Dell E-Port PRO3X User manual

www.dell.com | support.dell.com
Dell™ E-Port User’s Guide
Model PRO3X

Notes, Notices, and Cautions
NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of
your computer.
NOTICE: A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data
and tells you how to avoid the problem.
CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury,
or death.
____________________
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
© 2008 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Reproduction in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly
forbidden.
Trademarks used in this text: Dell and the DELL logo are trademarks of Dell Inc.
Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming
the marks and names or their products. Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and
trade names other than its own.
Model PRO3X
June 2008 Rev. A00

Contents 3
Contents
1 About Your Dell™ E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
2 Using the Dell™ E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Setting Up Your E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Before You Dock for the First Time . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Docking Your Laptop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Securing the E-Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
E-Port Laptop Power and Docking Status. . . . . . . . 14
Using the E-Port with Dual Monitors . . . . . . . . . . 15
Undocking Your Laptop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
3 Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
4 Finding Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

4Contents

About Your Dell™ E-Port 5
About Your Dell™ E-Port
The Dell™ E-Port supports the Dell E-Family laptop computers, but it is not
compatible with any previous series laptop computers.
The E-Port enables you to connect your laptop computer to the following
external devices:
Connector Description
RJ-45 NETWORK CONNECTOR —Connects a network
interface cable.
DOCKING CONNECTOR —Connects a laptop to the
E-Port.
AUDIO CONNECTORS —Connects audio headphones or
speakers and a microphone.
USB 2.0 CONNECTORS —Connect up to five USB 2.0
compliant devices, such as a USB mouse. Three USB
connectors are on the left side, and two USB connectors
are on the back of the E-Port.
AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR —Connects the AC adapter.
DISPLAYPORT CONNECTOR —Connects external
monitors equipped with a DisplayPort interface (also
HDMI and DVI monitors via dongle; available at
Dell.com).
DIGITAL VIDEO INTERFACE (DVI) CONNECTOR —
Connects an external monitor equipped with a digital
video interface.
VGA VIDEO CONNECTOR —Connects an external
monitor.

6About Your Dell™ E-Port
USB OR ESATA CONNECTOR —Connects and
supports USB or Dell-powered E-Family or standard self-
powered eSATA devices.
E-MONITOR STAND CONNECTOR —Connects to the
monitor stand; available at Dell.com.

About Your Dell™ E-Port 7
1 network connector 2 audio connectors (2)
3 USB connectors (3) 4 AC adapter connector
5 DisplayPort connector 6 DVI connector
7 VGA connector 8 USB connectors (2)
9 USB or eSATA connector 10 E-Monitor stand connector
2
3
5
1
4
6
7
8
9
10

8About Your Dell™ E-Port
1 battery bar adjuster 2 alignment mark
3 power button 4 eject button
5 docking light 6 security cable slot
7 lock/unlock switch 8 docking connector
1
3
4
6
7
8
2
5

Using the Dell™ E-Port 9
Using the Dell™ E-Port
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the
safety instructions that shipped with your computer.
Setting Up Your E-Port
NOTE: If the cable connector of the external device has thumbscrews, tighten the
screws to ensure a proper connection.
1 Connect the device’s cable to the appropriate connector on the E-Port.
2 Connect any external devices to electrical outlets.
If you attach an external monitor to the E-Port, you may need to press <Fn>
<F8> one or more times to switch the screen image to the desired location.
If the laptop cover is closed, you can press <Scroll Lck> <F8> on an
attached external keyboard to switch the image.
Before You Dock for the First Time
Before you initially connect your laptop to the E-Port, the operating system
must complete its setup process. To verify that the operating system has
completed the setup process:
1
Ensure that the laptop is not connected to the E-Port (docked).
2 Turn on the laptop.
3 Verify that your laptop operating system has completed the setup process.
4 Verify that your battery is installed before docking your laptop.

10 Using the Dell™ E-Port
Docking Your Laptop
The E-Port can run on its AC power adapter, the laptop’s AC power or the
laptop’s battery. You can use the AC adapter to power the E-Port and the
laptop, which charges the battery.‘
NOTICE: Always use the Dell AC adapter that came with the E-Port. If you use any
other commercially available AC adapter, you may damage the E-Port or the laptop.
1 Complete the steps in "Before You Dock for the First Time" on page 9.
2 Place the E-Port so that there is enough flat space in front of it to
completely support the laptop when docked to the E-Port.
1 AC adapter cable 2 AC adapter connector
1
2

Using the Dell™ E-Port 11
3 If your laptop has a battery that extends beyond the back of the laptop,
keep the battery bar retracted. Slide the battery bar adjuster to the left to
retract the battery bar.
4 If your laptop does not have a battery extending from the back of the
laptop, extend the battery bar by sliding the battery bar adjuster to the
right.

