Download EtherLink 10 Mbps Desktop Network Interface Cards

3Com EtherLink
data sheet
®
EtherLink 10 Mbps Desktop
Network Interface Cards
The world’s best-selling Ethernet NICs, providing unmatched
performance, reliability, and compatibility.
Key Benefits
Fastest performance. 3Com’s
patented Parallel Tasking® technology gives all EtherLink® NICs
unsurpassed throughput. In
addition, 3Com Parallel Tasking II
performance is available on all
EtherLink XL PCI NICs for lower
CPU utilization and increased
application performance.
Broad compatibility. Fully
compatible with IEEE 802.3
standards, EtherLink NICs are
available for PCI, ISA, EISA,
and MCA bus computers, and
support the industry’s widest
range of desktop and network
operating systems.
Top value and reliability. All
NIC components are integrated
into one ASIC for optimal reliability
at low cost. State-of-the-art
manufacturing plus high
component integration provides
exceptional reliability. 3Com
backs all EtherLink NICs with
a lifetime limited warranty.
Easy to install and manage.
EtherLink III and EtherLink XL
NICs are automatically detected
and configured by the Windows 95
and Windows 98 plug-and-play
feature. 3Com AutoLink™ software
automates configuration for DOS
and Windows 3.1 PCs as well as
installation of NetWare client
files. All the NICs provide SNMP
and DMI manageability. XL NICs
support Desktop dRMON.
The EtherLink® family of network interface cards (NICs).
3Com is the marketshare leader in Ethernet
and Fast Ethernet NICs. Our EtherLink® XL
and EtherLink III NICs deliver unmatched
reliability and software compatibility, as
well as the fastest throughput of any NICs
available today.
Simultaneously performing multiple
processing tasks, these NICs with Parallel
Tasking® performance bring your PC system
the fastest data transfer speeds whether the
bus is ISA, PCI, MCA, or EISA. Parallel
Tasking II technology boosts the performance
of your PC’s PCI bus connections by optimizing design features inherent to the
PCI bus.
EtherLink NICs feature DynamicAccess®
software which adds intelligence to
the NIC to optimize overall network
performance, control, and management.
3Com NICs support Windows 95 and
Windows 98 plug-and-play features, and
3Com’s AutoLink™ auto-installation software
automates installation and configuration
tasks for DOS and Windows 3.x systems
in a NetWare environment. A single
menu choice completes the installation,
including the downloading of NetWare
Universal client files from the server.
For optimal reliability, the EtherLink
NICs’ components are integrated into
one ASIC. And 3Com backs all EtherLink XL and EtherLink III NICs with a
limited lifetime warranty.
Network Interface Cards
10 Mbps Ethernet
Innovative Technology in the EtherLink NICs
Parallel Tasking II:
Another Breakthrough
Performance Advancement
Patented Parallel Tasking technology
from 3Com revolutionized NIC performance by accelerating the speed at
which packets are transferred from the
network wire to the NIC. Parallel
Tasking II technology, designed specifically for the PCI bus, takes 3Com’s
NIC performance to the next level by
improving the speed at which data is
passed from the NIC to the host PC.
This is achieved by exploiting the latest
developments in PCI chip and bus
design. With this latest advancement,
3Com’s EtherLink XL PCI NIC outperforms the leading competitor by up to
9%, according to an independent test
by LANQuest Labs.
Parallel Tasking and Parallel Tasking II Performance
The original Parallel Tasking performance focused on the speed at which packets were
transferred to the network. Parallel Tasking II performance builds on this by improving
the speed that data is passed to the host PC.
Original Parallel Tasking
Parallel Tasking II
Continuous
data stream
Network Wire
Receive
Host PC
memory
Write
PCI Bus
Interface
Receive and Write processing tasks are
performed simultaneously, optimizing
data throughput.
Eliminates PCI-bus bottleneck by
continuously sending data as long as it
is available for write-to-system memory.
Performance/Efficiency Index
(Single Server and Five Clients)
Formerly a NIC was limited to transferring data across the PCI bus at a
maximum of 64 bytes for one bus
master operation. In order for one full
1514-byte packet to be transferred to
the host PC, 24 separate bus master
operations were required, resulting in an
inefficient bus. With Parallel Tasking II
performance the NIC can stream up to
a full Ethernet packet over the bus during
a single bus master operation, greatly
increasing the efficiency of the PCI bus.
