2 Before you install

2.2 Older computers

Correct installation and setup of Network Linksrequire you to be precise about the details of the set-up you are using.The exact type of Ethernet card and driver, PC card and software and thePC network you wish to connect to are all important.

• Do not attempt to guess any of this information. If you do not knowor cannot find out the details required, contact your Ethernet cardsupplier for assistance.

• Make a note of all the information you find: you will need itthroughout the installation process.

Ethernet card

1. From the RISC OS desktop, go to the command line by pressing F12 orCTRL-F12. You will see the command line 'star prompt':

   *

2. Type

   *PODULES

   and press Return.

3. If you have an Ethernet card fitted its name will be displayed alongwith that of any other expansion cards. For example:

    ANT Ethernet for Acorn Access/AUN

   or

    i-Cubed EtherLan 602

4. On a Risc PC or A3000 you should also note which slot number thecard is in, as the different slots may need different drivers. The RiscPC has up to 8 standard 16-bit slots (numbered 0-7), and one specialNetwork Expansion slot.

Ethernet drivermodule in ROM

1. From the RISC OS desktop, go to the command line by pressing F12 orCTRL-F12.

2. Type:

   *ROMMODULES

3. You will see a long list (and may need to pressShift to see the next screen full).

4. Look for one of the following drivers:

   Module	Internal Driver name	Type of networkcard
   Ether2	e2	Acorn Ether II cards
   Ether3	ea	AcornEther III , Atomwide and ANT podule cards
   EtherB	eb	ANT Risc PC network slotcards
   EtherM	em	New ANT Myson cards
   EtherP	ep	Atomwide and ANT parallelport Ethernet adaptors
   EtherH	eh	i-Cubed (i3) cards
   EtherA	ea	Early Atomwide podulecards
   EtherO	eo	OakSolutions cards
   EtherR	er	RiscDevelopments cards

5. Note the version number of the module in ROM, and its statusUnplugged,Active, or Dormant.
   • If the module version is 4.00 or greater (2.00 or greater forEtherR) then you are using the DCI4 protocol.

   • If the module version is lower, then you are using DCI2, and mustread Appendix B, Checking EtherXversions.

   • If the module is 'unplugged' then you either have no networking setup, or you are soft-loading an updated version.

   You can find out the version of this by following any proceduresused to start networking activity on your computer, then typing *HELP MODULES at the command line.

   • A list will be displayed which should include a module namedEtherX, and a version number (press Shiftto view more pages if needed). Note the module name and versionnumber.

!PC version and PCCard hardware

1. Start up !PC (which is called the other names listed above in Acornreleases).

2. Choose Info from the icon-bar menu.

3. The !PC version number, and hardware type, will be displayed in theInfo box.

Alternatively if you change to the !PC directory and type!Runimage ? then the software and hardware version detailswill be reported. If this is not reported your software is very old andmust be updated.

• All the different names given to !PC are not significant; Forexample, !PC v1.72 is the same as !PC486 v1.72. The only changes are inthe ReadMe files, and other ancillary items.

ARM-side networking software