(C)Copyright 1998-2003 3Com. All rights reserved
(C)Copyright 1998-2003 Marvell. All rights reserved
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3Com 3C2000-T Adapter
NDIS4 Miniport Driver for Windows NT4 (x86)
This file contains
1 Overview
2 Required Files
3 Installation
3.1 Installing the driver
3.2 Updating the driver
4 Parameters
5 Troubleshooting
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1 Overview
EL2K_NT4.SYS is the NDIS4 32-bit Miniport driver for the
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter Families.
This driver supports only Windows NT4 (x86).
This README file explains how to install the Miniport driver on a machine
running Windows NT4 (x86).
This EL2K_NT4 NDIS4 Miniport driver cannot be used with other
Windows versions than Windows NT4 (x86).
2 Required Files
To install the driver, the following files are required:
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter
NDIS4 Miniport driver
oemsetup.inf installation setup script
OEMNADSK.HLP installation help file
OEMNADSK.DLL installation dialogs
3 Installation
3.1 Installing the driver
Read the installation instructions in the adapter manual carefully.
Follow these instructions to install the adapter in your computer.
1. Start Windows NT4 (x86).
2. Click START / SETTINGS / CONTROL PANEL / NETWORK.
3. Select ADAPTERS.
4. Click ADD.
5. Select HAVE DISK.
6. Depending on the type of installation medium used (e.g. CD-ROM, floppy
diskette, network drive, etc.) enter the path to the required files.
7. Click OK.
8. Select the 3Com 3C2000-T Adapter Families entry that
matches your adapter.
9. Click OK.
10. Select the appropriate configuration (see section "Driver Options"
in this readme file for details).
NOTE: We strongly recommend to install the latest Windows NT4 (x86) Service
Pack *after* successful installation of the driver.
11. Click OK.
12. Restart your system.
3.2 Updating the driver
You can use the CONTROL PANEL / NETWORK / ADAPTERS /
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter / UPDATE button to update an
already installed driver for your 3Com 3C2000-T Adapter .
Please note that the latest version of the EL2K_NT4 driver is
available for download from our web site:
http://www.3Com.com
4 Parameters
The EL2K_NT4.SYS driver supports various advanced options.
CAUTION: Setting any advanced driver options can dramatically change
the behaviour of the driver. This can lead to serious system
or network problems. So care must be taken when any driver
options are set by the user.
If the driver is ever misconfigured in such a way that it no
longer operates properly, then remove and re-install the driver.
This causes the default values for all options to be restored.
To set the advanced driver options, proceed as follows:
1. Start the Registry Editor tool REGEDIT.
2. All of the driver's options are stored in the system's registry
database. Open the path to the driver's options:
\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
\SYSTEM
\CurrentControlSet
\Services
\EL2K_NT4x
\Parameters
Where the 'x' in EL2K_NT4 must be replaced by the instance
number of the driver, i.e. EL2K_NT41, EL2K_NT42, etc.
3. The following actions can be executed:
- Modify an existing driver option by double-clicking it.
- Create a new driver option: Select EDIT > NEW, select the type for
the new option: "String", "Binary" or "DWORD". The type required
by each particular driver option is listed in the "Type:" field in
the description below.
- Delete an existing driver option: Select the option to be deleted,
click EDIT > DELETE. In this case, the driver will use its built-in
default for the deleted option.
5. After you have finished changing the driver options, reboot the
machine.
NOTE: The machine must be rebooted before any changed options can take
effect.
The following is a list of advanced options supported by the EL2K_NT4
driver.
NOTE: If an advanced option is not present in the registry, you may create
it via EDIT / NEW. Note that in the absence of any option, the
driver will use its built-in default value for that option, as
described by "Default value:" below.
The EL2K_NT4.SYS driver allows you to modify several options in order to
optimize the operation of your 3Com 3C2000-T Adapter
.
The parameters supported by the driver are described below.
Bus Type
----------
Registry Name: "BusNumber"
Default value: next available adapter found when driver installed
Valid range: depends on system configuration
This parameter specifies the adapter instance to which the driver shall be
bound. You can choose from a list of bus/slot combinations for which the
system has found one or more instances of the 3Com 3C2000-T Adapter .