The results are faster throughput and
improved system performance, which
allows desktop and server applications
to perform better.
Index Value
(Average Throughput/CPU Utilization)
3.0
How Parallel Tasking II
Performance Works
2.5
2.0
2.5
2.3
1.5
1.8
1.7
1.0
0.5
0.0
3Com
Intel
Linksys
D-Link
This graph compares the relative performance of each vendor’s P/E Index. 3Com’s
EtherLink XL was 9% more efficient than Intel’s EtherExpress PRO/10+, 28% more efficient
than Linksys’ EtherPCI LAN Card, and 10.31% more efficient than D-Link’s DE530+.
3Com DynamicAccess Software
DynamicAccess software, an integral part of the 3Com EtherLink XL family, adds intelligence to your network interface
cards to optimize overall network performance, control, and
management.
DynamicAccess software for desktop NICs includes:
2
■
Standards-based traffic prioritization giving priority to
time-sensitive data to deliver improved performance for
multimedia and business-critical applications
■
Distributed RMON (dRMON) SmartAgent® software
enabling comprehensive, affordable network management,
including full RMON support, in switched and high-speed
environments
■
Efficient multicast control for expanding bandwidth by
automatically filtering unwanted multicast traffic before it
can flood the LAN
■
Fast IP software for scaling internetworking performance
by minimizing the bottlenecks that routers may cause
Specifications
EtherLink 10 Mbps Network Interface Cards
Product
Bus Type
Cable Type and Connectors
TPO: 10BASE (RJ-45 only)
TPC: 10BASE-T, BNC
TP: 10BASE-T, AUI
Combo: 10BASE-T, AUI, BNC
Fiber: 10BASE-FL (ST only)
Software Compatibility
EtherDisk software
Novell NetWare Client
DOS ODI
OS/2 ODI
ODI32
Novell NetWare 3.x
and 4.x server drivers
Packet Driver
NDIS 2.01
NDIS 3
NDIS 4
DOS Windows 3. x
Windows for Workgroups
Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows NT 3.5x and 4.0
Other Software
Banyan VINES Server
SCO UNIXWARE 7
SCO OPEN SERVER 5
LINUX
BSDI UNIX
SunSoft Solaris
Windows NT 4 for DEC Alpha
Hardware
Network Interface
LED
Interrupt Levels
I/O Base Address
ROM Socket Address
Physical Dimensions
Power Requirements
Operating Voltage
Operating Ranges
Safety and Electromagnetic
Compatibility
Additional standards
EtherLink XL PCI
3C900B
PCI
EtherLink XL PCI Fiber
3C900B-FL(ST)
PCI
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PCI bus computers
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EtherLink III ISA
3C509B
ISA
EtherLink III MCA
3C529
MCA
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EtherLink III EISA
3C592
EISA
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PCI bus computers
IBM PC XT, PC AT, and PS/2
IBM 16- or 32-bit Micro
EISA bus computers
models and compatibles with Channel architecture PS/2
ISA buses, and EISA computers
models and compatibles
Ethernet IEEE 802.3 10 Mbps baseband CSMA/CD standard, coaxial, 10BASE-T, or 10BASE-FL.
Each NIC has one LED that glows to indicate link integrity with a 10BASE-T hub or power for a coaxial link; the LED flashes if the polarity of the wire is
reversed. 10BASE-FL has an additional LED indicating activity.
Interrupt line INTA,
Interrupt line INTA,
3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
3, 5, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15
which conforms with
which conforms with
the PCI specification
the PCI specification
Selects any 32-bit I/O base
32 possible addresses,
32 possible addresses,
64 possible addresses,
Slot-specific addressing:
address. Card 32 bytes
200 to 3F0h
200 to 3F0h
200 to FE00
16 possible addresses,
of I/O space
0ZC80 Z=slot number in hex
Support PCI 32-bit TriROM
Support PCI 32-bit TriROM
8, 16, and 32 KB
8, 16, and 32 KB
Support 8-, 16-, and
addresses occupy 64 KB
addresses occupy 64 KB
windows supported from
windows supported from
32-bit TriROM address
of memory space
of memory space
C0000 to DE000
C0000 to DE000
TPO
TPO
Length: 3.0 in/7.62 cm
Length: 6.14 in/15.6 cm
Length: 3.5 in/8.9 cm
Length: 4.1 in/10.4 cm
Width: 4.8 in/12.20 cm
Width: 2.5 in/6.4 cm
Width: 7.3 in/18.6 cm
Width: 7.3 in/18.6 cm
Combo
TPC
Length: 4.0 in/10.16 cm
Length: 6.14 in/15.6 cm
Width: 7.0 in/17.79 cm
Width: 3.05 in/7.8 cm
FL(ST)
TP, Combo
Length: 4.75 in/12.1 cm
Length: 6.14 in/15.6 cm
Width: 4.25 in/10.8 cm
Width: 3.95 in/10.0 cm
+5V ± 5% at 250 mA max.
