Linksys HomeLink HPN100 User manual

HomeLink™
Phoneline + 10/100
Network PC Card
HPN100
HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card
HomeLink™Series
User Guide

COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARKS
Copyright © 1999 Linksys, All Rights Reserved. Linksys is a registered trademark of
Linksys. Microsoft, Windows, and the Windows logo are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. All other trademarks and brand names are the property of
their respective proprietors.
LIMITED WARRANTY
Linksys guarantees that every HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card is
free from physical defects in material and workmanship under normal use for one (1)
year from the date of purchase. If the product proves defective during this warranty
period, call Linksys Customer Support in order to obtain a Return Authorization num-
ber. BE SURE TO HAVEYOUR PROOF OF PURCHASE AND BAR CODE ON
HAND WHEN CALLING. RETURN REQUESTS CANNOT BE PROCESSED WITH-
OUT PROOF OF PURCHASE AND BAR CODE.When returning a product, mark the
Return Authorization number clearly on the outside of the package and include your
original proof of purchase and bar code.
IN NO EVENT SHALL LINKSYS’ LIABILITY EXCEED THE PRICE PAID FOR THE
PRODUCT FROM DIRECT, INDIRECT, SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL, OR CONSEQUEN-
TIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE PRODUCT, ITS ACCOMPA-
NYING SOFTWARE, OR ITS DOCUMENTATION. Linksys makes no warranty or rep-
resentation, expressed, implied, or statutory, with respect to its products or the con-
tents or use of this documentation and all accompanying software, and specifically
disclaims its quality, performance, merchantability, or fitness for any particular pur-
pose. Linksys reserves the right to revise or update its products, software, or docu-
mentation without obligation to notify any individual or entity. Please direct all
inquiries to:
Linksys P.O. Box 18558, Irvine, CA 92623.
FCC STATEMENT
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B
digital device, pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules.These limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used according to the instructions, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not occur
in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception, which is found by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following meas-
ures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna
• Increase the separation between the equipment or device
• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s
• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for
assistance
909

Contents
Introduction 2
About The Hardware 3
How to Get Technical Support 3
Hardware Setup 4
LED Indicators 7
About the Software 8
Windows 98 Setup 11
Windows 95 Setup 19
Windows NT 4.0 Setup 29
Novell NetWare Client32 Setup 36
Linux, Open Source and Beta OSes 38
Appendix
Windows NT 4.0 Client Setup For Windows 98 and 95 39
Twisted Pair Cabling 40
TroubleshootingYour @Home Internet Connection 41
Troubleshooting in Windows 98 and 95 43
Manually Installing Network Components 48
Generic Services in DOS 48
Enabling PCMCIA Services in NT 4.0 49
Specifications 50
Customer Support 51
Notes 52
page 1

Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of the Linksys HomeLink Phoneline +
10/100 Network PC Card. This exciting new technology is being offered in
compliance with the standards of the Home Phoneline Networking Alliance
(HomePNA). The Linksys HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card
now offers instant connectivity to multiple PC's over a home's existing tele-
phone lines. You can network any notebook computer by connecting it to any
standard phone line. There's no need for a switch, a hub, or even any additional
cables - the network runs on standard home-grade telephone wires just like the
ones you use everyday.
The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card is the ultimate in versa-
tile connectivity for mobile users. The 16-Bit PC Card’s coupler is equipped
with two standard RJ-11 telephone ports and a 10/100 dual-speed Fast Ethernet
port. You can connect to any 1Mbps HomeLink network or any
10BaseT/100BaseTX network without swapping cards. The card fits into any
standard Type II PCMCIA slot, leaving room for a 56K modem or other PC
Card in dual-slot notebooks. You can share Internet access via a dial-up, cable
modem or DSL connection, as well as files, printers, and CD-ROM drives at
1Mbps without interrupting regular telephone service. Since your HomeLink
network runs on regular telephone cables, there’s no extra hardware to buy.
Just plug it into any standard wall jack and you’re networked!
The Linksys HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card utilizes
Advanced Micro Devices' (AMD®) PCnet™-Home technology. This new tech-
nology lets your phone line carry computer data as well as regular telephone
voice service. You can also use feeds from broadband connections like cable
modems or Digital Subscriber Lines (xDSL). You can talk on the telephone,
download files from the Internet, and share resources over a network all at the
same time. Every standard telephone jack in the home is capable of hosting a
PC - you can connect up to 25 computers, thus transforming the home's tele-
phone wiring into an easily expandable network. Want to add more PCs? Just
put a HomeLink card in the computer and plug it into your phone jack. It’s that
simple!
page 2