When you add, remove,or move any adapters to, from, or between PCI slots,
this list will change.
Network Address
---------------
Registry Name: "NetworkAddress"
Default value: burned-in adapter address
Valid range: 0y-00-00-00-00-01 to FE-FF-FF-FF-FF-FF (hexadecimal),
where at least the "locally administered" bit 2h
(i.e. bit #1) in the 'y' nibble must be set and the
multicast" bit 1h (i.e. bit #0) must not be set
CAUTION: Each individual network MAC address can only be used once in a
network. Assigning the same address to more than one adapter in
the same network is not allowed and can cause serious network
problems.
To use a network MAC address other than the one burned into the adapter,
enter the network address in the following hexadecimal format:
XX-XX-XX-XX-XX-XX (e.g. 02-00-5A-98-12-34).
If the network address field blank is left blank (or a different number of
digits is specified), the network address burned into the adapter will
be used.
Maximum Frame Size
------------------
Registry Name: "MaxFrameSize"
Default value: 1514 (decimal)
Valid range: 12..9014 (decimal)
This parameter specifies the maximum frame size in bytes that the driver
will support. The performance of your network usually increases when
a large packet size is used. Do not use values larger than 1514 if you
are not sure if your network supports jumbo frames.
Link Speed
----------
Registry Name: "Speed_<n>" <n> = port designator (A or B)
Default value: 1 (Auto)
Valid values: 1 = "Auto"
2 = "10"
3 = "100"
4 = "1000"
- "Auto" Auto-negotiate Speed
- "10" Force Speed to 10 MBit
- "100" Force Speed to 100 MBit
- "1000" Force Speed to 1000 MBit
This parameter is only available for the 3Com
3C2000-T Adapter .
Number of Receive Buffers
-------------------------
Registry Name: "MaxReceives"
Default value: 50 (decimal)
Valid range: 3..500 (decimal)
This parameters defines the number of receive buffers allocated by the
driver. If the system does not have enough resources the driver will fail
to load. Increasing this value may improve performance.
Number of Transmit Buffers
--------------------------
Registry Name: "MaxTransmits"
Default value: 50 (decimal)
Valid range: 4..200 (decimal)
This parameters defines the number of transmit buffers allocated by the
driver. If the system does not have enough resources the driver will
fail to load. Increasing this value may improve performance.
Interrupt Moderation
--------------------
Registry Name: "Moderate"
Default value: 1 (On)
Valid values: 1 = "On"
0 = "Off"
If more than the specified rate of interrupts occur, the function
Interrupt Moderation groups these interrupts so that several data packets
can be handled per interrupt. This will lead to lower CPU utilization
but may increase the latency.
Max IRQ per Sec
---------------
Registry Name: "FixedIntMod"
Default value: 5000 (decimal)
Valid range: 1000..30000 (decimal)
This parameter specifies the interrupt rate for Interrupt Moderation. If
Interrupt Moderation is set to "Off" it will be ignored.
Log Status Messages
-------------------
Registry Name: "MessageLog"
Default value: 1 (Status Messages)
Valid values: 0 = "All Messages"
1 = "Status Messages"
2 = "Warnings"
3 = "Errors"
4 = "None"
This parameter specifies the messages, which are to be logged in the
Event Log.
- "All Messages": This option should only be used for test purposes.
- "Status Messages": In this mode the driver will generate an event log
entry every time the link status changes.
- "Warnings": In this mode you will only receive warning or error
messages.
- "Errors": In this mode you will only receive error messages.
- "None": All driver messages will be suppressed. It is not
recommended to use this value.
AutoNegotiation
---------------
Registry Name: "AutoNegotiation_<n>" <n> = port designator (A or B)
Default value: 1 (On)
Valid range: 0 = "Off"
1 = "On"
2 = "Auto-Sense"
NOTE: If this parameter is set to "Off" and 'DuplexCapabilities' is
set to "half and full duplex" the driver will override the
setting and use "On" instead.
NOTE: Copper adapters do not support "auto-sense". This setting will be
treated like "On".
This parameter defines the auto-negotiation mode and can be set for each
port individually, which is helpful if the port at the other end of the
cable is limited in its capabilities. Using the default setting, the
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter should
automatically detect the capabilities of the peer port.
