Frequently Asked Questions about:
BOCALANcard-PCI
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Product codes: BEN1PI
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This document is arranged in the following sections:
(A) - General Information about the BOCALANcard-PCI
(B) - Hardware Questions
(C) - Troubleshooting
Section A - General Information about the BOCALANcard-PCI
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1. What is the BOCALANcard-PCI?
The BOCALANcard-PCI is a PCI-bus Ethernet adapter with RJ-45 and
BNC connector, plus two LED status indicators.
2. What comes bundled with the BOCALANcard-PCI?
• Product Manual
• Drivers and Utilities diskette
• BNC-T Connector
3. Where can the BOCALANcard-PCI be purchased?
Boca Research enhancement products are available worldwide through
authorized Boca Research retail stores, distributors, or many end-user
catalogs. To purchase Boca Research products or for more information,
call your local distributor or Boca Research sales staff at (561) 241-8088.
4. What kind of warranty does the BOCALANcard-PCI have?
All Boca Research products carry a five-year limited warranty.
5. How can I contact Boca Research?
Listed below are the phone numbers and access points for contacting Boca
Research.
• Boca Research Corporate: (561) 997-6227
• Technical Support and Customer Service: (561) 241-8088
• Priority Technical Support ($2 per minute): (900) 555-4900
• Boca Research Fax-Back Service: (561) 995-9456
• Technical Support Fax: (561) 997-2163
• Boca Research BBS: (561) 241-1601
• Boca Research Web Page: http://www.bocaresearch.com/
• Boca Research FTP Site: ftp://ftp.bocaresearch.com
• Boca Research Compuserve Forum: "GO BOCA" at any CIS prompt
• Boca Research E-Mail Address: support@bocaresearch.com
Section B - Hardware Questions
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1. What are the system requirements for BOCALANcard-PCI?
• Requires a 486 or Pentium based computer with standard PCI 2.0
compatible slot.
2. What hardware settings does the BOCALANcard-PCI support?
The BEN1PI uses an IRQ and I/O address that is assigned to it by the PCI
bus. The BEN1PI does not use DMA, instead it accesses memory directly
through the PCI slot.
The BEN1PI is a Bus-Mastering network card. This network adapter must
be installed in a Bus-Mastering slot.
3. What chipset is used on the BOCALANcard-PCI?
Based on the AMD PCnet-PCI AM79C970KC chipset.
4. What other features are supported?
• Provides a 32-bit PCI Local-Bus interface.
• Provides 120-byte buffer.
• Provides two LEDs. 1 green (link status), 1 red (programmable
diagnostic).
• Provides one BNC (coax) and one RJ-45 connector.
• Supports thick and thin Ethernet coax and Twisted-pair cable.
• Has no jumpers. The PCI BIOS controls the I/O and IRQ addressing.
• Does not use a DMA channel. The 32-bit interface maps memory
directly.
Section C - Troubleshooting
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1. Where can I get the latest drivers for my BOCALANcard-PCI.
The latest drivers are available several ways:
1. Boca BBS: File area 17 on our BBS at (561) 241-1601.
2. Compuserve: Library 2 of the Modem Vendor Forum (GO BOCA).
3. Internet: Access the Boca Internet Web Site at
http://www.bocaresearch.com/.
2. Can I connect the 10BaseT interface of two devices directly together, without
using a hub?
Yes, but not more than 2 devices, and you also need a special jumper
cable between the two 10BaseT ports:
RJ45 pin RJ45 pin
======== ========
1 <--[TX+]------------------ [RX+]--> 3
2 <--[TX-]------------------- [RX-]--> 6
3 <--[RX+]------------------ [TX+]--> 1
6 <--[RX-]------------------- [TX-]--> 2
3. Do these network adapters use any memory addresses?
No. Memory addresses (or paging addresses) are not used. These adapters
address memory directly throught the PCI bus instead. This provides a
faster throughput and eliminates memory addressing conflicts.
4. How should I configure my computer for the BOCALANcard-PCI?
These things MUST be completed before the hardware can be configured
correctly. If the hardware is not properly configured, then the cards
will not work, the drivers will not find the cards and will report errors.
These settings will need to be set either in the computer's CMOS settings or
directly on the motherboard, through jumpers or switch settings.
1. Enable the PCI slot where the card sits (CMOS)
2. Make that slot a MASTER slot (CMOS or Hardware)
3. Assign PCI INT A to that slot (CMOS or hardware)
4. Assign an ISA IRQ # to PCI INT A (CMOS or hardware)
5. Tell the system that the ISA IRQ # is being used by PCI INT A & is no
longer available for the ISA section of the bus.
6. Disable IRQ sharing.
* Note: Some motherboards may not support all of these setting and may
configure some or all these options automatically.
5. Are there Windows 95 drivers available for the BOCALANcard-PCI?
Windows 95 has built-in support for the BOCALANcard-PCI. Once the
board is installed, Windows 95 will detect the BOCALANcard-PCI as an
AMD PCnet Family Ethernet Adapter (PCI&ISA) and configure it
automatically. If Windows 95 does not detect the board, then you need to
check your computers CMOS settings and make sure the PCI slot is
configured properly.