Features
• Build A Network Using Your Existing Telephone Line
• No Additional Hubs or Cabling Needed
• Type II PCMCIA Card (16-Bit)
• Card has 2 RJ-11 Modular Telephone Ports and 1 RJ-45 10BaseT/100BaseTX
Fast Ethernet Port
• 1Mbps Transfer Rate Over Telephone Lines
• Also Connects to 10/100 Networks with No Configuration
• Perfect for File and Printer Sharing, Email, Web Access, Gaming and More
• Dual-Speed RJ-45 Port Automatically Detects Cabling Speed
• Works with Your Existing HomeLink Network Cards
• HomePNA Compliant
• Compatible with Virtually All PCMCIA and CardBus-Equipped Notebook
Computers -- Perfect for Single-Slot “Thinline” Notebooks
• Free Technical Support
• Limited 1-Year Warranty
How Does It Work?
The Linksys HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card utilizes a tech-
nology known as Frequency Division Multiplexing (FDM) which essentially
divides the data travelling over the phone lines into separate frequencies - one
for voice, one for high-bandwidth net access such as DSL, and one for the net-
work data. These frequencies can coexist on the same telephone line without
impacting one another.
The 1 Megabit-per-second (one million bits-per-second) data rate is fast enough
to run demanding home applications such as file and printer sharing, games,
and email. Want to surf the web? No problem -- you can share one modem or
high-speed Internet connection over the entire network using the Internet
LanBridge software package. The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC
Card’s data transfer rate is 18 times that of the fastest analog modems available,
which run at 56Kbps (fifty-six thousand bits-per-second). Even high-speed
modem, xDSL, and ISDN connections will perform at full speed on a home
network. The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card is the perfect
tool to introduce the benefits of networking to your home or office.
Note: Because of the limitations of standard telephone cables, HomeLink
HomePNA devices require that your cabling does not exceed a total length of
500 feet for your entire network.
page 3

Package Contents
• One HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card
• Cable Coupler with Two RJ-11 Ports and One RJ-45 Port
• One Standard Telephone Cable
• One Driver Diskette
• User Guide and Registration Card
If any of the above contents are missing, consult your Linksys retailer.
SharingYour Resources
The HomeLink Phoneline card brings the advantages of inexpensive network-
ing to your home or office. Any device on the network, including CD-ROM
drives, hard drives, and printers, can be used by any of the PCs that you hook
up to the network. The installation instructions in this user guide will guide you
through the process of setting up your networked PCs so that all of their avail-
able resources can be shared. Of course, you have control over the sharing
rights, so you will be able to isolate devices or drives that you do not want to
be accessible from the rest of the network.
It is important to note that if you want to use a networked device on a PC other
than the one that the device is attached to, you must configure the PC to handle
the device.
SharingYour Internet Connection
Your HomeLink network will let you talk on the telephone and access the
Internet at the same time only if you are using an xDSL or cable modem con-
nection. If you are using an analog modem or other device that requires you to
dial out to your Internet Service Provider (ISP), then, obviously, your telephone
line is already in use, and you can not talk on the phone. Your internal network
data travels on a separate frequency, so your network communications will not
be interrupted no matter what type of Internet connection you have or whether
or not you are using the telephone.
See note on page 46 for important modem hints.
page 4

