Configuration options

Configuration options

To configure a network adapter cards we generally have three configurable options that must be set properly for the network adapter card to function in our computer:

the interrupt request line (IRQ), the base I/O port address, and the base memory address.

Interrupt (IRQ)

When your network card sends a request to your computer, it uses an interrupt- an electronic signal sent to the computer’s Central Processing Unit.

Each device in your computer must use a different interrupt request line (IRQ).

In most cases, you can use IRQ3 or IRQ5 for your network card. IRQ5 is the recommended setting. This is the default for most systems.

Base I/O Port

The base I/O port specifies a channel through which information is transferred between your computer’s hardware and its CPU.

The port appears to the user as an address. Each hardware device must have a different base I/O port number.

The port numbers (in Hexadecimal format) 300 to31f are usually available for you to assign to your network card such as-

0000 to 000f – Direct Memory Access Controller

0060 to 0060 – Standard Keyboard

200 to 20f – Game port

230 to 23f – Bus mouse

03f6 to 03f6 – Hard Disk Controller

Base Memory Address

The base memory addresses shows or addressed a memory location in your computer’s memory (RAM).

This location is used by the network card as a buffer area to store the incoming and outgoing data frames.

This setting is some times called the RAM start address often; the memory address for a network card is D800.

You must select a base memory address that is not already being used by another device.