+5v ± 5% at 600 mA.
+5V ± 5% at 150 mA max.
+5V ± 5% at 0.5A max.
+5V ± 5% at 1.5A max.
+12V ± 5% at 500 mA max.
+12V ± 5% at 500 mA max.
+12V ± 5% at 0.5A max.
+12V ± 5% at 0.5A max.
Temperature: 32° to 158°F (0° to 70°C), Humidity: 10% to 90% (noncondensing), Altitude: to 9,800 ft/3,000 m.
FCC Part 15 Subpart J
FCC Part 15 Subpart J
FCC Part 15 Subpart J
FCC Part 15 Class B,
FCC Part 15 Subpart J
Class B; EN55022
Class B; EN55022
Class B; EN55022
EN55022-A (CISPR A);
Class B; VDE 0871
Class B (CISPR);
Class B (CISPR);
(CISPR B);
VDE 0871 Class B when
Class B; EN55022
VCCI Class 2
VCCI Class 2
VCCI Class 2
used with shielded
(CISPR B); VCCI Class 2
twisted-pair wiring;
UL1950, 1st edition
Register and architectural compatibility with a 16550 UART that adheres to the I/O and interrupt conventions established under the AT (IBM PC)
definitions for COM 1COM 4 Hayes AT command set Novell NetWare client (ODI) certification tests Microsoft compatibility (NDIS) certification test suite.
3
EtherLink III and EtherLink XL NIC Features and Benefits
Features
Benefits
Performance
3Com Parallel Tasking Performance
Fastest throughput—up to 133 percent faster than competing NICs
Parallel Tasking II Performance (PCI only)
Lower CPU utilization and increased application performance due to more efficient data transfer
across the PCI bus
Dynamic self-tuning drivers
Optimized performance for all bus and cabling options
EISA and XL PCI NICs: 32-bit bus mastering
Wide data path and fast transfers with low CPU utilization
Flow Control 862.3x (PCI-FL only)
High performance due to more efficient data transfer. NIC communicates with switch to establish
optimized data transfer
Reliability
Highly integrated design, combining the
Ethernet controller, twisted-pair transceiver,
encoder/decoder, bus interface, and packet
buffer memory in one ASIC chip
Reliable, trouble-free operation and low cost
3Com’s lifetime limited warranty
Assured reliability for as long as you own the NIC
Compatibility
Ships with NetWare and NDIS drivers;
third-party software support
Compatibility with leading network operating systems and applications in a wide range of
LAN environments
XL PCI NICs: Guaranteed to be compatible
with PCI-compliant systems
Assured PCI compatibility—or your money back
ISA NICs: Guaranteed to be compatible
with ISA and EISA PCs, OSs, and NOSs
Assured compatibility with the most popular PCs, operating systems, and network operating systems
DynamicAccess Software
Desktop dRMON SmartAgent management
Provides affordable full RMON network management in switched LANs or Fast Ethernet LANs
Fast IP + 802.1P
Efficient Multicast Control for PCI-FL only
Manageability
Driver-integrated SmartAgent® management agents
®
SNMP manageability to the desktop level
Integration with 3Com Transcend network
management applications
Combined SNMP hub and NIC management with a common, easy-to-use Windows interface;
can become part of a state-of-the-art, enterprise-wide management system
Desktop Management Interface
(DMI 1.1 and 2.0) enabled
Ensures seamless interoperability with management applications conforming to the Desktop
Management Task Force (DMTF) DMI standard
Remote Wake Up (FL only)
Enables network managers to power-on PCs from a central location for after-hours updates and
servicing of desktops (PC must be equipped with a motherboard that has a 3-pin Remote Wake
Up connector. Also requires a Desktop Management Application which is able to generate a
Magic Packet™ Remote Wake Up signal.)
