Network Cable Requirements; Configuring The Nic; Windows Nt 4.0 Nic Driver; Figure 4-1. I/O Ports And Connectors - Dell OptiPlex Gn Reference And Installation Manual

parallel port
connector
keyboard
serial port 1
connector
connector

Figure 4-1. I/O Ports and Connectors

Network Cable Requirements

Your computer's NIC connector (an RJ45 connector
located on the back panel) is designed for attaching an
unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet cable. Press one
end of the UTP cable into the NIC connector until the
cable snaps securely into place.
Connect the other end of the cable to an RJ45 jack wall
plate or to an RJ45 port on a UTP concentrator or hub,
depending on your network configuration. Observe the
following cabling restrictions for 10BASE-T and
100BASE-TX networks.
CAUTION: To avoid line interference, voice and
data lines must be used in separate sheaths.
•
For 10BASE-T networks, use Category 3 or greater
wiring and connectors.
•
For 100BASE-TX networks, use Category 5 wiring
and connectors.
•
The maximum cable run length (from a workstation
to a concentrator) is 328 feet (ft) (100 meters [m]).
•
The maximum number of workstations (not counting
concentrators) on a network is 1024.
•
For 10BASE-T networks, the maximum number of
daisy-chained concentrators on one network segment
is four.
4-2 Dell OptiPlex Gn and Gn+ Low-ProfileSystems Reference and Installation Guide
mouse
connector
serial port 2
USB
connector
connectors
link integrity
indicator
video connector

Configuring the NIC

This subsection provides instructions for configuring the
computer's integrated, 10/100-Mbps 3Com NIC under
the following operating systems:
•
Microsoft Windows NT 4.0
•
Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x
•
Microsoft Windows for Workgroups
•
Microsoft Windows 95
•
MS-DOS
NOTE: The NIC drivers for systems running a Dell-
installed Windows NT 4.0 or Windows 95 operating
system are automatically detected and installed. Instruc-
tions for reinstalling the NIC driver for Windows NT and
Windows 95 are included later in this subsection.

Windows NT 4.0 NIC Driver

The Windows NT 4.0 operating system automatically
detects and installs the NIC driver. To reinstall the driver,
complete the following steps:
1. Use the Dell Program Diskette Maker (in the Dell
Accessories folder) to make a diskette copy of the
NIC drivers installed on your hard-disk drive.
2. Connect the network cable to the back of your
computer.
See "Network Cable Requirements" found earlier in
this chapter for detailed instructions.
activity indicator
NIC connector (optional)