DuplexCapabilities
------------------
Registry Name: "DuplexCapabilities_<n>" <n> = port designator (A or B)
Default value: 3 (half and full duplex)
Valid range: 1 = "half duplex"
2 = "full duplex"
3 = "half and full duplex"
NOTE: This parameter is ignored if 'AutoNegotiation' is set to "auto-sense".
This parameter can be used to limit the duplex capabilities the port
reports during auto-negotiation. This parameter can be set for each port
individually, which is helpful if the port at the other end of the cable
cannot handle all possible combinations. Using the default setting, the
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter should
automatically detect the capabilities of the peer port.
FlowControl
-----------
Registry Name: "FlowControl_<n>" <n> = port designator (A or B)
Default value: 3 (Asymmetrical and Symmetrical Flow Control)
Valid range: 0 = "No Flow Control"
1 = "Asymmetrical Flow Control"
2 = "Symmetrical Flow Control"
3 = "Asymmetrical and Symmetrical Flow Control"
Modes:
- Symmetrical Flow Control: Both link partners are allowed to send
PAUSE frames.
- Asymmetrical and Symmetrical Flow Control: Both or only the remote
link partner are allowed
to send PAUSE frames.
- Asymmetrical Flow Control: Only the local link partner is allowed
to send PAUSE frames.
- No Flow Control: No link partner is allowed to send PAUSE frames.
NOTE: This parameter is ignored if 'AutoNegotiation' is set to "Off".
This parameter can be used to set the flow control capabilities the port
reports during auto-negotiation. This parameter can be set for each port
individually, which is helpful if the port at the other end of the cable
cannot handle all possible combinations. Using the default setting, the
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter should
automatically detect the capabilities of the peer port.
Role
----
Registry Name: "Role_<n>" <n> = port designator (A or B)
Default value: 0 (Auto)
Valid range: 0 = "Auto"
2 = "Master"
3 = "Slave"
NOTE: This parameter will be used only for copper adapters.
For two 1000Base-T ports to communicate, one must take the role of the
master (providing timing information), while the other must be slave.
Usually, this is negotiated between the two ports during link
establishment. If this fails, a port can be forced to a specific setting
with this parameter.
Preferred Port
--------------
Registry Name: "PreferredPort"
Default value: 1 (A)
Valid range: 1 = "A"
2 = "B"
NOTE: This parameter is only available for dual link adapters.
Use this parameter to set the preferred port the RLMT (Redundant
Link Management Technology) will use for all network traffic, if more than
one port has an active link to the network.
RLMT Mode
---------
Registry Name: "RlmtMode"
Default value: 1 (CLS)
Valid range: 1 = "CLS"
3 = "CLP"
7 = "CLPSS"
NOTE: This parameter is only available for dual link adapters.
Use this parameter to set the operational mode for the RLMT:
- "CLS" (Check Link State): RLMT uses the link state reported by the
adapter hardware for each individual port to determine whether a
port can be used for all network traffic or not.
- "CLP" (Check Local Port): In this mode, RLMT monitors the network path
between the two ports of an adapter by regularly exchanging packets
between them. This mode requires a network configuration in which
the two ports "see" each other (i.e. there must not be any router
between the ports).
- "CLPSS" (Check Local Ports and Segmentation Status): This mode supports
the same functions as the CLP mode and additionally checks network
segmentation by sending BPDU hello packets. Thus, this mode is only
to be used if Gigabit Ethernet switches are installed on the network
that have been configured to use the Spanning Tree protocol.
NOTE: RLMT modes "CLP" and "CLPSS" are designed to operate in
configurations where a network path between the ports on one adapter
exists. Moreover, they are not designed to work where adapters are
connected back-to-back.
5 Troubleshooting
If you should encounter any problems with your
3Com 3C2000-T Adapter , please re-read
the instructions above and the documentation supplied with the
operating system.
Also refer to your system event log file (using the Event Viewer) and
check it for entries from EL2K_NT4.
If your particular problem is not listed or the error persists, please
send your system event log file or at least the event id number and the
logging data (as WORDs) of the entries made by EL2K_NT4 to our technical
support.
Contact 3Com support for further information (for contact
information, please refer to the SUPPORT.HTM file on the installation
medium).
*** End of Readme File ***
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.