Hardware Setup
BeforeYou Begin
The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card is equipped with two
phone wire ports, also known as RJ-11 ports, for use with a Phoneline network
that utilizes your existing telephone system. The card also has an RJ-45
10BaseT Ethernet port for use with 10Mbps Ethernet networks.
IfYou Want to Use Ethernet...
If you plan on connecting the HomeLink Card to a 100Mbps or 10Mbps
Ethernet network, only use Category 3 or 5 twisted-pair cabling. Network
cabling is available in a number of different grades. For best results, we recom-
mend using 8-wire, category 5 unshielded twisted-pair for an Ethernet network,
although category 3 can be used successfully. Category 5 is more reliable, and
it is compatible with faster 100Mbps networks - a useful feature if you plan on
upgrading from Ethernet to Fast Ethernet in the future.
Keep in mind that the RJ-11 and RJ-45 capabilities cannot be used at the same
time. If the one is in use, the other is automatically disabled.
Both Category 3 and Category 5 twisted-pair cabling can be purchased from
most computer stores, or if you prefer, you can crimp your own cables. See
page 45 for wiring information.
Whether you're building a 10Mbps or 10/100 network, twisted-pair cabling
should always be used with a hub, which is a box with a row of 10BaseT or
10/100 ports. Each PC plugs into the box with its own twisted pair cable.
Because all of the PCs' cables converge at the hub's central location, a twisted-
pair network is often referred to as a star configuration.
Do not connect PCs together with twisted-pair cabling without using a hub.
Although your network may work, communication will be unstable. The cable
that runs from your computer's HomeLink card to your hub should not exceed
100 meters (328 feet) in length.
page 5

Installing the Hardware
1. Turn off your PC and any devices attached to it.
2. Snap the flat end of the media cou-
pler into the HomeLink Phoneline
+10/100 Network PC Card. It should
lock firmly into place.
3. Locate your PC's card slot. The slot
is usually located on the side or front of
the PC. Slide the HomeLink Phoneline
+10/100 Network PC Card into the slot
with the triangle on the card facing up.
The 68-pin end goes in first. See that
the card is seated snugly in place.
4. If your computer has more than one slot, insert the HomeLink Phoneline
+10/100 Network PC Card into the first slot (slots are usually numbered in
sequential order starting with 0 or 1). After verifying that the HomeLink
Phoneline +10/100 Network PC Card's hardware and software are working cor-
rectly, you can always move the card to a different slot later if needed.
Installing the RJ-11 (Telephone) Cabling
Attach one end of the telephone wire to the HomeLink card's RJ-11 telephone
port. There are two RJ-11 ports and only one RJ-45 port - the RJ-11 ports are
the smaller ones. Connect the other end of the cable into a telephone jack in
your wall.
If you are using an analog telephone, you can either connect the device to a
second phone jack (recommended), or you can connect your telephone directly
to the second port on your HomeLink card.
If you have only one phone jack in your room and you want to use your modem
or fax, it is recommended that you purchase a two-way adapter that can turn
your single phone jack into a double phone jack. Plug your telephone or fax
into one phone jack, and your HomeLink Network PC Card into the other.
If you have two or three PCs in one room with only one telephone jack, you
can connect several of the computers together using the Daisy Chain method.
Plug your first PC with a Phoneline card into the phone jack in the wall, then
use the other phone cable port on the card to connect to your second PC.
page 6

Continue to connect up to twenty-five PCs on one chain. If you want to use
your telephone or fax machine, add a two-way splitter on your wall’s phone
jack or connect the device to the open telephone port on the last card in your
daisy chain. If you are daisy chaining more than 2 PCs, you should connect
modem to a different wall phone jack, or obtain a 2-way splitter, (see page 46).
Installing the RJ-45 (Ethernet) Cabling
Remember that if you choose to use the RJ-45 port on your HomeLink card,
the RJ-11 Phoneline networking capabilities automatically become disabled.
The two cannot operate at the same time.
Attach one end of an Ethernet cable into the HomeLink card's RJ-45 port. Plug
the other end of the cable into a 10BaseT or 10/100 switching hub. If you plan
to use both 10BaseT and 100Mbps network segments on the same network,
you'll need a dual-speed hub or switch that allows segments of different speeds
to communicate. For more information on 10/100 dual-speed hubs and switch-
es, visit the Linksys web site or call [phone].
page 7
2 PCs are connected through
your home’s telephone line.

