D-Link DFE-650TXD User manual

DFE-650TXD
10/100 Ethernet PC Card
User's Manual

Table of Contents for the DFE-650TX/TXD
10/100 Ethernet PC Card
Introduction i
Contents of Package iii
About Fast Ethernet 1
About Autonegotiation 2
Troubleshooting 4
Networking Basics 15
Technical Support 42
D-Link Locations Worldwide 43
Specifications 44
Warranty 47
Registration 52

i
INTRODUCTION
The D-Link DFE-650TXD 10/100Mbps PC Card adapter is an
ideal way to connect your laptop computer to your LAN (Local Area
Network.) After completing the steps in the Quick Install Guide, you
will have the ability to share information and resources - such as
files and printers - and take full advantage of a connected environ
-
ment for work and play!
The DFE-650TXD comes with drivers for the most popular oper
-
ating systems and can be integrated into a large network. You can
connect your laptop to a network when running Windows 98,
Windows ME, NT 4.0 or 2000.
The D-Link DFE-650TXD 10/100 Ethernet PC Card for notebook
PCs is a credit-card sized Ethernet / Fast-Ethernet adapter for con
-
necting a notebook PC to an IEEE 802.3 or 802.3u Ethernet net
-
work. The notebook PC must be equipped with PCMCIA (16 bit)
extension bus and Type II PC Card slot(s) compliant.
NOTE: The terms "PC Card" is used throughout this manual to refer to those
objects as defined in the PCMCIA / PC Card standards published by Personal
Computer Memory Card Industry Association (PCMCIA). The term "slot" as used
in this manual is synonymous with "socket" where the standards use the latter
term in reference to the physical receptacles of a host notebook computer, for
insertion/connection of PC Cards. More information on the standards is available
from PCMCIA's www server at http://www.pc-card.com.
The DFE-650TXD automatically detects the parameters of its
Ethernet environment, and automatically negotiates and determines its
own speed and duplex settings as required for maximum performance
within the environment. (The autonegotiation function is effective only
when the DFE-650TXD is connected to the network by a device
(switch or hub) which also has autonegotiation functionality.)

INTRODUCTION
continued
Inside its compact case, the D-Link DFE-650TXD holds an
Ethernet controller, network processing interface, a 68-pin PC Card
Standard front-end plug, which connects to the notebook PC, and a
direct port for connecting RJ-45. The DFE-650TXD requires no
pre-installation setup -- simply insert its front end into the notebook
PC's PC-Card slot.
The DFE-650TXD is supplied with an RJ-45 receptacle, which
receives the network cable. The direct port features full LED dis
-
play for linkage and activity states, speed and duplex, transmitting
and receiving data, and carrier detection.
ii

CONTENTS OF PACKAGE
iii
DFE-650TXD 10/100 Ethernet PC Card
Package Contents
ADFE-650TXD 10/100 Ethernet PC Card
BDriver CD
CUser's Manual in CD
DQuick Install Guide
E
One plastic storage bag for the DFE-650TXD card
DFE-650TXD 10/100
Ethernet PC Card

About Fast Ethernet
Fast Ethernet is a network technology specified by IEEE Standard
802.3u. It extends the traditional 10Mbps (10 megabit/sec)
Ethernet technology to achieve 100Mbps (100 megabit/sec) trans
-
mission and reception. Because Fast Ethernet retains the tradition
-
al Ethernet CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense, Multiple Access, Collision
Detect) protocol, it remains wholly compatible with 10Mbps
Ethernet while providing a tenfold increase in network capacity.
The Fast Ethernet standard specifies three subt
ypes, correspon
-
ding to three media types:
?
100Base-TX (using two twisted pairs in EIA 568 Category 5
UTP or STP cable)
?100Base-T4 (using four twisted pairs in a Category 3,
Category 4, or Category 5 UTP cable)
?100Base-FX (using two fiber-optic strands.)
The DFE-650TXD provides full-duplex and half-duplex
100Base-TX operation (in Category 5 twisted-pair cable environ
-
ments). It does not provide 100Base-T4 or 100Base-FX operation.
To provide for traditional 10Mbps Ethernet operation in twisted-pair
cable environments, the DFE-650TXD also offers 10Mbps
Ethernet operation, in full-duplex and half-duplex modes. The
DFE-650TXD's autonegotiation capability provides for automatic
selection of the best operation mode.
1

