TRENDnet TE100-S4PCI User manual

TE100-S4PCI
4-Port 10/100M
NWay Ethernet
Switch Card
User’s Guide

FCC Warning
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the
regulations 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 when the equipment is operated in a
commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can
radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in
accordance with this user’s guide, may cause harmful interference to
radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential
area is likely to cause harmful interference, in which case the user will
be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
CE Mark Warning
This is a Class B product. In a domestic environment, this product
may cause radio interference, in which case the user may be required
to take adequate measures.
P/N:6012-0001160

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION................................................................. 1
ABOUT FAST ETHERNET .............................................................. 1
ABOUT AUTO-NEGOTIATION ....................................................... 2
SWITCHING TECHNOLOGY........................................................... 4
PRODUCT FEATURES.................................................................... 5
INSTALLATION................................................................... 7
UNPACK AND INSPECT ................................................................. 7
INSTALL THE ADAPTER................................................................. 7
LED INDICATORS ......................................................................... 8
UPLINK BUTTON............................................................................ 9
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION ........................................................... 9
SPECIFICATIONS............................................................ 11

1
Introduction
Thank you for choosing the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch
Card. This Introduction chapter will be useful if you are new to Fast
Ethernet, Switch and other new technology featured by the 4-Port
10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card. Otherwise, skip ahead to the
Installation chapter.
About Fast Ethernet
Fast Ethernet is a network technology specified by IEEE Standard
802.3u. It extends the traditional 10Mbps Ethernet technology to
achieve 100Mbps transmission and reception, while retaining the
same CSMA/CD Ethernet protocol. Thus while Fast Ethernet
provides a tenfold increase in network capacity, it is wholly
compatible with traditional 10Mbps Ethernet network facilities. This
compatibility is the key to easy and efficient upgrades to 100Mbps in
your network areas needing greater bandwidth. Upgrading selected
areas to Fast Ethernet does not require hardware or software changes
in network areas where traditional 10Mbps Ethernet is providing good
service. For upgrading existing Ethernet installations to 100Mbps,
and especially for selectively upgrading areas needing upgrade, Fast
Ethernet is the clear choice in terms of cost-effectiveness, as well as
convenience and smoothness in transition.
Fast Ethernet comprises two subtypes: 100Base-T4 and 100Base-TX.
100Base-T4 Fast Ethernet can utilize existing Category 3 or Category
4 UTP network cabling, but does not provide for full duplex
operation. 100Base-TX requires Category 5 cabling, but does provide
full duplex operation. Full duplex 100Base-TX operation allows
simultaneous transmission and reception; both at 100Mbps, thus
providing service potentially equal to 200Mbps full-duplex service.
The 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card does not support
the 100Base-T4 subtype. To provide compatibility in traditional

2
10Mbps Ethernet environments, the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet
Switch Card also supports traditional 10Mbps Ethernet operation, in
full-duplex as well as half-duplex modes. Selection of the best
operation mode in any given installation is automatically governed by
auto-negotiation.
About Auto-negotiation
You have probably had the experience of making a dialup connection
through a modem, and have heard the gravelly−sounding exchanges
between your modem and the modem at the other end of the telephone
line (these exchanges are ordinarily played out through a speaker in
your local modem). As irritating as those few seconds of noise may
be, they do let you know that your modem and the remote modem are
on the job, preparing for your intended communication with the
remote computer.
The preparatory work of the two modems during those few seconds
before you see the “Connect” message is to negotiate the best data
communication scheme which is supported by both modems, and
which is suitable for the quality of the telephone line linkage 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 settled
on the combination of shared options and parameters which will
provide the best data communication over the connecting phone line,
then you are given the ”Connect” message which signals the end of
the intermodem negotiation and the beginning of your intended
communication with the remote computer.
Auto-negotiation between devices within an Ethernet LAN is similar
in concept, but much briefer. The two devices involved in the auto-
negotiation will be the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card
serving your station (installed in your computer), and the hub through
which it is connected into the LAN. The options to be negotiated

3
between the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card and its
supporting hub include Ethernet type (100BASE-TX Fast Ethernet or
10BASE-T Ethernet) and duplex mode (half-duplex, being one-way-
at-a-time, or full duplex, being simultaneous transmit-and-receive).
Startup communication between the two devices occurs when devices
are power-on, the cable connection between them is good, and the
Network Operating System software is running. As soon as those
conditions are satisfied, the preparatory process of auto-negotiation
between the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card and its
supporting hub proceeds automatically. If the hub has auto-
negotiation functionality, then it and the 4-Port 10/100M NWay
Ethernet Switch Card 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 parameters supported by both devices.
If the hub does not have auto-negotiation functionality, then its
monotone (single capability) message will be recognized by the 4-Port
10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card’s auto-negotiation facility, and
the 4-Port 10/100M NWay Ethernet Switch Card will simply switch
to the one of its own capabilities which matches that of the hub.
When the preparatory procedure of auto-negotiation is completed,
then the line is ready and will provide a data channel that is optimal
for the two devices. 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.