12 Using the Dell™ E-Port
5 Push the lock/unlock switch toward the back of the E-Port to unlock it.
The E-Port must be unlocked to dock a laptop.
NOTE: You can dock your laptop if it is turned on or off.
6 Center the laptop with the E-Port, then push down on the laptop until it
clicks into place in the docking connector.
NOTICE: Do not pick up the laptop or the E-Port when the laptop is docked. Doing
so can damage the connectors on the laptop and on the E-Port.
7 If the laptop was not already turned on, turn it on by pressing the power
button on either the laptop or the E-Port.
8 If the laptop does not turn on or awaken successfully, undock and reseat
the laptop.

Using the Dell™ E-Port 13
Securing the E-Port
Antitheft devices usually include a segment of metal-stranded cable with an
attached locking device and associated key (available at Dell.com). For
instructions on installing this kind of antitheft device, see the documentation
that came with the device.
The E-Port has the following security features:
LOCK/UNLOCK SWITCH —Move the lock toward the front of the E-Port
(locked) to secure the laptop to the E-Port. Move the lock toward the back of
the E-Port (unlocked) before pressing the eject button to undock the laptop.
The red color in the security cable slot indicates the E-Port is unlocked.
SECURITY CABLE SLOT —Attach an antitheft device to the E-Port to secure a
laptop to the E-Port.
1 security cable slot 2 lock/unlock switch
1
2

14 Using the Dell™ E-Port
E-Port Laptop Power and Docking Status
The E-Port power button is used to turn a docked laptop on or off. The power
button light indicates the power status of the E-Port or a docked laptop. The
docking light on the eject button indicates the AC power and docking status
of the E-Port and the laptop.
The following table shows all of the possible conditions of docking, power,
laptop states and how these conditions are indicated by the E-Port power
button and docking lights:
Power and Docking Status Laptop Status Power Button Light Docking Light
Unit undocked or no
AC adapter connected
Hibernate or Off Off Off
Unit docked and
AC adapter connected
Hibernate or Off Off On
Unit docked using AC
or battery power
Standby Breathing On
Unit docked using AC
or battery power
On On On

Using the Dell™ E-Port 15
Using the E-Port with Dual Monitors
The E-Port supports three video ouptut formats—VGA, DVI, and
DisplayPort. You can use your E-Port for dual monitor display. Refer to the
table below for using the E-Port with dual monitors.
1 VGA connector 2 DVI connector
3 DisplayPort connector
Monitor 1 connection Monitor 2 connection
DisplayPort DVI
DisplayPort VGA
DVI DisplayPort
DVI VGA
VGA DisplayPort
VGA DVI
3
2
1

16 Using the Dell™ E-Port
Undocking Your Laptop
1 Push the lock/unlock switch toward the back of the E-Port to unlock it.
2 Press the eject button to undock the laptop from the E-Port, then lift the
laptop away from the E-Port.
NOTICE: Do not pick up the laptop or the E-Port when the laptop is docked. Doing
so can damage the connectors on the laptop and on the E-Port.
1 eject lever 2 lock/unlock switch
2
1

Specifications 17
Specifications
Physical
Height
70 mm (2.76 inches)
Depth 180 mm (7.09 inches)
Width 210 mm (8.27 inches)
I/O Connectors
USB six USB connectors: five 4-pin, USB
2.0-compliant connectors; one USB or
eSATA connector
Audio headphones/speakers and microphone
Network one RJ-45 port; 10/100/1000 GB
Ethernet
Dell™ E-Family docking connector one custom connector (Dell E-Family
only)
Video VGA, DVI, DisplayPort (HDMI via
dongle)
USB or eSATA connector one connector supporting USB or
Dell-powered E-Family or standard
self-powered eSATA devices
E-Monitor stand connector one custom connector (Dell E-Family
only)
AC Adapter Power
Input Voltage Wattage Amperage
100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz 130 W* 1.8 A
100–240 VAC, 50–60 Hz 210 W* 3.2 A
*A laptop with a screen greater than 15.4-inches requires using the 210-W AC adapter.

18 Specifications
System Level Operational Specifications
Variable Minimum Typical Maximum
Temperature (system external) 0°C 25°C 35°C
Temperature ramp rate 0°C/hr N/A 10°C/hr
Humidity (non-condensing) 10% N/A 80%
Humidity ramp rate 20%/hr
Altitude 0 m (0 ft) 3048 m (10,000 ft)
System Level Non-Operational and Shipping Specifications
Variable Minimum Maximum
Temperature –40°C 65°C
Temperature ramp rate 0°C/hr 20°C/hr
Humidity (non-condensing) 5% 95%
Humidity ramp rate N/A 20%/hr
Altitude 0 m (0 ft) 10,670 m (35,000 ft)

Finding Information 19
Finding Information
Documents Contents
Safety, Regulatory, Warranty, and Support
Documentation
This type of information may have
shipped with your computer. For
additional regulatory information, see the
Regulatory Compliance Homepage on
www.dell.com at the following location:
www.dell.com/regulatory_compliance.
• Warranty information
• Terms and Conditions (U.S. only)
• Safety instructions
• Regulatory information
• Ergonomics information
• End User License Agreement

20 Finding Information