Detail:
- Top performance. 3Com's patented Parallel Tasking technology delivers unsurpassed
throughput and low CPU utilization. Combining this technology with 3Com's PACE(TM)
Interactive Access, the Fast EtherLink XL PCI card achieves performance/efficiency ratings
in a Novell NetWare environment that are up to 61% higher than competing cards.
- Easy migration. Fully compatible with 10BASE-T and 100BASE-T equipment, Fast
EtherLink cards sense the speed of the switch or hub port and configure themselves
automatically.
- Flexible cable support. Fast EtherLink 10/100BASE-T4 cards connect to Category
3,4, and 5 UTP cabling; you save the cost of installing new cable.
- Easy to install and manage. Plug and Play compliant with Windows 95, Fast
EtherLink cards also come with 3Com's AutoLink(TM) auto-installation software for
automatic NIC detection and configuration. To simplify day-to-day operation, the cards
provide SNMP manageability and LEDs that show link integrity, activity, and speed of
operation.
- High reliability. State-of-the-art design and ASIC hardware integration have
earned 3Com network interface cards a worldwide reputation for top quality and
reliability.
Fast Ethernet: Scaling Network Performance
How can you give your network users the speed they need?
The easiest, most affordable solution is 100BASE-T, or Fast Ethernet. Fast Ethernet
lets you migrate to high-speed networking without having to change your existing cabling,
buy expensive equipment, wrestle with interoperability, or support unfamiliar
technologies.
When you install a Fast Ethernet solution from 3Com, the leading world-wide supplier of
Fast Ethernet cards, you can get the highest throughput rates for the lowest cost of
ownership.
Compatible with current 10BASE-T applications and IEEE 802.3u (the 100BASE-T Fast
Ethernet standard), 3Com Fast EtherLink cards ensure you can add bandwidth to a LAN when
and where it's needed. Fast EtherLink PCI cards provide DynamicAccess(TM) features and the
highest performance available for PCI PCs and servers. Fast EtherLink EISA cards deliver
unmatched performance for EISA client PCs or servers. Fast EtherLink ISA cards maximize
the performance of ISA-only client PCs by using bus mastering technology and 64 K of
external RAM to provide ample buffering to the network. You can also extend the benefits
of Fast Ethernet enterprise-wide, connecting your 100BASE-T LANs with 3Com's complete line
of Fast Ethernet switching and routing products. The diagram below shows how.
Revolutionary XL Cards
You can maximize performance and support real-time applications with Fast EtherLink XL
cards. Revolutionary in their performance and functionality, Fast EtherLink XL cards
integrate 3Com DynamicAccess features that transform the interface card into an active
network component that interacts intelligently with the network.
DynamicAccess features include 3Com's PACE Interactive Access technology, dRMON
(distributed RMON) support, Efficient Multicast Control, PACE real-time and multimedia
applications support, and PictureTel LiveShare(TM) Plus dataconferencing software, as well
as more features to come with software upgrades.
Many Cabling Alternatives
With Fast EtherLink 10/100BASE-T cards in TX and T4 versions, 3Com ensures you can
connect easily to your existing cabling.
The TX versions (for Fast EtherLink ISA, EISA, and XL PCI cards) support 100BASE-TX,
the IEEE 802.3 standard for 100BASE-T running over Category 5 UTP ("data grade"
UTP) cabling.
Fast EtherLink TX cards require only two pairs of wire for 100 Mbps operation. Fast
EtherLink PCI T4 cards support 100BASE-T4, the IEEE 802.3 standard for 100BASE-T running
over Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP ("voice grade" UTP) cabling. Fast EtherLink PCI T4
cards require four pairs of wire for 100 Mbps. There is no performance difference between
100BASE-TX and 100BASE-T4.
Specifications
Compatibility
EtherDisk Software
- Fast EtherLink cards ship with either the 3C90X EtherDisk (TM) XL (3.5") or 3C5xx
EtherDisk (TM) (3.5") containing drivers for:
- Novell ? NetWare (TM) v2.x and 3.1 (client), 3.12, 4.0, and 4.1 [client and server
(except ISA)]
- NDIS version 2.01 and 3.0 compliant systems, including Microsoft ? LAN Manager, (TM)
Windows (TM) 95 (except EISA and PCI-T4), Windows (TM) NT v3.51 (except ISA), Windows for
Workgroups v3.11,.Banyan ? and OS/2 (except ISA) clients EtherDisk XL also contains
drivers for:
- Windows v3.x
- HSM v3.2 and 3.3 support is available from 3Com
Other Software
- Drivers for other third-party software are available from 3ComBBS or the third party.
For a current list of drivers supported, retrieve Document 9071 from the 3ComFacts fax
system.
Hardware
- Fast EtherLink ISA:
- Width: 4.15 in/10.64 cm
- Length: 6.15 in/15.76 cm
Connector, Cables, and Operating Distances
Fast EtherLink XL, ISA, EISA:
- RJ-45 Connector (Female):
- 10BASE-T: Category 3, 4, or 5 UTP on two pairs up to 328 ft/100 m
- 100BASE-TX: Category 5 UTP on two pairs up to 328 ft/100 m
Network Interface
- Ethernet IEEE 802.3 industry-standard 10 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD (10BASE-T) and 100 Mbps
baseband CSMA/CD (100BASE-T) standards.
LEDs
- Each card has three LEDs. The LED marked "10 LNK" glows green to indicate
operation in 10 Mbps mode and link integrity with a 10BASE-T hub. The LED marked "100
LNK" glows green to indicate operation in 100 Mbps mode and link integrity with a
100BASE-T hub. The LED marked "ACT" flashes yellow when there is link activity
in either 10BASE-T or 100BASE-T mode.
Interrupt Levels
- XL, PCI: Interrupt line INTA, which conforms with the PCI specification
- EISA and ISA: Interrupt Levels 3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
I/O Base Address
Transmit/Receive Buffer Memory
- Fast EtherLink XL: 8 KB. May be partitioned as 6 KB/2 KB or 4 KB/4 KB.
- Fast EtherLink: 64 KB. May be partitioned as 32 KB/32 KB or 48 KB/ 16 KB.
Physical Dimensions
- Fast EtherLink ISA:
- Width: 4.15 in/10.64 cm
- Length: 6.15 in/15.76 cm
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