3C90X,24,15,24,20,23,19,14,22,18,1,8,21,3,29,28,25,25,2,7,6,11,10,9,5,13 3C90X,4,4,16,17,12 ERROR Unable to locate topic. No information was found in the help file. This message appears because there is a problem in accessing the information in the help file. Press [Esc] and exit the program. Locate the original help file that came with the program. About the Program NIC Information NIC Statistics Boot PROM Command Line Help Changing Configuration Settings Echo Server Exit File Options for NIC Configuration File Options for Test Results File Options for Test Setup Full Duplex Installing Network Drivers Load Configuration File Load Test Setup File Media Type Network Driver Optimization Print Configuration Settings Print Test Results Print Test Setup File Run Tests Save Configuration File Save Test Results Save Test Setup File Select NIC Technical Support Test Definitions Test Setup Troubleshooting About the Program The Configuration and Diagnostic program lets you change the configuration settings of the installed NICs and run various levels of diagnostic tests. The program is window-based and composed of dialog boxes. To move within the dialog boxes, you can use: - A mouse - Specific keys such as [Tab] and arrow keys - Speed keys (press [Alt]+[Highlighted Key]) - Function keys At the bottom of each dialog box are command buttons. Each command button performs an action within the dialog box, such as saving the information or exiting the dialog box. When you highlight a command button, it is defined at the bottom of the screen. For more information on any dialog box press [F1]. Command Buttons (for the help screens): --------------- : Displays all of the help information that is available in the program. Scroll through the list to highlight a title and press [Enter] to access help information. : Exits this help screen and returns to the main window. NIC Information This menu item lets you view specific NIC information. Only those settings that apply to the NIC are listed. For example, the settings for a Fast Ethernet NIC will differ from those of an Ethernet NIC. Command Buttons: --------------- : Exits the dialog box and returns to the main window. NIC Statistics This menu item displays the network statistics maintained by the NIC. The definitions are: Packets transmitted: The number of packets transmitted by the NIC. Bytes transmitted: The number of bytes transmitted by the NIC. Transmit deferrals: The number of times the NIC deferred to another transmitting node while waiting to transmit. This number increases as other stations contend with this NIC for access to the Ethernet. Packets transmitted after exactly one collision: Collisions are a normal occurrence on an Ethernet; however, excessive collisions may indicate problems. If this occurs, contact your network administrator. Packets transmitted after multiple collisions: Collisions are a normal occurrence on an Ethernet; however, excessive collisions may indicate problems. If this occurs, contact your network administrator. Packets not transmitted after maximum collisions: Collisions are a normal occurrence on an Ethernet; however, excessive collisions may indicate problems. If this occurs, contact your network administrator. Late collisions: A late collision occurs when another node on the Ethernet does not properly defer once the NIC has started transmitting. If a large number of late collisions occur, contact your network administrator. Packets transmitted with no CD heartbeat: If you are using an external transceiver, a non-zero value for this number may mean the transceiver does not support CD (collision detect) heartbeat, or that the transceiver is not performing properly. Consult your network administrator. Packets transmitted with carrier sense loss: This normally occurs as a result of collisions. For more information, refer to an Ethernet reference guide. Packets received: The number of packets received by the NIC. Bytes received: The number of bytes received by the NIC. Packets received with CRC error: Each packet sent on an Ethernet has a calculated CRC (cyclic redundancy check) appended to it. When the packet is received, this CRC is compared against the calculated CRC. A difference in the CRC indicates the packet was corrupted, most likely by line noise. A large value for this statistic indicates noise on the network. Packets received with alignment error: Similar to CRC error. A small number of these errors may be normal. Packets received with oversize error: Oversize packets are those greater than 1514 bytes. Even though such packets are theoretically illegal under Ethernet, they do occur on certain live Ethernet networks. Packets received with undersize error: Undersize packets are those less than 60 bytes. Typically these are simply collision fragments. There are no problems on the network. Receive overrun: Packets may not be received if the NIC/protocol is still busy with previous packets. Normally the higher-level protocol will retransmit the packets with no ill effects other than some performance degradation. Transmit underrun: Transmit underrun occurs when the host was unable to supply the frame data fast enough to keep up with the network. Jabber errors: Jabber occurs when the NIC determines that it is transmitting for too long. Command Button: -------------- : Exits the dialog box and returns to the main window. Boot PROM The boot PROM lets the computer start DOS operations through the network without using a local startup disk. The Disabled setting indicates that no boot PROM is installed or that you do not want it active. The Enabled setting indicates that you want to activate the Boot PROM. If no boot PROM is installed, the setting has no effect. Command Line Help You can configure and test the NIC from the command line. To get help from the command line, exit this program and type: 3C90XCFG HELP You can get help information for specific commands such as RUN by typing: 3C90XCFG HELP RUN For more information, refer to the NIC manual. Changing Configuration Settings This menu item lets you change the configuration settings on the selected NIC. