Intel PRO/100 TX PCI manual Technical Information, PCI Installation Tips

Technical Information

PCI Installation Tips

PCI computers are designed to automatically configure add-in cards each time the computer starts. Your PCI computer sets the I/O address and IRQ level for your Intel network adapter when the computer starts. These values cannot be changed by Intel adapter software. If you experience a problem when the computer starts, additional configuration steps may be required.

On these computers, manual configuration is possible through the computer’s PCI BIOS setup utility. Refer to your computer’s documentation. You may need to verify or change some BIOS settings.

Some common PCI solutions are listed here.

•Busmaster enabled slots. On some computers, all slots are not busmaster enabled by default. Check your BIOS PCI bus setting. It will set to either Busmaster or Non-busmastered. Choose Busmaster.

•Reserve interrupts (IRQs) and/or memory addresses for ISA adapters. This prevents PCI cards from trying to use the same settings ISA cards are using. Check your PCI BIOS setup program. There may be IRQ options such as ‘Enable for ISA,’ ‘Reserve for ISA,’ or ‘Disable for PCI.’ This option is sometimes in the Plug and Play area of the BIOS setup.

•Enable the PCI slot. In some PCI computers, you must use the PCI BIOS setup program to enable the PCI slot. This is especially common in PCI computers with the Phoenix BIOS.

•Update your PCI BIOS. An updated PCI system BIOS can correct some PCI configuration problems. Call your computer manufacturer to see if an updated BIOS version is available for your computer. Phone numbers for the top PCI computer manufacturers are listed in the PCI Installation README file on the Intel Configuration and Drivers disk.

•Configure the slot for level-triggered interrupts. The slot the adapter is using must be configured for level-triggered interrupts rather than edge-triggered interrupts. Check your PCI BIOS Setup program.

Here are some example PCI BIOS setup program parameters:

PCI slot #: Slot where the adapter is installed

Master: ENABLED

Slave:ENABLED

Latency timer: 40

Interrupt: Choose an IRQ from the list

Edge-level: Level

The exact wording of these parameters varies with different computers.

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