3COM OfficeConnect Ethernet Network Interface Card User Manual

data sheet

Small business networking made simple

NNeettwwoorrkk IInntteerrffaaccee CCaarrddss

3Com®OfficeConnect

®

Key Benefits

Powerful, simple, and reliable.

Designed for small business
networks, this network interface
card (NIC) delivers simple, reliable
power for transferring files,
exchanging e-mail, and handling
office applications.

Optimized for Windows. Ships with
complete, easy-to-use installation
software for Windows 95/98, and
Windows NT to provide an ideal
solution for peer-to-peer and client­server networks.

Flexibility. Use this NIC with either
10 Mbps Ethernet or 100 Mbps Fast
Ethernet networks. It automatically
adjusts for either speed.

Easy installation and use. Installs
in minutes, is fully software config­urable, Plug and Play compliant
with Windows 95/98, and includes
everything needed to get your
small business up and running
quickly.

Better performance. Spend less
time waiting to send or receive
information with patented 3Com
Parallel Tasking

®

technology for
higher network throughput and
full-duplex operation that sends
and receives data simultaneously
at both 10 and 100 Mbps.

Part of the award-winning
OfficeConnect

®

family. As your

business requirements change,
add additional functions such as
high-speed networking, Internet
access, remote access or printer
sharing capabilities.

Global support and a lifetime
warranty.

Backed by a lifetime

limited warranty

†

and high-quality

technical suppor.

†

See User Guide for details

The 3Com OfficeConnect Fast
Ethernet Network Interface Card
(NIC) is ideal for small office
environments where a reliable,
easy-to-install, cost-effective
networking solution is needed.

Fast Ethernet
Network Interface Card

Simple, reliable network access for small businesses

Designed for small business networks,
the 3Com

®

OfficeConnect®Fast
Ethernet Network Interface Card
(NIC), model 3CSOHO100-TX, is
an ideal way to connect Pentium-class
desktop computers with internal
32-bit PCI expansion slots to your
business network. The NIC uses an
RJ-45 interface to automatically sense
and connect at the current network
speed–10 or 100 Mbps–when con­nected to a hub port. That means you
can use your NIC with your existing
10BASE-T Ethernet network and
upgrade to a 100BASE-TX Fast
Ethernet network later, without
purchasing a new NIC.

Like all 3Com NICs and LAN PC
Cards, the OfficeConnect Fast
Ethernet NIC delivers top perfor­mance to let you share files, exchange
e-mail, and manage LAN-based
applications quickly and efficiently.
Patented 3Com Parallel Tasking

®

technology simultaneously performs
multiple processing tasks to provide
the fastest data transfer speeds avail­able. You spend less time waiting to
send and receive information to and
from the network.

This NIC is optimized for Windows
95/98 and Windows NT environ­ments–the most popular operating
systems in small offices. And simpli­fied installation software is included
to easily connect to your operating
system of choice.

The OfficeConnect Fast Ethernet
NIC is Plug and Play under
Windows 95 and 98. It includes a
Windows-based diagnostics and con­figuration utility for easy installation
and troubleshooting. And link
activity and network status LEDs
provide at-a-glance monitoring of
network health and status.

The 3Com OfficeConnect Fast
Ethernet Network Interface Card is a
core part of the OfficeConnect fami­ly of products, providing small busi­nesses with the power to share infor­mation, connect remote locations,
and access the Internet. Delivering
the advantages of networking to
small businesses, the market-leading
OfficeConnect system helps small
businesses streamline operations,
effectively manage costly resources,
and increase communication within
and between offices.

Fast Ethernet

Network Interface Card

3Com®OfficeConnect

®

Specifications

Bus Type

PCI

Cable

TX (unshielded twisted pair)

Software Compatibility

Windows 95
Windows 98
Windows NT 3.51 and 4.0
Allows connection to Windows NT and

Novell NetWare Networks

Connector

RJ-45

Cables and Operating Distances

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

100 Mbps CSMA/CD standards

LEDs

10 LNK, 100 LNK, ACT

Warranty

These OfficeConnect products are
covered by a lifetime limited warranty.

†

In Germany, the warranty only extends
for 10 years and is not available where
restricted or prohibited by law.

To qualify for a warranty, you must
submit a registration card.

Ordering Information

OfficeConnect Fast Ethernet Network
Interface Card

Single NIC 3CSOHO100-TX
10-pack 3CSOHO100-TX-10PK

For more OfficeConnect product
information, please refer to the
following publications:

OfficeConnect 10/100 LAN PC Card data
sheet 400440-002

OfficeConnect ISDN LAN Modem data
sheet 400396-005

OfficeConnect Hubs and Switches data
sheet 400317-008

OfficeConnect 56K* LAN Modem data
sheet 400397-003

HP JetDirect 300X OfficeConnect Print
Server data sheet

400427-002

OfficeConnect 56K* Business Modem
data sheet 400473-002

OfficeConnect Fast Ethernet Networking
data sheet 400412-003

OfficeConnect Remote 511 and 531
Access Routers data sheet

400318-003

HP JetDirect 170X OfficeConnect
External Print Server data sheet

400484-002

To find out more about 3Com small busi­ness networking solutions, contact your
3Com Account Manager, or visit 3Com’s
World Wide Web site at
www.3com.com/smallbusiness/.

† See

User Guide

for details.

*Capable of receiving downloads at up to 56 Kbps and sending at up to 31.2 Kbps. Due to IC/FCC regulations on power output,
receiving speeds are limited to 53 Kbps. Actual speeds may vary. Requires compatible analog phone line and server equipment.
See www.3com.com/56k for details.

To learn more about 3Com products and ser vices, visit our World Wide Web site at www.3com.com/. 3Com Corporation is publicly
traded on Nasdaq under the symbol COMS.

Copyright © 1999 3Com Corporation. All rights reserved. 3Com, the 3Com logo, OfficeConnect, and Parallel Tasking are registered trade­marks of 3Com Corporation. More connected. is a trademark of 3Com Corporation. Windows and Windows NT are registered trademarks of
Microsoft Corporation. Netware is a trademark of Novell, Inc. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective
companies. All specifications are subject to change without notice.

Printed in U.S.A. on recycled paper 400440-003 9/99

3Com Corporation

5400 Bayfront Plaza
P.O. Box 58145
Santa Clara, CA 95052-8145
Phone: 1 800 NET 3Com or

1 408 326 5000

Fax: [phone]

The documentation included
with your NIC makes
installation easy. The user
guide covers everything from
the basics of networking to
step-by-step instructions on
how to install and use your
network interface card.
The Network Assistant
CD-ROM is also included.
It explains networking for
newcomers in simple terms.
And it provides faster access
to networking capabilities for
experienced users. Clear graphic
instructions offer simple
explanations of network concepts
and terms and guide you through
setup, installation, and
problem solving.

Features and Benefits

10/100 Fast Ethernet NIC—from the leader in NICs and Fast
Ethernet networking

RJ-45 interface for connection to 100BASE-TX or 10BASE-T networks
Industry-leading performance in Windows 95, 98 and

Windows NT environments

Plug-and-play for easy installation
LED indicators and diagnostics software for simple troubleshooting
Comprehensive documentation with step-by-step instructions for

easy installation
Network Assistant CD-ROM for information on easy network setup

and troubleshooting
Part of 3Com’s award-winning OfficeConnect solution specifically

designed for small business networks

High-quality technical support
Lifetime limited warranty

†