4
Switching Technology
Another approach to pushing beyond the limits of Ethernet technology
is the development of switching technology. A switch bridges
Ethernet packets at the MAC address level of the Ethernet protocol
transmitting among connected Ethernet or Fast Ethernet LAN
segments.
Switching is a cost-effective way of increasing the total network
capacity available to users on a local area network. A switch increases
capacity and decreases network loading by dividing a local area
network into different segments, which don’t compete with each other
for network transmission capacity.
The switch acts as a high-speed selective bridge between the
individual segments. The switch, without interfering with any other
segments, automatically forwards traffic that needs to go from one
segment to another. By doing this the total network capacity is
multiplied, while still maintaining the same network cabling and
adapter cards.
For Fast Ethernet Networks, a switch is an effective way of
eliminating problems of chaining hubs beyond the “two-repeater
limit.” A switch can be used to split parts of the network into different
collision domains, making it possible to expand your Fast Ethernet
Network beyond the 205-meter network diameter limit for 100BASE-
TX networks. Switches supporting both traditional 10Mbps Ethernet
and 100Mbps Fast Ethernet are also ideal for bridging between the
existing 10Mbps networks and the new 100Mbps networks.
Switching LAN technology is a marked improvement over the
previous generation of network bridges, which were characterized by
higher latencies. Routers have also been used to segment local area
networks, but the cost of a router, the setup and maintenance required
make routers relatively impractical. Today switches are an ideal
solution to most kinds of local area network congestion problems.

5
Product Features
Designed for versatility and performance, the 4-Port 10/100Mbps
Ethernet Switch Card provides the following features:
• PCI Bus Master memory access, for high throughput and low
CPU demand.
• Complies with IEEE 802.3 10BASE-T, IEEE 802.3u 100BASE-
TX standards.
• Complies with ANSI/IEEE 802.3 NWay Auto-negotiation.
• Plug and Play installation.
• 4 RJ-45 connectors for four network segment connections.
• 100Mbps Fast Ethernet or 10Mbps Ethernet data transfer,
selected via auto-negotiation.
• Full duplex or half-duplex operation, selected by auto-
negotiation.
• Data forwarding/filtering rate per port is at wire-speed for
10/100Mbps speed.
• 1K MAC address entry table with self-learning and table-aging
• 1 MB RAM buffer per device
• LED indicators for Link/Activity, 100Mbps and Collision/Full-
duplex per each port.
• Drivers for all leading Network Operating Systems. Software
drivers for:
• Workstation for DOS ODI Client
• Server Driver for NetWare 3.12/4.x
• Client 32 for Windows 95
• Microsoft Network Client for DOS

6
• LAN Manager Workstation/Server
• Windows for Workgroups v3.11
• Windows NT 3.5x & 4.0
• Windows 95, 95/OSR2, 98, 2000
• SCO UNIX 3.X/5.X
• Packet Driver
• LANtastic 6.0 with NDIS drive

7
Installation
Installation of the 4-Port 10/100Mbps Ethernet Switch Card requires
hardware installation first, then software installation.
Unpack and Inspect
Open the shipping cartons and carefully remove all items. In addition
to this User's Guide, ascertain that you have:
• One 4-Port 10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet Switch Card
• Software Diskette
• User’s Manual
Install the Adapter
1. Shut down the computer, unplug its power cord, and remove the
chassis cover.
2. If your order does not include the Boot ROM option, go ahead to
Step 3. If your order includes the Boot ROM option, then install
the Boot ROM Chip by plugging the chip into the Boot ROM
Socket on the 4-Port 10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet Switch Card.
The notched end of the Boot ROM Chip must be aligned with the
notched end of the Boot ROM Socket (opposite alignment will
cause destruction of the Boot ROM Chip).

8
3. Insert the contact edge of the 4-Port 10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet
Switch Card into the connector of any available PCI Bus Master
expansion slot. Press the card firmly into the connector and
ascertain that the card’s contacts are fully seated in the connector.
4. Install the bracket screw that secures the card to the computer
chassis.
5. Replace the computer’s chassis cover.
6. Reconnect the computer’s power cord, and switch computer
power on. If the BIOS section of your computer boot program
is Plug and Play compliant, then at power-up the BIOS will
automatically configure any newly installed 4-Port 10/100Mbps
NWay Ethernet Switch Card.
LED Indicators
Link/Activity (LINK/ACT): This LED indicator lights green when
there is a secure connection (or link) to a device at the port. The LED
indicators blink green whenever there is reception or transmission of
data occurring at a port.
100Mbps Indicator (100Mbps): This LED indicator lights green
when a 100Mbps network is connected to this port. If a 10Mbps
device is connected to this port, the LED indicator is OFF.
Collision/Full-duplex (COL/FDX): This LED indicator lights green
when this port is in full duplex (FDX) mode. Otherwise, it is OFF for
half duplex (HDX) operations. It blinks green, when collisions are
occurring on this port.

9
Uplink button
One of the 4-Port 10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet Switch Cards is
equipped with a Normal (MDI-X)/Uplink (MDI-II) push button that
allows you to select normal (MDI-X) wiring or uplink (MDI-II)
wiring. Port 4 is configured for normal wiring when the push button is
in the out position. When the push button is pressed in, the port is
configured for uplink wiring. Configuring the ports allows direct
connection to a server or PC, or to another switch or a hub to form a
network backbone.
Software Installation
On account of the great variety of network environments for which
the 4-Port 10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet Switch Card may be used, and
revisions of those network systems, the instructions for software
installation are given as HELME.COM files on the 4-Port
10/100Mbps NWay Ethernet Switch Card Software Diskette. Run the
root directory HELPME.COM for overview information, and for full
installation details, run the INSTALL.EXE and referenced instruction
files in the sub-directory appropriate to your network operating
system.

11
Specifications
Network Type:
• Fast Ethernet 100Base-TX
IEEE 802.3u standard for 100Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local
area network
• Ethernet 10BASE-T
IEEE 802.3 standard for 10Mbps baseband CSMA/CD local area
network
Jumperless Hardware
Auto-negotiation functionality
Media interface: RJ-45
EMI Compatibility:
FCC Class B
VCCI Class B
CE Certification, Class B
Host interface: PCI 2.1 Bus (Bus Master)
Physical Dimensions: 154 x 104 mm (W x H)
Environment:
Storage: −10°to 70°C
Operating: 0°to 55°C, (32°to 131°F)
Humidity: 10% to 90% non-condensing