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Setup: Intel® Network Adapters User Guide

Installing Network Drivers
Installing Multiple Adapters
Installing Intel PROSet
Making an Installation Diskette
Setting Speed and Duplex
Push Installation for Windows*
Command Line Installation

Installing Network Drivers

Before you begin

To successfully install drivers or software, you must have administrative privileges on the computer.

To install drivers

For directions on how to install drivers for a specific operating system, click one of the links below.

You can install drivers directly from the installation CD or you can create an installation disk.

NOTE: If you are installing a driver in a computer with existing Intel adapters, be sure to update all the adapters and ports with the same driver and Intel® PROSet software. This ensures that all adapters will function correctly. 

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Installing Multiple Adapters

Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003 users: Follow the procedure in Installing Windows Drivers. After the first adapter is detected, you may be prompted to insert the installation media supplied with your system. After the first adapter driver finishes installing, the next new adapter is detected and Windows automatically installs the driver. (You must manually update the drivers for any existing adapters. For more information, see Updating the Drivers.

NetWare users: The server drivers use the PCI slot number to identify each installed adapter. You can usually correlate the PCI slot number to the port by using the Ethernet address that is printed on a label on the adapter.

Red Hat Linux users: Repeat the installation process for each adapter you want to install. For more information, see e100.htm (Intel PRO/100 adapters) or e1000.htm (Intel PRO/1000 adapters).

Updating drivers for multiple adapters or ports: If you are updating or installing a driver in a server with existing Intel adapters, be sure to update all the adapters and ports with the same new software. This will ensure that all adapters will function correctly.

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Installing Intel PROSet

Intel PROSet is an advanced configuration utility for Windows and Red Hat Linux that lets you test Intel network adapters and configure standard and advanced features. For information on installation and usage, see the section appropriate for your operating system.

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Making an Installation Diskette

Installation disks are useful when you are loading drivers on systems that do not have a CD drive or a network connection. You can create installation disks using the MAKEDISK utility or by directly copying the appropriate files to a floppy disk.

The MAKEDISK utility copies the appropriate driver software for the following operating systems:

NOTE: Some of these installations may require two floppy disks.

You can run MAKEDISK from either a command prompt or from the autorun program on the installation CD (or downloaded software package):

Running MAKEDISK from the Autorun Screen

  1. Insert the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive. The CD's autorun program automatically starts. (If you are staring with a downloaded installation package, navigate to the respective directory using Windows Explorer.)
  2. To start the autorun program manually, double-click Autorun.exe in the root directory of the installation media (CD or downloaded software package).
  3. Click Make Driver Disk.
    The Create Install Disk dialog box appears.
  4. Select an operating system and adapter speed.
  5. In the destination drive drop-down list, select the appropriate drive.
  6. Insert a blank diskette, then click Create Disk.
  7. Click OK to finish.

Running MAKEDISK from a Command Prompt Window

  1. Insert a formatted floppy disk in your disk drive.
  2. For NetWare, boot to DOS, then skip to step 3.
    For Windows, open a command prompt window from the Start menu: Select Run. Type cmd in the Run dialog, then click OK.
  3. In the command prompt window, switch to the drive that contains the files. For example, type:
    E: <Enter>
  4. Change the active directory to \APPS\MAKEDISK.
  5. At the command line type:
    MAKEDISK OS Destination <Enter>

    where OS is the operating system driver to be copied (see table below), and Destination is the destination floppy drive letter (e.g., A:).

    For example, to create a driver disk for Intel PRO/100 adapters in a Windows 2000 system, enter the following:

    MAKEDISK W2KFE A:

    NOTE: If you do not type a destination drive letter, MAKEDISK assumes A: is your floppy drive.

    Supported operating systems include:

      Intel PRO/1000 Adapters Intel PRO/100 Adapters
    Windows Server 2003 NET32GIG NET32FE
    Windows 2000 W2KGIG W2KFE
    NetWare NW NW
    DOS DOS DOS

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Setting Speed and Duplex

Overview
Windows
NetWare Servers
Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1

Overview

The Link Speed and Duplex setting lets you choose how the adapter sends and receives data packets over the network.

In the default mode, Intel network adapters will attempt to auto-negotiate with its link partner to determine the best setting. If the adapter cannot establish link with the link partner using auto-negotiation, you may need to manually configure the adapter and link partner to the identical setting to establish link and pass packets. This should only be needed when attempting to link with an older switch that does not support auto-negotiation or one that has been forced to a specific speed or duplex mode.

The settings available when auto-negotiation is disabled are

Your link partner must match the setting you choose.

NOTE: Only experienced network administrators should force speed and duplex manually.
Manually Configuring Duplex and Speed Settings

If your switch supports the NWay* standard, and both the adapter and switch are set to auto-negotiate, full duplex configuration is automatic, and no action is required on your part. Not all switches support auto-negotiation. Check with your network administrator or switch documentation to verify whether your switch supports this feature.

Configuration is specific to the driver you are loading for your network operating system. To set a specific Link Speed and Duplex mode, refer to the section below that corresponds to your operating system.

CAUTION: The settings at the switch must always match the adapter settings. Adapter performance may suffer, or your adapter might not operate correctly if you configure the adapter differently from your switch.

Windows

The default setting is for auto negotiation to be enabled. Change this only to match your link partner.

  1. Double-click the Intel PROSet icon from the Control Panel or system tray.
  2. Click the Speed tab and highlight the desired adapter in the left window.
  3. Select the appropriate speed and duplex setting.
  4. Click Apply or OK.
NOTE: If you are using an Intel PRO/1000 adapter that uses copper cabling, and you elect the 1000 Mpbs Full Duplex option in Intel PROSet, the adapter advertises only these capabilities for link partners that are attempting to auto-negotiate. If auto-negotiation fails, the adapter will operate at 1000 Mbps. This setting can be useful for older 1000 Mbps switches that do not support auto-negotiation.
NOTE: You cannot change the speed or duplex of Intel PRO/1000 adapters that use fiber cabling.

More specific instructions are available in the Intel PROSet help.

NetWare Servers

See NetWare Drivers for information on configuring Speed and Duplex on NetWare systems.

Red Hat Linux Advanced Server 2.1

See e100.htm (Intel PRO/100 Adapters) or e1000.htm (Intel PRO/1000 adapters) for information on configuring Speed and Duplex on Red Hat Linux systems.

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Push Installation for Windows

An unattended install or "Push" of Windows enables you to automate Windows installation when several computers on a network require a fresh install of a Windows operating system.

To automate the process, a bootable disk logs each computer requiring installation or update onto a central server that contains the install executable. After the remote computer logs on, the central server then pushes the operating system to the computer.

Supported operating systems

Please read all restrictions and disclaimers.

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