3Com (R) Corporation 3C90x EtherLink PCI NIC Family Windows NT 4.0 Automated Network Installations This document describes the procedures for performing an automated installation of Windows NT 4.0 over the network using a 3Com EtherLink PCI (3C90x) NIC. The procedures use the 3Com EtherCD version 5.1 or later software. (The EtherCD 5.1 software is also available on installation diskettes.) NOTE: These procedures require advanced network administration knowledge. You should be competent with Windows NT 4.0 setup procedures in a network configuration prior to performing an automated installation. Refer to the Windows NT Resource Kit for details. The files provided are sample configuration files that allow a basic Windows NT 4.0 unattended, over-the-network installation using a 3Com EtherLink PCI (3C90x) NIC with the NDIS 4 miniport driver. The automated installation allows Windows NT 4.0 to be installed from a network server. Methods of Unattended Installation ================================== There are various methods for unattended, over-the-network installations of Windows NT 4.0 when installing NIC drivers. This document describes how to install the EtherCD version 5.x or later drivers for the 3Com EtherLink PCI (3C90x) family of NICs by using the Specify Adapter option within the SETUPMGR.EXE utility when creating the Answer File. Requirements ============ Various components must be properly set up for a successful unattended, over-the-network installation to occur. Depending upon the type of installation, the components required are: + Server, with at least 100MB of hard drive space and a shared directory. + DOS client boot disk (preferable). + Windows NT 4.0 source files (copied to a shared directory on the server). + Windows NT 4.0 Answer File (created with the SETUPMGR.EXE utility, which is located in the \SUPPORT\DEPTOOLS\PPC directory on the Windows NT Server Installation CD). + EtherCD or EtherDisk diskette 1 version 5.1 or later. DOS Client Boot Disk -------------------- A DOS client boot disk can be created for a DOS Windows NT client from a Windows NT server. Novell users can simply load the DOS ODI drivers for network connectivity. Windows NT Source Files ----------------------- The Windows NT source files are the installation files for Windows NT (that is, the \I386 directory and subdirectories). These files must be copied to a shared directory on the server. Windows NT Answer File ---------------------- The Answer File contains all the information needed to automate the installation. Microsoft provides a utility for creating this file, SETUPMGR.EXE. However, depending upon the type of installation and its requirements, the Answer File may require manual changes. The Answer File usually resides in the shared directory with the Windows NT source files or is contained on the boot diskette. Some example Answer Files are provided and explained in the "Creating the Answer File" section later in this document. Driver Disk ----------- The driver installation media (EtherCD) is provided by 3Com and is required if the drivers are not native to Windows NT or if you want to install the latest drivers. Procedures for Unattended Installations of Windows NT 4.0 ========================================================= The following sections explain the procedures for performing unattended installations of Windows NT 4.0 workstations using the 3Com EtherLink PCI (3C90x) NICs with EtherCD version 5.1 or later. Preparing the Server -------------------- To prepare the server for automated, over-the-network installations of Windows NT 4.0: + Make sure that the server is powered on and is operational. + Copy the Windows NT 4.0 source files to a shared directory on the server. + Create a user account on the server, if necessary. 1) Install the server. (Refer to the documentation provided with the server software.) 2) Create a shared directory on the server. 3) Copy the Windows NT 4.0 source files to the shared directory that was created in Step 2. (These include the files from the \I386 directory and subdirectories on the Windows NT installation media). For example: XCOPY D:\I386\*.* C:\NT40WS /S /E /V 4) After completing Step 3, there will be a directory created called C:\NT40WS\DRVLIB.NIC. Create a subdirectory in this directory, for example: C:\nt40ws\drvlib.nic>MD 3C905C 4) Copy the root of the EtherCD (or EtherDisk diskette 1 if using installation diskettes) to this directory. For example: COPY A:\*.* C:\NT40WS\DRVLIB.NIC\3C905C Creating the Answer File ------------------------ After preparing the server, you must create an Answer File. This file contains the information needed for automating the installation process. It is created with the SETUPMGR.EXE utility, which is provided on the Windows NT 4.0 Server CD (in the SUPPORT\DEPTOOLS\PPC folder). (Refer to the Windows NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit, Appendix A.) The Answer File may require manual alteration(s), and if not created properly, may result in a failure during the installation process. This file is usually copied onto the server, normally in the same directory where the Windows NT source files reside. 