right to revise this documentation and to make changes in content
from time to time without obligation on the part of 3Com Corporation to provide notification of such
revision or change.
3Com Corporation provides this documentation without warranty, term, or condition of any kind,
either implied or expressed, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and
fitness for a particular purpose. 3Com may make improvements or changes in the product(s) and/or the
program(s) described in this documentation at any time.
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT LEGENDS:
If you are a United States government agency, then this documentation and the software described
herein are provided to you subject to the following:
United States Government Legend: All technical data and computer software is commercial in nature
and developed solely at private expense. Software is delivered as Commercial Computer Software as
defined in DFARS 252.227-7014 (June 1995) or as a commercial item as defined in FAR 2.101(a) and as
such is provided with only such rights as are provided in 3Com’s standard commercial license for the
Software. Technical data is provided with limited rights only as provided in DFAR 252.227-7015 (Nov 1995)
or FAR 52.227-14 (June 1987), whichever is applicable. You agree not to remove or deface any portion of
any legend provided on any licensed program or documentation contained in, or delivered to you in
conjunction with, this User Guide.
If there is any software on removable media described in this documentation, it is furnished under a
license agreement included with the product as a separate document, in the hard copy documentation,
or on the removable media in a directory file named LICENSE.TXT. If you are unable to locate a copy,
please contact 3Com and a copy will be provided to you.
Unless otherwise indicated, 3Com registered trademarks are registered in the United States and may or
may not be registered in other countries.
3Com, EtherLink, Net Age, and Parallel Tasking are registered trademarks of 3Com Corporation.
3ComFacts is a service mark of 3Com Corporation.
CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe, Inc. Pentium is a registered trademark of
Intel Corporation. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. Novell and NetWare are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc.
Other brand and product names may be registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective
holders.

iii
C
ONTENTS
A BOUT T HIS G UIDE
Conventions 1
Related Documentation 2
1 I NTRODUCTION
2 H ARDWARE I NSTALLATION
Safety Precautions 2-1
Installation Requirements 2-2
Installation Instructions 2-2
Before You Install Software 2-5
3 S OFTWARE I NSTALLATION
Obtaining the Latest Drivers 3-1
Installing the NetWare Server Driver 3-1
NetWare 3.12 3-2
NetWare 4.1x 3-2
Installing the Windows NT Driver 3-3
Windows NT 3.51 3-3
Windows NT 4.0 3-4
4 T ROUBLESHOOTING
LEDs 4-1
DOS Diagnostic Tests 4-2
About the Configuration and Diagnostic Program 4-2
Running Group 1 Tests 4-3
Running the Group 3 Test 4-4
Changing the Test Setup 4-5
Getting Help If a Test Fails 4-5
Further Testing 4-6
C
ONTENTS

iv
5 C ONFIGURATION
Changing Configuration Settings 5-2
Changing the Windows NT Registry 5-3
A S PECIFICATIONS
NIC Specifications A-1
RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments A-2
B T ECHNICAL S UPPORT
Online Technical Services B-1
World Wide Web Site B-1
3Com Bulletin Board Service B-1
Access by Analog Modem B-2
Access by Digital Modem B-2
3ComFacts Automated Fax Service B-2
3ComForum on CompuServe Online Service B-3
Support from Your Network Supplier B-3
Support from 3Com B-4
Returning Products for Repair B-6
I NDEX
3C OM C ORPORATION L IMITED W ARRANTY
FCC C LASS B S TATEMENT
FCC D ECLARATION OF C ONFORMITY
3C OM E ND U SER S OFTWARE L ICENSE A GREEMENT

v
F
IGURES
1-1 Basic TR-in-FE System 1-1
1-2 Larger-Scale TR-in-FE System 1-2
2-1 Inserting the NIC in a PCI Slot 2-3
2-2 Connecting the Cable 2-4
2-3 NIC LEDs at Power Up 2-5
A-1 3C395 NIC RJ-45 Connector Pin Assignments A-2

vi
T
ABLES
1 Notice Icons 1
2 Text Conventions 2
2-1 Installation Requirements 2-2
4-1 3C395 NIC LED Descriptions 4-1
4-2 DOS Diagnostic Tests 4-2
4-3 Using the Configuration and Diagnostic Program 4-3
4-4 Troubleshooting Tips 4-6
5-1 Configuration Settings 5-1
5-2 Using the Configuration and Diagnostic Program 5-2

Lifetime Limited
Warranty
3Com’s EtherLink
®
, Fast EtherLink, TokenLink
®
,
TokenLink Velocity
®
, ATMLink
™
PCI, FDDILink
™
,
and Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Server network
interface cards have a Lifetime Limited Warranty.
For further details, please see 3Com’s Limited
Warranty statement in this guide.
To ensure the very best 3Com service and support,
take the time to complete the product registration
card.

