Using The Network Interface Controller; Connecting To A Network - Dell OptiPlex Gs Reference And Installation Manual

Chapter 4

Using the Network Interface Controller

T
his chapter describes how to connect your computer
system to an Ethernet network using the optional built-in
network interface controller (NIC). The NIC, installed on
the system board for OptiPlex Gs+ systems, provides all
the functions normally handled by a separate network
expansion card. To connect your system to and configure
it for use on an Ethernet network, you must complete the
following steps:
1. Connect the network cable to the back of your
computer.
See the next section, "Connecting to a Network," for
detailed instructions.
2. Verify that the NIC is enabled in the System
Setup program.
See "NIC" in Chapter 2 for instructions.
3. Configure the NIC and install the network driv-
ers by running the 3Com
See "Configuring the NIC" found later in this chap-
ter for detailed instructions.
4. Run the NIC diagnostics to verify that the NIC is
operating properly.
See "Running the NIC Diagnostics" found later in
this chapter for detailed instructions.
C
onnecting to a Network
Your computer has an RJ45 connector on the back panel
for attaching an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernet
cable, which is used in 10Base-T networks. Press one end
®
Install program.
of the UTP cable into the RJ45 connector (see
Figure 4-1) 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 networks:
•
10Base-T networks allow the use of 22-, 24-, and
26-gauge cable (24-gauge cable is the most com-
mon). Voice and data lines should be in separate
sheaths.
•
The maximum cable length (between a workstation
and a concentrator) is 328 feet (ft) (100 meters [m]).
•
The maximum number of workstations (not including
concentrators) on a network is 1024.
•
The maximum number of daisy-chained concentrators
on one network segment is four.
The RJ45 connector on the computer's back panel
incorporates the following indicators:
•
The yellow activity indicator flashes when the
system is transmitting or receiving network data. (A
high volume of network traffic may make this indi-
cator appear to be in a steady "on" state.)
•
The green link integrity indicator lights up when
there is a valid 10Base-T connection between the
network and the computer. When the indicator is off,
the computer is not detecting a physical connection
to the network.
Using the Network Interface Controller 4-1