Ease of Use
plug-and-play and Windows 95 support
Automatic support for plug-and-play PCs, further streamlining installation; seamless
Windows 95 support
AutoLink auto-installation software
Quick and easy installation in non—plug-and-play PCs; for NetWare LANs, a single menu
choice configures the NIC and installs NetWare client files
Windows-based configurations and diagnostics utility
Easy-to-use access to configuration and operational parameters
®
EtherDisk diagnostics with online help
Simplified troubleshooting and administration
Robust configuration capabilities
Up to six 16-bit ISA NICs and sixteen 32-bit EISA NICs can be configured in one PC
(configuration can be saved for easy duplication); unlimited number of XL PCI cards or
PC Cards can be configured in one PC
Access to 3ComBBS and 3ComFactsSM systems
Quick NIC and driver information via the World Wide Web, electronic bulletin board, and fax
4
EtherLink XL PCI Network Interface Cards
Combo
3C900B-COMBO
BNC, RJ-45, and AUI connectors
10BASE-T
3C900B-TPO
RJ-45 connector only
10BASE-FL
3C900B-FL(ST)
Fiber ST connector only
EtherLink III 16-Bit ISA Network Interface Cards
Combo
3C509B-COMBO
BNC, RJ-45, and AUI connectors
TPC
3C509B-TPC
RJ-45 and BNC connectors
10BASE-T
3C509B-TP
RJ-45 and AUI connectors
10BASE-T
3C509B-TPO
RJ-45 connector only
EtherLink III 32-Bit EISA and MCA Network Interface Cards
32-Bit EISA Combo
3C592-COMBO
BNC, RJ-45, and AUI connectors
5
32-Bit EISA 10BASE-T
3C592-TPO
RJ-45 connector only
MCA 10BASE-T
3C529-TP
RJ-45 and AUI connectors
EtherLink 10 BASE-T
Network Interface Cards
3Com EtherLink
®
3Com Corporation
P.O. Box 58145
5400 Bayfront Plaza
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
Phone: 1 800 NET 3Com
or 1 326 764 5000
Fax: 1 326 764 5001
World Wide Web:
http://www.3com.com
Asia Pacific Rim
Sydney, Australia: 61 2 9937 5000
Melbourne, Australia: 61 3 9866 8022
Beijing, China: 86 10 68492 568
Shanghai, China: 86 21 6350 1581
Hong Kong: 852 2501 1111
India: 91 11 644 3974
Indonesia: 62 21 572 2088
Osaka, Japan: 81 6 536 3303
Tokyo, Japan: 81 3 3345 7251
Korea: 82 2 3455 6300
Malaysia: 60 3 732 7910
New Zealand: 64 9 366 9138
Philippines: 632 892 4476
Singapore: 65 538 9368
Taiwan: 886 2 2 377 5850
Thailand: 662 231 8151 5
3Com Benelux B.V.
Belgium: 32 2 725 0202
Netherlands: 31 0 346 58 62 11
3Com Canada
Calgary: 1 403 265 3266
Edmonton: 1 403 423 3266
Montreal: 1 514 683 3266
Ottawa: 1 613 566 7055
Toronto: 1 416 498 3266
Vancouver: 1 604 434 3266
3Com Eastern Europe/CIS
Czech/ Slovak Republics:
420 2 21845 800
Hungary: 36 1 250 83 41
Poland: 48 22 6451351
Russia: 7 095 258 09 40
3Com France
33 1 69 86 68 00
3Com GmbH
Austria: 43 1 580 17 0
Berlin, Germany: 49 30 3498790
Munich, Germany: 49 89 627320
Switzerland: 41 31 996 14 14
Specifications
Lifetime Limited Warranty
Ordering
Information
EtherLink XL PCI Combo NIC
EtherLink III MCA 10BASE-T NIC
10BASE-T; AUI, BNC 3C900B-COMBO
5-pack
3C900B-COMBO-5PK
20-pack
3C900B-COMBO-20PK
100-pack
3C900B-COMBO-100PK
10BASE-T; RJ-45, AUI, BNC 3C529-TP
EtherLink XL PCI TPO NIC
EtherLink III EISA TPO NIC
10BASE-T; RJ-45 only
3C900B-TPO
5-pack
3C900B-TPO-5PK
20-pack
3C900B-TPO-20PK
100-pack
3C900B-TPO-100PK
10BASE-T; RJ-45 only
EtherLink XL PCI Fiber NIC
10BASE-F; ST only
3C900B-FL(ST)
5-pack
3C900B-FL(ST)-5PK
20-pack
3C900B-FL(ST)-20PK
EtherLink III ISA Combo NIC
10BASE-T; AUI, BNC 3C509B-COMBO
5-pack
3C509B-COMBO-5PK
20-pack
3C509B-COMBO-20PK
100-pack
3C509B-COMBO-100PK
EtherLink III ISA TPC NIC
10BASE-T; RJ-45, BNC 3C509B-TPC
5-pack
3C509B-TPC-5PK
20-pack
3C509B-TPC-20PK
100-pack
3C509B-TPC-100PK
3Com warrants its EtherLink III and
XL NICs to be in good working order
for as long as you own them.