About Autonegotiation
The basic idea of auto-negotiation is similar to the familiar process
of making a dialup connection between two modems. When you
attempt a connection you have probably heard some gravelly-
sounding exchanges between your local modem and a modem at
the other end of a telephone line. These annoying sounds let you
know that your modem and the remote modem are preparing for
your intended communication with the remote computer.
During those few seconds before you see the "connect" message
the modems are negotiating the best data communication scheme
which is supported by both modems, and which is suitable for the
quality of the telephone-line connection between them. The
parameters to be settled between the two modems include best
baud rate, compression method, and error correction method.
When the two modems have tested the phone-line quality and
have switched to the combination of parameters which will provide
the best data communication, then you are given the "connect"
message which signals the end of the inter-modem negotiation and
the beginning of your intended communication with the remote
computer.
Autonegotiation between devices within an Ethernet LAN is similar
in concept, but much briefer. The two devices involved in the
autonegotiation will be your DFE-650TXD and the switch or hub
through which it is connected into the LAN. (Switches ordinarily
provide for autonegotiation; traditional hubs do not.)
The parameters to be negotiated between the DFE-650TXD
and its supporting switch or hub include speed (100Mbps = Fast
Ethernet, or 10Mbps = traditional Ethernet) and duplex mode (half-
duplex or full-duplex.)
2

About Autonegotiation continued
Startup communication between the two devices occurs
when both devices are operating, the cable connection
between them is good, and the connected notebook PC's
network software is loaded. As soon as those conditions are
satisfied, the preparatory process of auto-negotiation
between the DFE-650TXD and its supporting device
begins and proceeds automatically.
If the supporting switch or hub has autonegotiation functional
-
ity, then it and the DFE-650TXD exchange a series of
messages in which each device signals its capabilities and
listens for corresponding information about the other. The
auto-negotiation process requires only a few milliseconds,
and the two devices select the best communication parame
-
ters supported by both devices.
If the supporting device does not have autonegotiation func
-
tionality, then its monotone (single capability) message will be
recognized by the DFE-650TXD's autonegotiation facility,
and the DFE-650TXD will simply switch to the one of its
own capabilities which matches that of the supporting device.
Once the auto-negotiation is completed, then the line is
ready, and it will provide an optimal data channel between the
DFE-650TXD and the supporting device. The line will
remain ready without further auto-negotiation action until the
linkage is broken. Auto-negotiation then reoccurs at any time
that the linkage is restored, again making the line ready for
optimal data communications.
3

TROUBLESHOOTING
A network can be simple to install and maintain. However,
occasionally something might go wrong. The best approach to
troubleshooting network problems is to start at the very simplest
level and work your way up.
On the following pages we have covered many of the common
troubleshooting situations. Please read through these
pages or skip to the specific one that interests you.
4

TROUBLESHOOTING continued
UNDERSTANDING THE INDICATORS
Your DFE-650TXD PC Card has indicator lights that can give you
information about your network traffic and help you determine
problems when troubleshooting.
The DFE-650TXD PC Card has six LED indicators:
1. 100/10 Indicator:
An orange light indicates that it is ON.
2. Full Indicator: A green light indicates that it is ON.
3. Link Indicator: A green light indicates that it is ON.
4. RX Indicator:
A green and flashing light indicates that
data is being received
5. TX Indicator:
A green and flashing light indicates that data
is being transmitted.
6. COL Indicator: An orange light indicates interference.
5
Full
Link
100/10
TX
COL
RX