NIC Configuration and Properties

1. NIC Configuration and Properties © N. Ganesan, Ph.D.

2. Module NIC Configuration

3. NIC Configuration • Install the adapter • When an OS such as Windows XP is installed the NIC will automatically be installed • Install the latest driver for the adapter • The latest driver for a particular operating system is usually obtained from the NIC manufacturers website

4. NIC Functioning • Check for proper functioning of the NIC by going through the device manager • There should not be a yellow exclamation mark next to the NIC • Most problems can be solved by installing the correct driver • Driver installation could be done by invoking an installation wizard

5. Checking for Functioning of NIC • Go through the device manager to check for proper functioning of the NIC

10. Correcting Problems • In the previous slide there was no yellow exclamation mark against the NIC • Therefore, the NIC is properly functioning • If there was a yellow exclamation mark, then, in most instances, then the NIC is not functioning properly • Most problems could be solved by installing the correct driver or updating the driver for NIC

11. Installing or Updating the Driver • There are different ways of accessing the properties of the NIC to update the driver • One is to access the properties from the device manger listed in the Computer Management Console that was shown before • The other is to access the properties from either the control panel or from the network neighborhood icon • Updating will be discussed under a different module

12. Multiple Adapter • In general, there would be only one NIC in the computer • It is also possible to have multiple adapters in a computer • A protocol can be bound to each adapter • The protocol could be different in each case

13. Reasons for Multiple Adapters • Use the computer as a router • Host multiple virtual websites on a single server with each IP address assigned to each NIC being referenced by a particular domain name • To support fail-safe operation where when one NIC fails, the other will continue to operate

14. A Multiple Adapter Application Scenario NIC 2 NIC 1 Network 1 Multi-homed Computer Network 2

15. End of Module

16. Module NIC Properties

17. Accessing NIC Properties • From CMC (Computer Management Console) • From Network Neighborhood • From Control Panel

18. Accessing NIC Properties from CMC • Accessing the CMC was shown in a previous module • The following slides outline the rest of the procedure

21. Accessing the NIC Properties from Network Neighborhood • The steps are shown in the following slides

27. NIC Properties • General • Advanced • Driver • Accessed and used for updating the driver • Resources • Power Management

28. Updating the Driver • Access the driver tab • Start the update wizard and follow the steps • In the following example, a driver that has already been downloaded and stored in a local folder named H:\Internet Download\NIC Driver is used for updating

38. Updating Complete • There was no yellow exclamation mark against the NIC in the CMC • The installation is assumed to be correct

39. Other NIC Features • General • Advanced • Resources • Power Management

44. The End