About the Software
The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card requires two different
kinds of software in order to work:
Socket and card services are special software drivers that allow a PC card to
communicate with your computer.
Plug and Play operating systems like Windows 98 and 95 already have these
services built in.
Network drivers allow the card to communicate with your network at large.
The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card disk includes drivers for
many network operating systems, including Windows 98, Windows 95,
Windows NT, and DOS. When the HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC
Card is up and running, it will talk to your PC's card slot, which will talk to the
Card services, which will finally talk to the network drivers and the network at
large.
Socket and Card Services
Socket and card services allow your computer to recognize a PC card when it is
inserted into your PC's card slot. Your PC will need some kind of services
installed in order to use the HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card.
Most slot-equipped PCs have socket and card services pre-installed by the
computer's manufacturer. If you are upgrading your PC by adding a new slot,
then you need to upgrade your services as well. You have two choices:
• Use Generic Services
If your computer doesn't have services (or you don't know what kind are
installed), you may be able to use the 10/100 card's generic services, which are
included on the EtherFast card disk. If you want to use the generic services, go
to the next page.
• ContactYour PC's Manufacturer
If your computer doesn't have services, and the generic services contained on
the 10/100 card's software disk don't seem to work with your PC, contact your
computer's manufacturer to find out (1) what kind of services your computer
uses, or (2) how to get compatible services if your computer doesn't have them.
page 8

Network Driver Setup
Follow these instructions carefully.You can view or print the setup directions
from your favorite word processor, or if you prefer, use the reader that is
included on the 10/100 card's disk. To access the reader, put the HomeLink
10/100 PC Card disk into drive A and run the README.EXE program.
To run the program from DOS, for example, you would type:
a:\readme.exe
and press Enter. If you are using Windows 3.x, you could click on File and
Run in the Program Manager, type a:\readme.exe, and press Enter.
Preparing to Install the Software
Setting up the HomeLink card's software involves installing a network driver
onto your computer. The driver will allow the card to communicate with your
Windows software package. Before attempting to install a network driver for
the HomeLink card, Windows 95, 98 or NT should already be installed on your
computer. The HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card driver setup
for these three operating systems is covered in this user guide.
You will need a floppy drive on every PC onto which you wish to install the
network drivers. We recommend that you read through the installation instruc-
tions for your operating system before continuing with the installation.
• Windows 98 instructions are on page 16
• Windows 95 instructions are on page 24
• Windows NT 4.0 instructions are on page 31
If you are using Windows 2000, also known as Windows NT 5.0, the drivers
for your operating system are included on the HomeLink floppy diskette. If you
received a diskette without the Windows 2000 drivers, you can get them from
the Download Center on the Linksys website. Please note that the drivers and
the operating system are still in development. When Microsoft officially releas-
es the Windows 2000 operating system, Linksys will provide updated drivers
and technical support for the operating system. If you choose to install the
HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card on a Windows 2000 PC, you
do so at your own risk.
page 9

Windows 98 Setup
Boot up your Windows 98 PC with the HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 PC Card
hardware installed. Follow the instructions below.
1. Windows 98 will automatically detect the presence of the HomeLink
Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card in your computer. If Windows 98 goes
directly to the windows desktop and does not display the New Hardware Found
window, refer to the Troubleshooting section of this guide.
2. While the Update Device Driver Wizard window is visible, put the
HomeLink Phoneline + 10/100 Network PC Card program disk 1 into drive A
and click on Next. A window will appear and ask you What would you like
Windows to do?
3. Select Search for the best driver for your device (Recommended). Click on
Next.
page 10