EtherLink III EISA Combo NIC
10BASE-T; AUI, BNC
3C592-COMBO
3C592-TPO
Boot ROMs
Managed boot agent for PXE, BootP,
RPL, NCP
PCI
3C90X-MBA
TriROM for BootP, RPL, NetWare
ISA
3C5-TRIROM
ISA 20-pack
3C5-TRIROM-20PK
PCI
PCI 20-pack
3C590-TRIROM
3C590-TRIROM-20PK
EISA
3C592-TRIROM
Desktop Link Manageability
Transcend EtherLink
SmartAgent software
3C551B
Customer Support
Quick access to support information
is available through the 3ComBBS
(electronic bulletin board system)
and 3ComFacts interactive fax service.
To reach the 3ComFacts service in
Canada and the U.S., dial (408) 727-7021
and follow the recorded instructions.
In Europe call 44 1442 278279. In
Hong Kong call 852 537 5610. To
reach the 3ComBBS service from the
U.S., set your modem to 8 data bits,
no parity, and 1 stop bit (8,N,1), then
transmit using the following baud
rate and U.S. telephone number: Up
to 14,400 baud; (408) 980-8204. To
reach the 3ComBBS service from
outside the U.S., ask your local 3Com
office or reseller for the appropriate
baud rate and telephone number.
EtherLink III ISA TP NIC
10BASE-T; RJ-45, AUI
3C509B-TP
5-pack
3C509B-TP-5PK
20-pack
3C509B-TP-20PK
100-pack
3C509B-TP-100PK
EtherLink III ISA TPO NIC
10BASE-T; RJ-45 only
3C509B-TPO
5-pack
3C509B-TPO-5PK
20-pack
3C509B-TPO-20PK
100-pack
3C509B-TPO-100PK
3Com Iberia
Portugal: 351 1 3404505
Spain: 34 1 5096900
3Com Ireland
353 1 820 7077
3Com Latin America
U.S. Headquarters: 1 408 326 2093
Miami Headquarters
(Miami, Florida): 1 305 261 3266
Argentina: 54 1 312 3266
Brazil: 55 11 246 5001
Chile (also serving Bolivia and Peru):
56 2 633 9242
Colombia: 57 1 629 4847
Mexico: 52 5 520 7841/7847
Peru: 51 1 221 5399
Venezuela: 58 2 953 8122
3Com Mediterraneo
Milan, Italy: 39 2 253011
Rome, Italy: 39 6 5279941
3Com Middle East
971 4 349049
3Com Nordic AB
Denmark: 45 48 10 50 00
Finland: 358 9 435 420 67
Norway: 47 22 58 47 00
Sweden: 46 8 632 56 00
3Com Southern Africa
27 11 807 4397
3Com UK Ltd.
Edinburgh: 44 131 240 2900
Manchester: 44 161 873 7717
Marlow: 44 1628 897000
To learn more about 3Com products and services, visit our World Wide Web site at http://www.3com.com.
Copyright © 1998 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com, the 3Com logo, EtherDisk, EtherLink, Parallel Tasking, SmartAgent, and
Transcend are registered trademarks, and AutoLink, AutoIQ, DynamicAccess, More connected, and PACE are trademarks of 3Com
Corporation or its subsidiaries. 3ComFacts is a service mark of 3Com Corporation or its subsidiaries. OS/2 is a trademark of
International Business Machines Corporation. LANQuest is a trademark of LANQuest Labs. LANtastic is a trademark of Artisoft. DOS,
Windows, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. NetWare is a trademark of Novell, Inc. Other product or brand
names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. All specifications are subject to change without notice.
Printed in U.S.A. on recycled paper
400230-013 12/98