
2Network Communications Guide
Network Communications Guide
✎For more information on Wake-On-LAN, refer to the online Desktop
Management Guide or to the Remote Management Administrators
Guide. The Remote Management Administrators Guide is included
with the Remote Management Setup Utilities and is available on the
Support Software CD for Compaq Desktop, Portable, and
Workstation Products or at the Compaq Web site at www.compaq.com.
✎For information on WOL filtering, refer to any additional
documentation provided for the NIC’s advanced
diagnostics/configuration utility.
Interpreting the Network Status Lights
Select Ethernet network interface controllers include network status
lights:
■The link light illuminates when the system is physically
connected to an active network.
■The activity light illuminates when the computer detects network
activity. When the system is connected to a highly used network,
the activity light will remain on almost constantly.
■The 100Base-TX light illuminates during 100-Mbs operation.
Some NICs include only two network status lights where link (light
on) and activity (light blinking) are indicated by one light and
100-Mbs operation is indicated by the second light.
Disabling 802.3u Auto-Negotiation Capabilities
Auto-Negotiation NICs automatically determine the maximum
network operating speed and duplex capabilities of the attached
network and configure themselves on the highest common
combination. The computer begins Auto-Negotiation whenever it
obtains a valid network link, or when the NIC driver is loaded.
In addition to determining the network operating speed, the computer
determines if full-duplex is supported. Full-duplex systems can
transmit and receive information on the network simultaneously.
Half-duplex systems cannot transmit and receive simultaneously.