Customers in the countries or regions shown below should send the
completed registration card to the appropriate address. Customers in
other non-U.S. locations should send the registration card to the U.S.
address on the front of the card.
■ Asia
3Com Asia Ltd., Marketing Department
Room 2506-07, 25/F.
Citibank Tower
Citibank Plaza, Central
Hong Kong
■ Australia, New Zealand
3Com Australia, Marketing Department
99 Walker Street
Level 7
North Sydney
New South Wales 2060
Australia
■ Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg
3Com Benelux B.V.,
Marketing Department
Nevelgaarde 8-9
3436 ZZ
Nieuwegein
Netherlands
■ France, Israel
3Com France, Marketing Department
Immeuble McKinley
BP 965
1, Avenue de l’Atlantique
91976 Les Ulis Courtaboeuf Cedex
France
■ Germany, Austria, Switzerland
3Com GmbH, Marketing Department
Gustav-Heinemann-Ring 123
D-81739 Muenchen
Munich
West Germany
■ Italy, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Malta
3Com Mediterraneo Srl,
Marketing Department
Via Michelangelo Buonarroti, 1
20093 Cologno Monzese MI
Italy
■ Japan
3Com Japan, Marketing Department
Shinjuku Sumitomo Building 23F
2-6-1 Nishi Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku
Tokyo 163-02
Japan
■ Sweden, Finland, Norway,
Denmark
3Com Nordic, Marketing Department
Torshamsgatan 39
Box 1110
164 22 KISTA
Sweden
■ United Kingdom, Eire
3Com UK Ltd., Marketing Department
Pacific House
Third Avenue
Globe Park Marlow-on-Thames
Buckinghamshire, SL7 1YL
England

A
BOUT
T
HIS
G
UIDE
This guide contains installation procedures and technical
information about the 3Com
®
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet
Server network interface card (3C395 NIC).
This guide is for those who install the card as part of a
3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE) network
configuration.
It is assumed that users are familiar with NICs and with
Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, and token ring network
operations.
If the information in the release notes shipped with the
product differs from the information in this guide, follow
the information in the release notes.
Conventions
Table 1 and Table 2 list conventions that are used
throughout this guide.
Table 1 Notice Icons
Icon Notice Type Description
Information note Important features or instructions
Caution Information to alert you to potential damage to a
program, system, or device
Warning Information to alert you to potential personal injury

2 A BOUT T HIS G UIDE
Related Documentation
The following document contains information about
installing and using a TR-in-FE network configuration:
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet
Module (part number 99045)
Table 2 Text Conventions
Convention Description
Screen displays This typeface represents information as it appears on
the screen.
The words “enter”
and “type” When you see the word “enter” in this guide, you must type something, and then press the Return or Enter key.
Do not press the Return or Enter key when an
instruction simply says “type.”
Keyboard key names If you must press two or more keys simultaneously, the
key names are linked with a plus sign (+). For example:
Press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
Menu commands
and
buttons
Menu commands or button names appear in italics.
Example:
From the
Help menu, select Contents .
Words in italicized
type Italics emphasize a point or denote new terms at the place where they are defined in the text.
Words in bold-face
type Bold text denotes key features.

1
I
NTRODUCTION
The 3ComToken Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Server network
interface card (3C395 NIC) allows a Fast Ethernet server to
receive encapsulated token ring packets. The 3C395 NIC is
part of a 3Com Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet (TR-in-FE)
system that allows both Ethernet and token ring clients to
share Fast Ethernet servers without the use of bridging,
routing, or proprietary code.
A basic TR-in-FE system, shown in Figure 1-1, gives token
ring clients access to a 100 Mbps server. Such a system
requires these components:
■Fast Ethernet switch (SuperStackII Switch 3000)
■TR-in-FE server (a Fast Ethernet server with a 3C395 NIC)
■3Com SuperStackII Switch 2000 TR with a 3Com
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR Token Ring-in-Fast
Ethernet Module (TR-in-FE module)
Figure 1-1 Basic TR-in-FE System
In a basic system, token ring clients connect to a
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR equipped with a TR-in-FE
module. The TR-in-FE module encapsulates token ring
packets within Fast Ethernet frames and allows
interconnection to a Fast Ethernet switch connected to the
TR-in-FE server. The 3C395 NIC allows the TR-in-FE server to
receive the encapsulated token ring packets, thus providing
access to the 100 Mbps server for token ring clients.
100 Mbps
TR-in-FE server
with 3C395 NIC
SuperStack II Switch 3000
®
SUPER
STACK
SuperStackII
LS2000
100BASE-TX
DOWNLINK
100BASE-TX
®
LinkSwitch
3000
SUPER
STACK
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
with TR-in-FE module
16/4 Mbps
token ring clients

