10 Installing 3Com Advanced Server Features for Windows

This chapter explains the following tasks for a computer running Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000, or Windows NT 4.0 with the 3Com 10/100 Secure (3CR990B) NIC installed.

NOTE: Windows 98 does not support the advanced server features.

Sections include:

•About the Advanced Server Features

•Installing 3Com Advanced Server software for a server NIC

•Configuring groups and VLANs for a server NIC

3Com Advanced Server (DynamicAccess) features include:

•Fault tolerance

•Bi-directional load balancing

•Resilient server links (RSL)

•Multiple virtual LANs (MVLANs) support

About the Advanced Server Features

The 3CR990B NIC and accompanying software provide a variety of features that relieve network congestion and ensure high performance and maximum bandwidth availability.

NOTE: Only system administrators should configure these settings.

3Com DynamicAccess Advanced Server Features

3Com DynamicAccess Advanced Server software adds intelligence to the NIC to improve network performance, management, and control. Advanced server features relieve network congestion and ensure high performance and maximum bandwidth availability.

•Load Balancing groups share the network load over resilient server links (RSLs) that keep traffic flowing even if a NIC in a group is temporarily disconnected.

•Failover fault tolerance provides a backup solution in the event of a NIC failure.

•VLANs (IEEE 802.1Q multiple virtual LANs) let you divide network segments into logical partitions that simplify configuration changes, organize work groups efficiently, help to control traffic, and provide extra security.

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