3Com (R) Corporation 3C90x 10 Mbps and 10/100 Mbps PCI NIC Family Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions ------------------------------------------------------------ The EtherCD version 5.4 CD supports 3Com 10 Mbps and 10/100 Mbps PCI bus-mastering network interface cards (NICs) with a common driver set. Key product features include: - Parallel Tasking II (R) architecture for high performance - Bus mastering for low CPU utilization and optimal overall system performance - Automatic selection of media type and link speed for 10/100 Mbps NICs - Full duplex enabled for switched 10/100 Mbps environments - Broad driver support, including NetWare, NDIS 2.01, NDIS 3.0, NDIS 4.0, NDIS 5.0, and others - SNMP manageability - Lifetime limited warranty Release Notes and Frequently Asked Questions ----------------------------------------------------------- This file contains release notes and answers to some frequently asked questions to help you obtain maximum performance from your 3Com NIC. This information is updated regularly on the 3Com World Wide Web site (www.3Com.com). Release Notes --------------------- >>>DynamicAccess LAN agent and Windows Millennium Edition (Me) DynamicAccess LAN agent software is not supported on PCs running Windows Me. If you tried installing DynanmicAccess LAN agent on a Windows Me PC, you may lose network connectivity. To resolve this, remove the DynamicAccess LAN agent software: 1. Open the Add/Remove Programs icon in the Windows Control Panel. 2. Select the DynamicAccess Software entry, and then click Remove. 3. Reboot the PC when prompted. >>> Installing ODI 32 LAN driver supporting multiple 3C905B or 3905C NICs If you are using the ODI 32 LAN driver in a system with more than one 3C905B or 3C905C NIC installed and you are using Novell server revision 5.1, you need to upgrade the Novell 5.1 server to either Service Pack 1 or Novell 5.1 International versions. If this upgrade is not done and you unload the ODI 32 LAN driver, the server will abend. >>> Warm booting with the DOS-based drivers running 3Com has found that some older systems do not reset the PCI Bus when the <CTRL>+<ALT>+<DEL> key combination (a "warm boot") is used to restart the PC. If the system does not reset the PCI Bus when a warm boot occurs, the 3Com NIC remains in a running state that can cause problems if there is any network activity before the driver is reloaded. This problem can be avoided by pressing the PC's reset button (if your PC has one) or by turning the PC completely off before restarting. >>> DOS diagnostics incompatibility with 3C905B NIC in Plug and Play PCI computers During testing, 3Com encountered incompatibilities with the 3C905B&C NIC family and the some PCs when loading the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program. This happens when the PnP OS option is enabled in the BIOS settings. When the computer is booted, configuration resources are not assigned to the NIC. 3Com recommends that you change the PnP OS setting to disabled, save that configuration, reboot the computer to DOS, then run the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostic program. >>> Network Test using a crossover cable The Network Test in the 3Com Diagnostics program for Windows verifies the NIC's ability to transmit and receive data while on the network. There are two ways to perform the test: --Connect two PCs to the same network (using a hub or switch). --Connect two PCs directly to each other using a crossover cable. Connecting Two PCs to the Same Network ----------------------------------------------- 1. Connect one PC (the echo server) and another PC (the echo client) together through a hub or a switch that generates a constant link beat. 2. Set each NICs' Media Type and Duplex settings to AutoSelect. 3. Run the test. Connecting Two PCs Using a Crossover Cable ----------------------------------------------- 1. Connect the two PCs together using a crossover cable. 2. Manually set the Media Type to 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps and the Duplex mode to full or half duplex. 3. Run the test. >>> Error: " Invalid PCI Interrupt Level, Probable Hardware Incompatibility while executing DOS diagnostics" 3Com has observed that some PCs may display the above error message when the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program is launched. To avoid this problem, the "Plug & Play O/S " option should be disabled in the system BIOS. Consult your PC's documentation for the proper steps to disable this option. >>> DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program unable to recognize 3C90x NICs in Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, Windows 2000, and Windows XP. 3Com has observed that the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program does not recognize 3C90x NICs when running under a DOS window using Windows NT 3.51, Windows NT 4.0, or Windows 2000. To avoid this problem, boot your PC with a DOS-bootable diskette and then launch the program. >>> When running the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program on a NIC with an MBA boot ROM installed, the N-WAY Auto Select option sometimes disappears from the list. Re-run the diagnostics program without rebooting. This restores all available settings. This situation was observed intermittently on multiple machines but does not have any impact on the performance of the NIC. >>> When running the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program, the diagnostic tests take the NIC off-line and force the link to 10 Mbps Half Duplex. Running the Group1 test forces a link renegotiation and the correct speed is set. Link renegotiation can also be forced by disconnecting and reconnecting the cables. These change of states can be observed with the NIC link (LNK) LED and the switch port status. This scenario was observed only when the NIC was set to NWAY - Auto and connected to a LinkSwitch 3000 port that was also set to auto negotiate. This situation does not have any impact on the performance of the NIC. >>> Error when running the 3Com DOS Configuration and Diagnostics program from a DOS window under Windows 98 To avoid possible errors, 3Com suggests booting from a DOS-bootable diskette when running the DOS diagnostics program. Alternatively, the DOS diagnostics program can be run by rebooting your PC in "Safe Mode - Command Prompt Only". >>> 3C90x-COMBO NICs require a reboot to reestablish network connectivity when switching between ports on the NIC When changing from one port to another on a 3C90x-COMBO NIC, you must reboot your PC to establish a network connection. This includes any change from AUI or BNC to TP, TP to BNC or AUI, and any changes between BNC and AUI. >>> Intermittent LED behavior on 3C905B NICs 3Com has observed that your PC must be power cycled after you have changed speed settings from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps. The reboot allows the LEDs to indicate the correct speed settings. >>> Client 32 installations in Windows 98 3Com does not recommend using the ODI LAN driver for Client 32 installations under Windows 98. The Windows NDIS driver should be used instead. >>> Changing media type or duplex mode in the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows using the NDIS 3 driver in Windows 95 (Retail) When you change the media type or duplex mode using the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program for Windows, you must exit the diagnostics program and reboot the PC for the changes to take effect. >>> DynamicAccess control panel icon is disabled after removing the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program If you remove the 3Com NIC Diagnostics program on a PC running Windows 98 or Windows 95 (OSR2) with the DynamicAccess LAN agent installed, the DynamicAccess control panel icon will be disabled. Remove and reinstall the DynamicAccess LAN agent to fix the problem. >>> Installing the DynamicAccess LAN agent in a Windows 95 PC that does not have a NIC installed Do not install the DynamicAccess LAN agent on a PC that does not have a NIC installed. Doing so results in the following error message: "3Com Dynamic Acces...
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