1-2 CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
A larger-scale TR-in-FE configuration appears in Figure 1-2.
Such a system allows both token ring and Ethernet devices
to share the same Fast Ethernet physical wiring infrastructure
and server base. Servers that are to be used for both token
ring and Fast Ethernet clients must be equipped with both
3C395 and Fast Ethernet NICs.
Figure 1-2 Larger-Scale TR-in-FE System
The 3C395 NIC is based on 3Com Fast Ethernet
technology. The NIC has the following features:
■Parallel Tasking architecture for high throughput and
low processor utilization
■Support for full-duplex operation
■Support for PCI 2.0 or higher specifications
■32-bit bus master design
■Status LEDs
■Single shielded RJ-45 connector
■Support for Category 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP)
cabling for 100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet networks
1x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x 11x 12x
100BASE-T4 STATUSUNIT
12345678910 11 12 13
PARTITION
LINK
ACTIVITY
OVERTEMP
COLLISIONPWR
SuperStackII
Hub100 T4
SUPER
STACK
®
1x 2x 3x 4x 5x 6x 7x 8x 9x 10x 11x 12x
100BASE-T4 STATUS UNIT
12345678910 11 12 13
PARTITION
LINK
ACTIVITY
OVERTEMP
COLLISION PWR
SuperStackII
Hub100 T4
SUPER
STACK
®
®
SUPER
STACK
SuperStackII
LS2000
100BASE-TX
DOWNLINK
100BASE-TX
®
LinkSwitch
3000
SUPER
STACK
SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
with TR-in-FE module
SuperStack II Hub 100
SuperStack II Switch 3000
SuperStack II Hub TR
16/4 Mbps
token ring clients
Ethernet
clients
Token ring
servers
Servers with both
3C395 and Fast Ethernet NICs

2HARDWARE INSTALLATION
The 3C395 NIC is only part of an entire TR-in-FE system.
This guide only describes how to install the NIC in a
Fast Ethernet server. For details on installing and setting up
the TR-in-FE module, see the documentation for the
TR-in-FE module: SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR
Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Module (part number 99045).
Safety Precautions
Observe the following safety precautions.
WARNING: Personal computers operate with voltages that
can be lethal. Before removing the cover, turn off the
computer and unplug it. Disconnect all cables that are
connected to the main system unit. Remove jewelry from
your hands and wrists. Use insulated or nonconductive tools.
CAUTION: The NIC is packed in an antistatic container to
protect it during shipment. To avoid damaging the NIC or
the PC, reduce static electricity on your body by wearing an
electrostatic discharge wrist strap attached to the chassis or
by touching an unpainted metal part of the chassis before
handling the NIC.
CAUTION: Install the 3C395 NIC in a PCI slot that conforms
to PCI 2.0 or higher specifications. Do not attempt to install
the NIC in an ISA or EISA slot. Doing so may damage the NIC
and the computer.

2-2 CHAPTER 2: HARDWARE INSTALLATION
Installation Requirements
Before you install the 3C395 NIC, the TR-in-FE module
must be installed in the SuperStack II Switch 2000 TR and
set up as described in the TR-in-FE documentation. Other
installation requirements are summarized in Table 2-1.
Installation Instructions
Be sure that the TR-in-FE module is installed and set up as
described in the TR-in-FE documentation. Then follow
these steps to install the 3C395 NIC:
1 Unpack and inspect the NIC.
Observe static electricity precautions. Verify that you have
the following items:
■3C395 NIC
■3Com software diskette
■Token Ring-in-Fast Ethernet Network Interface Card
User Guide
Table 2-1 Installation Requirements
Processor 80486 or Pentium.
Server RAM At least 640 KB.
PCI slot One slot that conforms to PCI 32-bit
specifications, revision 2.0 or higher.
Disk drive High-density 3.5-inch floppy diskette.
Cable UTP Category 5.
Connector RJ-45.
Software One 3Com software diskette containing
TR-in-FE drivers.
Operating system ■Novell NetWare version 3.12 with
LANDR9.EXE and 312PTA.EXE upgrade
patches for ODI 3.3.
■Novell NetWare version 4.1x.
■Microsoft Windows NT version 3.5.1.
■Microsoft Windows NT version 4.0.
Server BIOS Latest version. Contact the PC manufacturer
to verify.