1) Select SPECIFY ADAPTER(S) TO BE INSTALLED under the General tab of the SETUPMGR utility. 2) Under the Adapters tab, click the Add button. 3) From the adapter selection list, select Other (OEM Adapter Installation). 4) Click Parameters. This requires two steps: a) Enter the Inf Option Name, which is 3C90X. NOTE: If the INF Option Name is NOT CAPITALIZED the automated installation will fail. b) Specify the Location of the OEM Files. Refer to Step 3 of the previous section, "Preparing the Server." It is the directory where the driver disk was copied to. For example: C:\$WIN_NT$.~LS\I386\DRVLIB.NIC\ Using the example in Step 3, the correct entry would be: C:\$WIN_NT$.~LS\I386\DRVLIB.NIC\3C905C Example Answer Files are documented below. They can be used as a reference. File Name Description ---------------------------------------------------------------- WKG90X.TXT Example Answer File for the 3C90x NICs for installing into a Microsoft Workgroup. DMN90X.TXT Example Answer File for the 3C90x NICs for installing into a Windows NT Domain. Initiating the Installation --------------------------- To begin the installation: 1) Boot to DOS with a Windows NT DOS client boot disk (or any other means you prefer). 2) Map a network drive to the shared directory where the Windows NT source files reside. For example: A:>NET USE J: \\\ ie A:>NET USE J: \\PLUTO\NT40WS 3) Once mapped, run the Windows NT installer program from the network drive. For example: J:>WINNT /B /S: /U: ie J:>WINNT /B /S:j:\ /U:j:\dmn90x.txt Example Answer File for a Workgroup =================================== ; Unattended Answer File for the 3Com EtherLink PCI (3C90x) NIC family. ; ; OS: Windows NT v4.0 Workstation ; NICs Supported: 3C905C-TX, 3C905B-TX, 3C905B-FX, 3C905B-Combo, 3C905-TX ; 3C900B-TPO, 3C900B-Combo, 3C900B-TPC, 3C900B-FL ; 3C900-TPO, 3C900-Combo ; ; NOTE: This file is an example of an installation for a Workgroup ; configuration. This file will vary depending upon your installation ; requirements. [Unattended] OemPreinstall = yes NoWaitAfterTextMode = 1 NoWaitAfterGUIMode = 1 FileSystem = LeaveAlone ExtendOEMPartition = 0 ConfirmHardware = no NtUpgrade = no Win31Upgrade = no TargetPath = * OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade = no OEMSkipEula = yes [UserData] FullName = "YOUR NAME" OrgName = "YOUR ORGANIZATION" ComputerName = COMPUTER_NAME ProductId = "xxx-xxxxxxx" [GuiUnattended] OemSkipWelcome = 1 OEMBlankAdminPassword = 1 TimeZone = "(GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada); Tijuana" [Display] ConfigureAtLogon = 0 BitsPerPel = 8 XResolution = 800 YResolution = 600 VRefresh = 60 AutoConfirm = 1 [Network] InstallAdapters = SelectedAdaptersSection InstallProtocols = ProtocolsSection InstallServices = ServicesSection JoinWorkgroup = WORKGROUP [SelectedAdaptersSection] 3C90X = OEMCardParameters,c:\$win_nt$.~ls\i386\drvlib.nic\3c905c [OEMCardParameters] [ProtocolsSection] NBF = NBFParamSection [NBFParamSection] [ServicesSection] Example Answer File for a Domain ================================ ; Unattended Answer File for the 3Com EtherLink NIC family (3C90x). ; ; OS: Windows NT v4.0 Workstation ; NICs Supported: 3C905C-TX, 3C905B-TX, 3C905B-FX, 3C905B-Combo, 3C905-TX ; 3C905C-TX, 3C900B-TPO, 3C900B-Combo, 3C900B-TPC, ; 3C900B-FL, 3C900-TPO, 3C900-Combo ; ; NOTE: This file is an example of a Domain configuration. This file will ; vary depending upon your installation requirements. [Unattended] OemPreinstall = yes NoWaitAfterTextMode = 1 NoWaitAfterGUIMode = 1 FileSystem = LeaveAlone ExtendOEMPartition = 0 ConfirmHardware = no NtUpgrade = no Win31Upgrade = no TargetPath = * OverwriteOemFilesOnUpgrade = no OEMSkipEula = yes [UserData] FullName = "YOUR NAME" OrgName = "YOUR ORGANIZATION NAME" ComputerName = COMPUTER_NAME ProductId = "xxx-xxxxxxx" [GuiUnattended] OemSkipWelcome = 1 OEMBlankAdminPassword = 1 TimeZone = "(GMT-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada); Tijuana" [Display] ConfigureAtLogon = 0 BitsPerPel = 8 XResolution = 800 YResolution = 600 VRefresh = 60 AutoConfirm = 1 [Network] InstallAdapters = SelectedAdaptersSection InstallProtocols = ProtocolsSection InstallServices = ServicesSection JoinDomain = DOMAIN_NAME CreateComputerAccount = Administrator, password [SelectedAdaptersSection] 3C90X = OEMCardParameters,c:\$win_nt$.~ls\i386\drvlib.nic\3c905c [OEMCardParameters] [ProtocolsSection] NBF = NBFParamSection [NBFParamSection] [ServicesSection] ; (%VER UNT_NT4.TXT - v5.1.0)