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The 3Com® OfficeConnect® Fast Ethernet Network Interface Card (NIC) allows you to connect your personal computer (PC) to an Ethernet (10BASE-T) or Fast Ethernet (100BASE-TX) network.
The OfficeConnect NIC is specifically designed for the small office/home office environment.
This guide provides all the information you need to install the OfficeConnect NIC and connect it to a network. It tells you how to:
This chapter provides a brief introduction to networking and describes the features of your OfficeConnect NIC.
If you're already familiar with basic networking concepts, you can start with Chapter 2, "Installing the Network Interface Card."
A computer network is a group of computers and other associated devices, such as printers, fax machines, and modems, that are connected to one another so they can share resources and information.
A network allows you to:
Figure 1 shows a sample network composed of two PCs, a printer, and a hub.
Figure 1 Sample Network
Every network requires special software, called a network operating system (NOS) (such as Windows NT or NetWare), to control the flow of information between users. Each PC that you want to connect as part of the network must have an operating system (such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT) that can communicate with the NOS.
In a peer-to-peer networking architecture, the operating system that is installed on each PC acts as the NOS. In a client/server networking architecture, the operating system that is installed on each client PC communicates with the NOS, which is installed on the server PC.
There are two basic types of small business network architectures: peer-to-peer and client/server.
A peer-to-peer network is generally suited for home and small office use. This type of network is the easiest to install, accommodates up to about five PCs, and is suitable for sharing applications, data, printers, and other localized resources.
The PCs on a peer-to-peer network are connected directly to one other or to a central point, usually a device called a hub. Unlike a client/server network, a peer-to-peer network allows users to share information without relying on a centralized server. Figure 1 is an example of a peer-to-peer network.
The PCs on a peer-to-peer network require an operating system such as Windows 95 or Windows 98. This operating system acts as the NOS.
For more information on peer-to-peer networking, see the Network Assistant CD included in your package.
A client/server network is ideal for organizations that require fast network access for large applications such as multimedia, databases, and video.
In a client/server network, all shared applications and files are stored on one central computer known as the server. Network users (client PCs) can store their own files on their own PCs, and then use the server to access shared files and peripherals, such as printers, fax machines, and modems.
The client PCs on a client/server network require an operating system such as Windows 95, Windows 98, or Windows NT. The servers on a client/server network require a NOS such as Windows NT or NetWare.
Ethernet and Fast Ethernet are local area network (LAN) protocols, or specifications, that define the signaling of the network and specify how data is placed on and retrieved from the network.
Fast Ethernet is the same as Ethernet, except for the speed:
The OfficeConnect NIC is compatible with both Ethernet and Fast Ethernet networks. It automatically connects to the network at 10 Mbps or 100 Mbps, depending on the speed of the connected network hub or switch.
For more information on Ethernet and Fast Ethernet, see Appendix A.
For more information on networking, see the Network Assistant CD included in your package.
A network interface card (NIC) is a printed circuit board that plugs into a PC expansion slot in your computer to provide a connection to a network.
Once the NIC is installed in your PC, you connect it to the network media (cabling, such as unshielded twisted-pair [UTP]), which in turn connects to all the devices on the network.
The OfficeConnect NIC is a 10/100 Mbps PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) NIC. It connects your PC to a 10 Mbps Ethernet or 100 Mbps Fast Ethernet network.
Figure 2 OfficeConnect NIC
The OfficeConnect NIC backplate has three light-emitting diodes (LEDs):
After the NIC is installed, these LEDs show whether there's an active connection between the NIC and the network, and the speed at which you're connected. (See "Interpreting the LEDs" in Chapter 4 for more information.)
You can install the OfficeConnect NIC in any IBM-compatible PC with an available PCI expansion slot. Almost all PCs currently on the market have such slots. (See "Inserting the NIC" in Chapter 2 for more information about PCI expansion slots.)
You need an unshielded twisted-pair cable with RJ-45 connectors on both ends to connect the OfficeConnect NIC to the network. This cable is not supplied with the NIC.
The maximum Ethernet cable length allowed between the NIC and the network device to which it is connected is 328 feet (100 meters).
For more information on cabling, see "Cabling Requirements" in Appendix A.
The OfficeConnect NIC is compatible with the following operating systems:
You can use the OfficeConnect NIC to connect to both Microsoft and NetWare network environments.
The EtherDisk diskette included in your package contains the software (configuration programs, diagnostic programs, and device drivers) that allows your NIC to work with all of the operating systems mentioned in this section.