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the list of options. To view all of the possible settings under each option, highlight one of the options and press [Enter]. Another dialog box appears for each separate option. Use the arrow keys to scroll through the settings. To save any changes to the NIC, press [Tab] to highlight and press [Enter]. All setting changes are saved automatically to the NIC. You can also save the settings to a file by using the save option in the File Options dialog box. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Press [Enter]. Auto Configure automatically selects Media Type setting. : Use the arrow keys to highlight one of the options. Press [Tab] to highlight and press [Enter]. A second dialog box appears with the available settings for that option. : Press [Tab] to highlight this command button and press [Enter]. A second dialog box appears. For more information on the load, save, or print options, press [F1] after selecting this option. : Saves any setting changes to the NIC. : Ends this operation and returns to the main window. Echo Server To run the Group 3 test on your NIC you need a second computer set up as an echo server. The echo server receives packets from the NIC being tested and echoes them back. This menu item lets you set up an echo server. The second computer must contain a 3Com NIC. The diagnostic program that comes with the NIC supports the Configuration and Diagnostic program's echo server function. You can use any of the NICs listed below in the echo server: For 10 MBits/s Ethernet ----------------------- EtherLink II or II TP EtherLink Plus EtherLink 16 or 16 TP EtherLink/MC or MC TP EtherLink/MC 32 EtherLink II/16 or II/16 TP EtherLink III Family EtherLink PCI For 100 MBits/s Ethernet ------------------------ Fast EtherLink Fast EtherLink PCI For specific setup information refer to the manual that accompanied the 3Com NIC. Exit To exit the program you can do one of the following: - Go to the Quit menu, highlight Exit, and press [Enter]. - Press [F3] while in the main window. - Press [Esc] while in the main window. A dialog box appears asking if you want to quit the program. The default response is , and it is already highlighted. Press [Enter]. File Options for NIC Configuration This dialog box lets you load, save, and print the NIC configuration file. Highlight one of the File Options command buttons and press [Enter]. Another dialog box appears. Command Buttons: --------------- : Loads a previously saved configuration file, and changes the current configuration to that in the file. : Saves the NIC's currently displayed software configuration settings to a file. : Prints the configuration information currently displayed on the screen. : Ends this operation and returns to the previous dialog box. File Options for Test Results This dialog box lets you save and print the current NIC's diagnostic test results. Highlight one of the File Options command buttons and press [Enter]. Another dialog box appears. Command Buttons: --------------- : Saves your diagnostic test results to a file. : Prints the diagnostic test results. : Ends this operation and returns to the previous dialog box. File Options for Test Setup This dialog box lets you load, save, and print the NIC's diagnostic test setup file. Highlight one of the File Options command buttons and press [Enter]. Another dialog box appears. Command Buttons: --------------- : Loads a previously saved test setup file. The test configuration previously saved can be run on the installed NIC. : Saves the test setup selections currently displayed on the screen to a file. : Prints the test setup currently displayed on the screen. : Ends this operation and returns to the previous dialog box. Full Duplex This option lets you disable or enable the full duplex feature on the NIC. Ensure the NIC is connected to hub/repeater which supports full duplex before enabling the full duplex feature of the NIC. Otherwise, it will bring down the whole network. For Fast EtherLink NICs, this option setting is determined automatically by the NICs when Media Type option is set to Auto Select. Installing Network Drivers The EtherDisk media contains the network drivers for the NIC. The utility program that automatically installs the drivers is accessed through the EtherDisk main menu. Exit this program to return to the main menu of the EtherDisk media. Load Configuration File The NIC configuration file contains the option settings that were previously selected and saved for the NIC. This option retrieves the configuration file. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Filename: Enter the NIC configuration filename. The default name is 3C90X.SET. You can also enter *.