4. A window will appear asking where you would like Windows 98 to search
for the driver. Make sure that Floppy disk drives is selected, and click Next to
continue.
5. Windows will begin searching your drives for the correct device drivers. A
message will appear that reads Windows found the Linksys HomeLink + 10/100
PC Card driver. Click on Finish.
If Windows cannot find the driver for the card, skip to the Troubleshooting sec-
tion on page 51.
6. Windows 98 will begin copying a number of files onto your computer. If
Windows asks you to supply your original Windows 98 installation or setup
files, insert the CD-ROM or disks as needed, and direct Windows 98 to the
proper location, (eg: D:\win98, or the appropriate drive letter of your CD-
ROM drive). If Windows asks you to supply a driver that contains the letters
PC100, type a:\ in the box that pops up.
During the installation, windows may ask you for a computer and workgroup
name. If so, refer to instructions 10-12 on pages 16 and 17. Otherwise, contin-
ue with the installation. Windows will finish copying all of the necessary files
to your system. When asked if you want to restart your computer, click No.
Once you are back at the Windows 98 desktop, click on the Start button. Click
on Settings, then Control Panel.
page 11

7. Double-click on the Network icon. The Network window will appear. Click
on the Configuration tab.
8. Make sure that the following network components are installed:
Client for Microsoft Networks
Linksys HomeLink + 10/100 PC Card (PCM100TH)
NetBEUI
TCP/IP
There may be other components listed in addition to the ones shown above.
This is fine. Different components are required for different network configura-
tions. If you are missing required components, you'll need to install them man-
ually. Refer to page 58 in the Troubleshooting section of this user guide.
Please Note: If you need to install the TCP/IP Protocol, contact your system
administrator or refer to the Windows 98 documentation. Linksys does not pro-
vide technical support for the setup or configuration of the TCP/IP protocol.
page 12

9. In the Primary Network Logon box, select Client for Microsoft Networks.
10. Click on the Identification tab.
Type the name of your computer in the Computer name box. Make up a name
that is unique from all the other computers' names on the network. Call it what-
ever you'd like, (ex: Ace, Master, etc.), as long as you keep the name under 15
characters long and you don’t use spaces or special characters, (like dashes).
11. Type the name of your workgroup in the Workgroup box. The name you
type should be the same workgroup name in use by all of the other PCs on the
network. The Workgroup box is case sensitive. Use the same case that is in use
on your other computers.
12. Enter a description of your computer in the Computer Description box. This
box is optional.
13. Click on the Access Control tab. Make sure that Shared-level access con-
trol is selected. If the setting is on User-Level access control and you can’t
change it, skip to the Troubleshooting section on page 52.
14. Click on the OK button. Your system may or may not ask you for your
Windows 98 CD-ROM or the location of the 98 installation files. Direct
Windows to the appropriate location, (D:\win98, C:\windows\options\cabs,
etc.). page 13

page 14
15. Once Windows is done copying the necessary files, the System Settings
Change window appears. Remove all disks from your computer and click on
Yes to restart your PC. If you don't see this window, simply close down
Windows 98 and restart your computer. The installation is complete. Remember
to remove the installation disk from the floppy drive.
Look at the HomeLink Card's cable coupler. If your cabling is properly
attached and the network is detected, the green Link light will be on, and the
Activity (ACT) light will be flickering or solid.
16. Once the computer has restarted and Windows 98 has booted up, a Logon
window will appear requiring you to enter a username and password. Make up
a username and password, enter them, and click OK. Do not click the Cancel
button, or you won't be able to log onto the network. If the a logon does not
appear or if it does not allow you to log on, refer to the Troubleshooting section
in the back of this guide.
17. Once you are at the Windows 98 desktop, double-click on the Network
Neighborhood icon. You should see the name of the network, and/or the names
of the other PCs on the network. In order to see your computer in Network
Neighborhood, you need to enable file and printer sharing, which is covered on
pages 20-22.
If you don't see anything at all, press the F5 key on your keyboard a few times
to refresh the screen.
If you only see your computer in Network Neighborhood, skip to the
Troubleshooting section.
If you see all computers on the network except yours, and the other PCs can't
see your computer, see the Troubleshooting section.

