Dell Precision 400 User Manual

Also see for Vostro 400: User guide Owner's manual Setup guide Quick start guide Troubleshooting guide

Contents

5-2 Dell Workstation Midsize Systems User’s GuideConnecting to a NetworkTo connect your system to and configure it for use on anEthernet network, you must complete the followingsteps:1. Connect the network cable to the back of yourcomputer.See the following subsection, “Network CableRequirements,” for detailed instructions.2. Verify that the NIC is enabled in the SystemSetup program.See “NIC” in Chapter 3 for instructions.3. Configure the NIC, and install the network driv-ers by running the 3Com Install program.See “Configuring the NIC” found later in this chap-ter for detailed instructions.4. Run the Network Interface Test Group in thediskette-based diagnostics to verify that the NICis operating properly.See the chapter titled “Running the Dell Diagnos-tics” in your Diagnostics and Troubleshooting Guidefor detailed instructions.Network Cable RequirementsYour computer’s NIC connector (an RJ45 connectorlocated on the back panel; see Figure 5-1) is designed forattaching an unshielded twisted pair (UTP) Ethernetcable. Press one end of the UTP cable into the NIC con-nector until the cable snaps securely into place.Connect the other end of the cable to an RJ45 jack wallplate or to an RJ45 port on an Ethernet UTP concentratoror hub, depending on your network configuration.Observe the following cabling restrictions for 10BASE-Tand 100BASE-TX networks:• For 10-megabit (Mb) operation, use Category 3, 4,or 5 wiring and connectors. For 100-Mb operation,use Category 5 wiring and connections. Voice anddata lines should be in separate sheaths.• The maximum cable run length (from a workstationto a concentrator) is 100 meters (m) (328 feet [(ft]).• The maximum number of workstations (not countingconcentrators) on a network is 1024.• The maximum number of daisy-chained concentra-tors on one network segment is four.Configuring the NICThis section provides instructions for configuring thecomputer’s integrated, 10/100-megabits-per-second(Mbps) 3Com NIC under the following operatingsystems:• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0• Microsoft Windows 95Windows NT 4.0 NIC DriverThe Windows NT 4.0 operating system automaticallydetects and installs the NIC driver. To reinstall the driver,complete the following steps:1. Use the Dell DiskMaker program (located in theDell Accessories program folder) to make a dis-kette copy of the NIC drivers installed on yourhard-disk drive.2. Connect the network cable to the back of yourcomputer.See “Network Cable Requirements” found earlier inthis chapter for detailed instructions.3. Verify that the NIC is enabled in the SystemSetup program.See “NIC” in Chapter 3 for more information.4. Start the Windows NT operating system, and login as user Administrator or as a user with Admin-istrator privileges.For information on administrative users and privi-leges, see your Windows NT documentation.5. Double-click My Computer, double-click ControlPanel, and then double-click the Network icon.NOTE: If you are installing networking on your sys-tem for the first time, the Windows NT operatingsystem displays a message asking if you want toinstall networking. Click Yes, and refer to your Win-dows NT documentation for instructions.