6. When using the BOCALANcard-PCI with Novell Netware, do I need to specify
an I/O port address and IRQ in the NET.CFG file?
No, the I/O port address and IRQ are configured automatically through the
PCI BIOS and cannot be specified in the NET.CFG file. The
BOCANW.COM driver does not need to have the I/O port address and the
IRQ specified in the NET.CFG file.
You will need to specify at least the driver name and frame type used in the
NET.CFG file.
7. What are the cable length specifications for 10Base-T and 10Base-2?
The cable length specifications as defined by IEEE:
Unshielded Twisted-Pair (10Base-T):
10Base-T is arranged in a star shaped configuration. Each node attaches to
a concentrator via a twisted-pair cable using RJ-45 connectors.
- Maximum segment length: 328 feet / 100 meters
- Maximum number or trunk segments: 1024
- Maximum number of repeaters: 4 (5 segments with 3 tapped)
Thin Ethernet (10Base-2):
10Base-2 uses coaxial cable with an RG-58 rating. Each end of the trunk
segments must be terminated using a 50 ohm terminating resistor.
- Maximum trunk segment length: 607 feet / 185 meters
- Maximum number of repeaters: 4 (5 segments with 3 tapped)
- Maximum length of trunk for entire network: 3035 feet / 925 meters
- Maximum cable length between nodes: 1.5 feet / .5 meters
- Maximum number of nodes per trunk segment: 30 (including repeaters)
8. How do I install the BOCALANcard-PCI in Windows for Workgroups 3.11?
This Procedure is for BOTH Novell & WFW 3.11 network support, under
WFW 3.11.
1. Under Network Setup choose - MS Windows Network & Novell
Network.
2. Select Advanced to install Network drivers.
3. Select Drivers > Add Adapter > Unlisted or Updated Network Adapter
and put Boca disk in A: drive.
4. Set the search dir as A:\WFW311
5. WFW 3.11 will load the BOCA ETHERNET ADAPTER (ODI/NDIS3)
driver, and MS NetBEUI and IPX/SPX compatible transport NetBIOS.
6. WFW 3.11 also requires the following files for NOVELL support ONLY.
They are supplied w/ regular Windows 3.1 not WFW 3.11. These drivers
are also available from Microsoft or on Compuserve.
- NETWARE.DR_ on Windows disk 2, in compressed form.
- NETWARE.HL_ on disk 3, in compressed form.
- NWPOPUP.EX_ on disk 3, in compressed form.
- VIPX.38_ on disk 2, in compressed form.
- VNETWARE.38_ on disk 2, in compressed form.
You need to use the EXPAND utility that is on EVERY Windows disk to
uncompress each file, as follows:
A:\Expand NETWARE.DR_ C:\Windows\System\NETWARE.DRV
7. Make sure that the Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files are correct.
LSL.COM should appear before any of the workgroups drivers.
8. Make sure that BOCANW.COM is before the ODIHELP.EXE
command.
Sample AUTOEXEC.BAT:
C:\BOCALAN\LSL.COM
C:\WINDOWS\NETSTART
C:\BOCALAN\BOCANW.COM
C:\WINDOWS\ODIHELP.EXE
C:\BOCALAN\IPXODI.COM
C:\BOCALAN\NETX.EXE
Also make sure that the LASTDRIVE STATEMENT is correct. When
Windows for workgroups installs, it sets the lastdrive statement to P in your
CONFIG.SYS file. So if your NOVELL NETWORK LOGIN dir is F:,
then the LASTDRIVE MUST = E.
* Note: See the README.TXT file on the driver diskette for additional
instructions.
9. How do I install the BOCALANcard-PCI in Windows NT?
1. Follow all instructions on physically installing the card in section 2.1 of
your manual. When you have completed all of section 2.1 continue with
step 2.
2. When Windows NT starts select MAIN and then CONTROL PANEL.
3. From the CONTROL PANEL screen select NETWORK.
(a.) If you do not already have a network adapter or services installed, a
screen prompting you to install them will come up. Select AUTO
DETECT when prompted to.
* This will scan your system and select the correct setting and
drivers for the BEN1PI.
(b.) If you already have services or another network card installed you will
prompted with the NETWORK SETTINGS screen.
Select ADD ADAPTER
4. From the ADD NETWORK ADAPTER screen select the first selection
for "AMD PCNET FAMILY ETHERNET ADAPTER".
5. The "AMD PCI ETHERNET ADAPTER v 2.45" screen appears.
6. Leave the default settings for "FULL DUPLEX" and "BUS TIMER"
(a.) If you are using Twisted Pair cabling place and "X" in the box marked
"TP".
(b.) If you are using Coax cabling you do not need to do anything.
7. Select OK and then Windows NT sets up your drivers for you.
8. That's it! You are now ready to begin using your BOCALANcard-PCI
from Boca Research Inc.
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Copyright (c), 1995, Boca Research, Inc. All rights reserved. Boca Research, BRI
and the various Boca Research products contained herein are trademarks of
Boca Research, Inc. Other references to computer products use trademarks
owned by their respective manufacturers. The technical information contained
herein is subject to change without notice.
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