NIC Driver defaults

[Ednetman]

Does anyone know how to change the defaults for when a NIC is installed. I would like to configure a file to install the driver with a static IP address, and preconfigured subnet mask and gateway. I would also like to make sure Wake On LAN is enabled and the link speed and duplex is configured for 100/FULL not Auto. Anyone got any info for me?

 

[bcastner]

The static IP, subnet and Gateway can be handled with a command line in NETSH.EXE, or in a NETSH saved profile. See:

http://support.microsoft.com/defaul...port/kb/articles/Q242/4/68.ASP&NoWebContent=1

http://www.petri.co.il/configure_tcp_ip_from_cmd.htm

The remainder of your question is impossible to answer. MS does not write device drivers for LAN adapters. Some manufacturers choose to use the registry to store replaceable confuration values for their NICs; some use the driver configuration screen to write to NVRAM on the adapter itself.

 

[Ednetman]

Thanks for the information. This would explain why some of our images don't save the information about the NIC. How do I know which store the info in the registry and which writes to the VRAM. I am specifically interested in the Intel Pro 100 VM.

 

[bcastner]

You can use regmon or similar utilities to compare the registry before and after a manual configuration:

http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/source/regmon.shtml

As I said earlier, a lot of what you want to do can be handled by Netsh.exe, but not all.

The linux folks have ways to do this, but I do not know enough about the Intel adapter to directly reference anything using a CMD session under Windows. Sorry.

It seems possible to me to use the linux features. You would have to do a little research, but I believe under the linux shell and the right adapter definition file command line access is available to all the settings. You would still need Netsh for IP, subnet and Gateway information, but it seems doable to set the hard-side parameters such as WOL, etc.. running briefly a linux boot disk. See if any help is suggested by this approach:

http://students.lco-college.edu/bootcd/network_boot_disk.htm

 

[Ednetman]

We already use the Bart Network Boot CD. It does not seem to save anythibng. Out specific problem is that this information is pre-set in the image and when the image is brought back down the network card seems to be re-detected and installs itself with DHCP enabled, WOL disabled, and speed/duplex set to Auto. It's the last one that is the bigest issue. Auto detect disables the ports. It can take a day or two for our infrastructure team to re-enable it. I am attempting to at least preonfigure the speed/duplex to 100 full.

 

[bcastner]

make and model of the switch?

There are workarounds for Cisco and 3-Com I believe.

 

[bcastner]

Let me be slightly more direct.

1. Read jimbopalmers FAQ on this issue: faq586-4186

2. You might want to create a new thread specifying the model and make of the switches at issue in the Ethernet forum: forum586

 

[jimbopalmer]

Yes, tell us the switch vendor and model, I want to avoid it.

In win 9x, the speed/duplex screens vary by card, in XP they are standardized by MS, I am not a 2000 user, so I am not sure how it handles the settings (bcastner invited me to here, but I am just a switch user, not a PC user, sorry)

I tried to remain child-like, all I acheived was childish.

 

[Ednetman]

Thanks for the responses! A quick call to out NI-OPS department yeilded me the following response:

"Geez!! All of them?" But after explaining what I was talking about, he informed me that the only ones I need to worry about are the Cisco 6506's and 5509's. Off the top of his head, he doesn't belive that there are any others that are in the standered production enviroment.

Thanks in advance.