3C990B Client and Server NIC Features7The 3Com DMI Agent allows any DMI management application to access informationsuch as: NIC driver location, version, and size Packets-sent statistics Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC) receive errorsA network administrator can then use this type of information to remotely configure andmanage a client or server computer.The 3Com DMI Agent consists of a DMI browser with the following components: DMI service layer DMI agent GUI installer NDIS driversFor detailed information about the 3Com DMI Agent, refer to the 3Com DMI Agent UserGuide included with the DMI software on the EtherCD. For information about installingthe 3Com DMI Agent and downloading the 3Com DMI Agent User Guide, seeAppendix B, "Installing the 3Com DMI Agent."Remote System AlertsYou can configure the 3C990B NIC to transmit a number of different packet alerts to themanagement server to notify the network administrator that there is a system issue thatrequires attention. These alerts support the Alert Standard Forum (ASF) specification andprovide system monitoring in the OS-absent environment. The alerting capability ispresent whether the system is powered off, booting up, in sleep mode, or the OS hashung. There are many different alert types, including those that relate to: Physical security — chassis intrusion, heartbeat, loss of connection Environmental conditions — fan speed, temperature, voltage deviations BIOS issues — ROM initialization, system memoryRemote ControlThe 3C990B NIC can also receive commands via Remote Control and Management Protocol(RMCP). This feature is also specified in the ASF specification and lets network administratorstroubleshoot and resolve system issues across the network. Commands include: Power on Power off Reboot Reboot from an alternative device (for example: MBA, CD-ROM, and so forth)Both monitoring alerts and sending commands are available in the system consolethrough the 3Com Remote System Alert Manager. This management plug-in is availablefor HP OpenView Network Node Manager, Microsoft Systems Management Server, andIntel LANDesk Client Manager.Keep-AliveThe 3C990B NIC can also transmit a workgroup keep-alive packet periodically while thecomputer is in a sleep state. This packet prevents the computer workstation address frombeing aged-out of switch router tables.