Installation Instructions 2-3
If you find a problem, contact the network supplier and the
carrier that delivered the package. If you need to return a
NIC to 3Com, pack it in the original (or equivalent) packing
material to maintain the warranty.
Complete the Product Registration Card and return it to
3Com. Or call 1-800-NET-3Com for immediate registration.
2 Remove the computer cover.
If necessary, refer to the PC manufacturer’s documentation
for details on removing the computer cover.
3 Insert the 3C395 NIC in a PCI slot.
The PCI slot must conform to PCI Local Bus Specification,
revision 2.0 or higher.
Select an available PCI slot and remove the expansion cover
plate. (Keep the screw.) Insert the NIC securely in the
PCI slot (not in an ISA or EISA slot). Replace the screw.
See Figure 2-1.
If necessary, refer to the PC manufacturer’s documentation
for details on installing expansion boards.
Figure 2-1 Inserting the NIC in a PCI Slot
PCI slot ISA/EISA slot

2-4 CHAPTER 2: HARDWARE INSTALLATION
4 Connect a Category 5 UTP network cable with an
RJ-45 connector between the NIC and a Fast Ethernet
hub or switch. See Figure 2-2.
For optimal performance, use a Fast Ethernet switch that
supports frame sizes larger than 1500 bytes, such as the
3Com SuperStack II Switch 3000.
CAUTION: Connect the cable only to the 3C395 NIC you
just installed. Connecting the cable to other NICs could
seriously damage the NIC and the network. Do not
daisy-chain NICs or connect them back to back.
Figure 2-2 Connecting the Cable
5 Turn on the PC and check the NIC LEDs.
When the PC is turned on, the PC BIOS automatically
configures the NIC’s base I/O address (port address) and
interrupt request (IRQ) line. You can only change these
settings in the PC BIOS. However, you can set other
parameters or run diagnostics with the Configuration and
Diagnostic Program, which is provided on the 3Com diskette.
Check that the 100 LNK LED on the NIC is green, which
indicates that the NIC is functioning properly. See Figure 2-3.
The NIC must be connected to the network before you can
install drivers or run diagnostics.
RJ-45 port
RJ-45
connector
TX
TX
ACT
10
100
L
N
K

Before You Install Software 2-5
Figure 2-3 NIC LEDs at Power Up
Before You Install Software
Before you install a software driver, you may want to run
the Configuration and Diagnostic Program, as described in
Chapter 4.
See the instructions in Chapter 3 to install the driver from
the 3Com diskette. For information on LED states after the
software is installed, see Table 4-1 in Chapter 4.
Be sure that the NIC hardware and software are installed
correctly before replacing the computer cover.
TX
TX
ACT
10
100
L
N
K
ACT: Off until the network driver is installed;
after driver installation, yellow indicates port traffic
10 LNK:
100 LNK:Green indicates 10 Mbps link integrity Green indicates 100 Mbps link integrity
ACT
10 LNK
100 LNK

3SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
This chapter describes how to install 3C395 NIC software
drivers. The following drivers are supported:
■NetWare Server 3.12 or 4.1x
■Windows NT 3.51 or 4.0
The NIC must be connected to the network before you can
install drivers.
Obtaining the Latest Drivers
You can obtain the latest drivers from 3Com’s World Wide
Web site. To access the site, set your Internet browser to
the 3Com URL:
http://www.3com.com/
You can also obtain the latest drivers on the 3Com bulletin
board (3ComBBS). For information on how to access
3ComBBS, see Appendix B.
Installing the NetWare Server Driver
If you already have a network connection on your PC,
ask your network administrator how to proceed with the
installation. For existing network connections, some of the
following instructions may not apply or may produce
different results.
Drivers and NetWare Loadable Modules (NLMs) for
NetWare versions 3.12 and 4.1x are located in these
directories on the 3Com diskette:
■NetWare 3.12: \NWSERVER\3.12
■NetWare 4.1x: \NWSERVER\4.1x
Use the most recent NLMs available. Compare the versions
that accompanied your NetWare software with the NLM
files on the 3Com diskette, and use the latest versions.
For the latest NLMs, contact Novell.

3-2 CHAPTER 3: SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
You should know how to use the Novell installation
program and have the network information, such as
protocols, required for installation. If you need help with
network information, see your system administrator.
The NetWare server software must be already installed but
not yet running.
NetWare 3.12
Install the LANDR9.EXE and 312PTA.EXE patches from
Novell. These patches upgrade the server to ODI 3.3
specifications. Then follow these steps to install the driver:
1 Insert the 3Com diskette in the drive and copy all of
the files from the \NWSERVER\3.12 directory on the
diskette to the server hard disk.
2 At the DOS prompt, enter this command to start the
server software:
server
3 At the console prompt, enter:
load install
4 Select the option to edit the AUTOEXEC.NCF file.
Add lines to the file to load the driver and bind a protocol.
For example, if C:\SERVER is the directory where you copied
files in step 1and the protocol is IPX, add these lines:
load c:\server\tif.lan
bind ipx tif net = number
where number is the unique IPX internal network number
assigned to the network.
5 Save the AUTOEXEC.NCF file.
6 Exit to DOS and restart the server.
NetWare 4.1x
Follow these steps to install the driver:
1 At the DOS prompt, enter this command to start the
server software:
server
2 At the console prompt, enter:
load install