Client Setup
Before enabling File and Printer Sharing, you should prepare your computer to
be used with any file servers that may be on the network. Turn to the next page.
If you are not using Windows 98 with an NT or NetWare file server, skip the
next two paragraphs. Otherwise:
•Connecting to a NetWare File Server
Click on My Computer, Control Panel, and Network. Change the Network
Logon to Client for NetWare Network. Next, double-click on the client for
NetWare networks. Put your server's name in the Preferred Server box. Click in
the Enable Logon Script Processing box. Click on OK and restart your PC.
Note: This method is effective for NetWare 3.11 and 3.12 servers. for NetWare
4.x or higher, you should obtain and use Client32 instead.
• Connecting to a Windows NT Domain
Click on My Computer, Control Panel, and Network. Change the Primary
Logon to Client for Microsoft Network. Double-click on the Client for
Microsoft networks. Check the Log into Windows NT domain box. Put your NT
domain name in the Windows NT domain area. Click on OK and restart your
PC.
Continue with the installation instructions that appear on your screen, if any.
When you're finished, restart your computer.
Note: In order for you to communicate with the other PCs on your network,
you must enable File and Printer sharing. Please go on to the next page.
page 15

Preparing to Use File and Printer Sharing.
The instructions below explain how to turn on file and printer sharing in
Windows 98 so that your computer can be accessed by others and vice-versa.
1. Start up Windows 98. If you are asked to log in, be sure to give your correct
username and password.
2. To set up sharing for the first time on a computer, click on Start, Settings,
Control Panel, then double-click on Network.
3. Click on the Configuration tab, followed by the File and Printer Sharing
button. The File and Printer Sharing window will appear.
• If you'd like others to be able to access the files on your PC's hard drive,
select I want to be able to give others access to my files.
• If you'd like to share your printer with other users on the network, select I
want to be able to allow others to print to my printer.
4. Click on the OK button. File and Printer Sharing for Microsoft Networks
should now appear in the list of installed components. Click OK. When asked
to restart your PC, choose to do so.
Enabling File Sharing
After following the preparation instructions, double-click on your My
Computer icon. A window of available disk drives will appear. Using your
right mouse button, click once on the drive or folder that you want to make
available to other users. Click on Sharing, followed by the Sharing tab. Click
on Share As. In the Share Name box, enter a name for the drive or folder you
are sharing, (eg: C-Drive, CD-ROM, Leela, etc.).
Next, decide on the type of access that you want to give other users.
• Read-Only access lets other users view the files on your PC.
• Full access lets users create, change, or delete files on your PC.
• Depends on Password lets users have Read-Only and/or Full access,
depending on the password that you decide to give them.
page 16

Use your mouse to select the type of file sharing access that you want other
users to have. If you want to assign access password(s), type them into the
Password box(es).
If you are sharing a cable modem or DSL braodband connection that you will
be using to access the Internet, you should protect all of your shared drives and
printers with private passwords.
When you're done, click on the Apply button, followed by OK. Your drive(s)
can now be accessed from other users whenever they click on their Windows
Network Neighborhood icons. If a user tries to access one of your drives or
folders that's password-protected, he or she will be asked for the appropriate
Read-Only or Full access password.
HowTo Share Printers
1. After following the steps on pages 20-21, double-click on your My
Computer icon.
2. Click on the Printers folder. A window of available printers will appear.
3. Using your right mouse button, click once on the printer that you want to
share with other users.
4. Click on Sharing, followed by the Sharing tab. Click on Share As. In the
Share Name box, give a name to the printer you're about to share (Jack's HP4,
for example). If you want to assign a password to the printer so only certain
users can access it, type a password in the Password box. When you're done,
click on the Apply button, followed by OK. Your printer(s) are now shared.
5. When you're finished, restart your PC, log into your network, and double-
click on Network Neighborhood.You should be able to se the other computers
on your network. The installation is complete.
Note: Not all printers may be shared on the network or you may require special
instructions. Refer to your printer’s user guide or contact your printer manufac-
turer.
page 17