Using t he N etwork Inter face Co nt rol l er 5-1
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Thi s c hapt er describes ho w to conn ect your com puter sy stem to an Ethe rnet network
using the integrated 3Com Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) 3C905b-TX net-
work interface controller (NIC). The NIC provides all the functions normally provided
by a separate network expansion card.
The integrated NIC includes a Wakeup On LAN feature that enables the computer to
be started up by a special local area network (LAN) signal from a server management
console. Wakeup On LAN capability allows remote computer setup, BIOS upgrades,
sof tw are dow nloading an d installation, file up dates, and asset trac k ing af ter ho urs and
on weekends when LAN traffic is typicall y at a minimum. For instructions on us ing
this feature, see “Wakeup On LAN” in Chapter 3.
NOTES: The Wakeup On LAN feature functions even when the computer is turned
off; however, the computer must be plugged into a working electrical outlet at all
times and must be shut down in the normal method expected by the operating sys-
tem. Thus, if you disconnect the system power cable from the electrical outlet, if a
pow er f ailure occurs, or if you sh ut dow n the sy stem a bnormally, the W ak eup On LAN
feature will not work.
When Wakeup On LAN is enabled in the System Setup program, the green link integ-
rity indicator on the NI C con nector (s ee Fig ure 5- 1) remains on when t he computer is
turned off.
This chapter also provides instructions for configuring the NIC under the Microsoft
Windows NT 4.0 operating system.
NOTE: T he NIC driv ers f or sys tems r unning a D ell-installed Windo ws NT 4.0 operating
system are automatically detected and installed. Instructions for reinstalling these
NIC drivers are included later in this chapter.