3Com 3CR990-FX-97 manual Non-BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs

6Configuring the NIC

BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs

To enable a BBS BIOS-compatible PC to boot from the network using the MBA boot ROM:

1Make sure the NIC boot ROM setting is Enabled.

See the previous section, “Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting,” for instructions.

2Set a MBA manually as the first boot device in the PC BIOS.

Refer to your PC documentation for instructions on accessing and configuring the

PC BIOS.

3Reboot the PC.

The MBA attempts to boot from the network using the default boot method PXE. To change the default boot method or any other MBA configurations, press Ctrl+Alt+B when the following message appears:

Initializing MBA. Press Ctrl+Alt+B to configure...

If the network boot fails, the following message appears:

Network boot aborted, press any key to continue

The BIOS continues to the next device in the boot order (for example, the local hard drive).

NOTE: To cancel the network boot, press Esc anytime during the network boot process.

Non-BBS BIOS-Compatible PCs

To enable a non-BBS BIOS-compatible PC to boot from the network using the MBA boot ROM:

1Make sure the NIC boot ROM setting is Enabled.

See “Enabling or Disabling the Boot ROM Setting” on page 51 for instructions.

2Change the MBA default boot setting from Local to Network.

To change the default boot setting or any other MBA configurations, use the MBACFG utility or press Ctrl+Alt+B when the following message appears:

Initializing MBA. Press Ctrl+Alt+B to configure...

CAUTION: For computers running Windows 98, boot directly to DOS (using a DOS-bootable diskette) instead of restarting in MS-DOS mode from a Windows 98 session. The MBACFG.EXE program does not work properly if you restart in MS-DOS mode with the 3CR990-FX-97 NIC drivers loaded.

NOTE: For more information on using, configuring, and troubleshooting the MBA boot ROM, refer to the 3Com Managed PC Boot Agent User Guide, located with the MBA software on the EtherCD.

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