* to list all the files in a specific directory. You can include the DRIVE\PATH\FILENAME. Directory is: Displays the current drive and directory. Files: Lists all the files in the current directory. Directories: Lists all directories visible in the current drive and all the drives on the computer. There are three methods available to load the configuration file. Once the file is loaded, the program returns to the NIC Configuration dialog box. - Method 1: Type the filename in the Filename text edit box and press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. - Method 2: If you first need to locate the file: a. Type X:*.* in the Filename text edit box, where X is the drive the file is located in. For example: D:*.* b. Press [Tab] to highlight the Files list box. c. Use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to load. Press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. - Method 3: With the third method you are changing the directory or drive to locate the file. a. Press [Tab] to highlight the Directories list box. b. Use the arrow keys to highlight the directory or drive your file is located in. Press [Enter]. c. Press [Tab] to highlight the Files list box. d. Use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to load. Press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Loads the NIC configuration file specified in the Filename text edit box. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the NIC Configuration dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Load Test Setup File The test setup file contains the diagnostic test settings that were previously selected and saved for the NIC. This option retrieves the file. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Filename: Enter the test setup filename. The default name is 3C90X.TST NIC. You can also enter *.* to list all the files in a specific directory. You can include the DRIVE\PATH\FILENAME. Directory is: Displays the current drive and directory. Files: Lists all the files in the current directory. Directories: Lists all directories visible in the current drive and all the drives on the computer. There are three methods available to load the test setup file. Once the file is loaded, the program returns you to the Test Setup dialog box. - Method 1: Type the filename in the Filename text edit box and press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. - Method 2: If you first need to locate the file: a. Type X:*.* in the Filename text edit box, where X is the drive the file is located in. For example: D:*.* b. Press [Tab] to highlight the Files list box. c. Use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to load. Press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. - Method 3: If you need to change the directory or drive to locate the file: a. Press [Tab] to highlight the Directories list box. b. Use the arrow keys to highlight the directory or drive the file is located in. Press [Enter]. c. Press [Tab] to highlight the Files list box. d. Use the arrow keys to highlight the file you want to load. Press [Enter]. Your file is loaded. To run the test setup file, go to the Run menu item. Highlight and press [Enter]. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Loads the test setup file specified in the Filename text edit box. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the Test Setup dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Media Type This option lets you select the media type, based on the type of cable you are using. For Fast EtherLink NICs, Full Duplex option setting is determined automatically by the NICs when this option is set to Auto Select. Network Driver Optimization This option specifies whether to optimize the network driver for a normal environment, a minimized CPU utilization environment or a maximized network performance environment. For example, it may use a larger percentage of the CPU under DOS in order to improve network throughput. On a server this may be inappropriate, so the driver will attempt to minimize CPU utilization in a server environment. For a multi-tasking workstation, it may be better to use a normal option to balance the CPU utilization and the network performance. Print Configuration Settings To print a copy of the currently displayed configuration settings, use the arrow keys to select the appropriate printer port and printer type. To print more than one copy, press [Tab] to access the Copies box. Type the number of copies you want to print, up to a maximum of 99 copies. To print the settings previously saved to a file, load the file so that the settings are the current ones displayed on the screen and then print. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Prints the displayed NIC configuration settings. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the NIC Configuration dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Print Test Results To print a copy of the diagnostic test results, use the arrow keys to select the appropriate printer port and printer type. To print more than one copy, press [Tab] to access the Copies box. Type the number of copies you want to print, up to a maximum of 99 copies. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Prints the NIC diagnostic test results. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the Run dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Print Test Setup File To print a copy of the currently displayed diagnostic test setup, use the arrow keys to select the appropriate printer port and printer type. To print more than one copy, press [Tab] to access the Copies box. Type the number of copies you want to print, up to a maximum of 99 copies. To print the settings previously saved to a file, load the file so that the settings are the current ones displayed on the screen and then print. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Prints the NIC diagnostic test settings. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the Test Setup dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Run Tests This menu item displays the current status of the diagnostic tests. Use the command buttons to start or stop (abort) any of the test groups. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Test Results. Displays the diagnostic test results for the selected NIC. Each line in the list box contains: - The test name - The number of times the test was completed - The results of the test The test results field can change as the tests are run. The value of the test results field is one of the following: - Not Tested: the test was not run - Passed: the NIC passed the test - !Failed: the NIC failed the test - DISABLED: the test was not selected Diagnostic Tests Status. The responses to the current status of the diagnostic tests include: - Waiting for - Completed Successfully - Testing Halted - Error-Halted - Completed with Error - Testing in Progress - No Tests Are Enabled Command Buttons: --------------- : Begins the diagnostic tests. : Restarts the diagnostic tests without resetting the counters. : Stops the tests that are currently running. : Accesses the Test Setup dialog box, but only if the diagnostic tests are not being run. : Lists a test, the number of times the test completed successfully, the number of times the test failed, and the reasons it failed. : Lists the NIC's statistics. You can only access this window if the diagnostic tests are not being run. : Accesses the Test Results File Options dialog box. You can only access this window if the diagnostic tests are not being run. : Exits this dialog box and returns to the main window. Save Configuration File This option saves the NIC's software configuration settings to a file. When this information is saved, the same configuration can be used on other NICs. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Filename: Type an NIC configuration filename. Directory is: Displays the current drive and directory. Directories: Lists all directories visible in the current drive and all of the drives on the computer. To save the configuration settings, type a filename in the Filename text edit box and press [Enter]. The filename can be up to eight characters long. The recommended filename extension is .SET. The default name is 3C90X.SET. You can also type a path and save the file to another directory or drive (DRIVE\PATH\FILENAME). For example: D:\CONFIG\3C90X.SET saves the file to the CONFIG directory in drive D. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Saves the file created in the Filename text edit box to a specified directory/drive. When the operation is completed, the program returns to the NIC Configuration dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Save Test Results This option saves the current diagnostic test results to a file. NOTE: If you quit the Configuration and Diagnostic program before saving the test results to a file, it will not be saved. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Filename: Type a test results filename. Directory is: Displays the current drive and directory. Directories: Lists all directories visible in the current drive and all the drives on the computer. To save the test results, type a filename in the Filename text edit box and press [Enter]. Your file will be saved to the current drive. The filename can be up to eight characters long. The recommended filename extension is .RPT. The default name is 3C90X.RPT. You can also type a path and save the file to another directory or drive (DRIVE\PATH\FILENAME). For example: D:\RESULTS\3C90X.RPT saves the file to the RESULTS directory in drive D. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Saves the file created in the Filename text edit box to the specified directory/drive. When the operation is completed the program returns to the Run dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options dialog box. Save Test Setup File This option saves the current diagnostic test setup to a file. When this information is saved, the same diagnostic tests can be run on other NICs. Definition of Fields: -------------------- Filename: Type a test setup filename. Directory is: Displays the current drive and directory. Directories: Lists all directories visible in the current drive and all the drives on the computer. To save a test setup file, type a filename in the Filename text edit box and press [Enter]. The filename can be up to eight characters long. The recommended extension is .TST. The default name is 3C90X.TST. You can also type a path and save the file to another directory or drive (DRIVE\PATH\FILENAME). For example: D:\TESTS\3C90X.TST saves the file to the TESTS directory in drive D. Command Buttons: --------------- : Default action. Saves the file created in the text edit box to the specified drive/directory. Once the file is saved, the program returns to the Test Setup dialog box. : Ends this operation and returns to the File Options menu. Select NIC The Installed NICs dialog box appears if you have more than one NIC installed in your computer. Select the NIC you want to configure and/or test and press [Enter]. If you need to change your selection at any time during the program, go to the Select menu item and choose "Select NIC" to access the Installed NICs dialog box. Command Buttons: ---------------