Do I still need a network interface card?

[tonysolomon]

I'm going to hook two computer up and I'm looking in one of the motherboard books to see if that computer has a network card. I don't see one and belarc doesn't say that it has one. However, the book does say the following:

LAN Support
One RJ45 LAN jack on the rear panel and onboard LAN controller allows you to connect with network system in a very easy way.

It is an FR33E Mainboard. My question is does that computer still need a NIC to connect to a router or a hub.

[Budfred]

It depends. I looked at a spec page for that board and it said the onboard lan is optional. Look on the back of the computer and see if it has something that looks like a phone jack, but wider. If you have one, you are set and you can plug your network in there. If you don't, you will need a NIC....

[sleddog]

If yes, then check in Device Manager to see if it is actually installed. Windows may not have recognized the onboard LAN on installation. You'll also need to setup networking on that machine.

[tonysolomon]

Thanks guys. I checked. I didn't see the RJ45 jack. I looked inside the case, but I didn't see any cards besides the modem. I looked in the device manager and saw network adapter. I clicked on the plus sign and saw dialup adapter. I clicked it and then clicked properties. On the general tab I saw dialup adapter. The device type was network adapter. The hardware version was not available. The device was working properly. Under the driver tab it said dialup adapter. The provider was Microsoft.

When I look on this machine, in the device manager, under network adapter it has two choices: dialup adapter and SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter. The motherboard book for this board says that it has a built-in 10 base T/100 base TX Ethernet Lan. I don't see a NIC inside or an RJ45 jack. Now, I'm wondering if this one has one.

[Budfred]

Sounds like you need to buy a NIC.... They can be had for as little as $5, so not a big deal unless you are out of PCI slots...

[tonysolomon]

What about for the second machine?

[Budfred]

I am not sure what you are asking. You will need an Ethernet port on both machines, so if they don't have a port on the motherboard you will need to get NIC cards for each. If that isn't what you are asking, please clarify...

[tonysolomon]

Sorry, I tried to edit, but I figured you were lookin on the main page to see if I posted the last message on this thread. I don't know if both PCs need a NIC, because I don't know where I would plug the CAT 5 cable into either machine?

I have another question about the second machine. I thought my machine had an RJ45 jack, but it turned out to say telephone. It's built into the board and right next to the USB slots. I look in the device manager under modems and there are two names: HSP56 WDM communication device and PCTEL Platinum V.90 modem. What should I do about that?

[Budfred]

The NIC cards will have a jack to plug the CAT5 cable in to.

As for the onboard modem, plug it into a telephone and use it or ignore it. Unless you want to install another telephone based modem it won't make any difference. If you do want to install a telephone based modem, you will probably need to disable it. If you decide to use it, you may have to install drivers, but it sounds like it may already have them.

[tonysolomon]

I'm using one of the modems right now. I guess I didn't realize that I had one built into the motherboard. I can't believe I've had two modems, all of this time.

Okay, I don't want to waste any more of your time, but does it sound like I need a NIC for each computer? What is the dialup adapter? Why does mine say it has a fast ethernet adapter, but not have an RJ45 jack?

[Budfred]

The board was built with the option of including an Ethernet adapter, but the version that you have apparently didn't have the jack included. If you want to try to get handy with it, you could probably rig up an Ethernet jack using the hardware already on the board, but it is probably easier and cheaper to use a NIC card.

A dialup adapter is the equipment/software that lets you use your modem, I can't tell you much more than that, but you could do a Google search or someone else here might be able to give you more details.

You were lucky that having 2 modems didn't cause nightmares installing the one you added. Your system must have an automatic means of disabling the onboard modem.

[tonysolomon]

Thanks. Now that I think about it I remember I did have some problems figuring out which modem was the one that I installed, when I recently reinstalled the OS. I didn't know why it was showing two modems. I had to figure out what the one that I installed was called and delete the other one by double-clicking modems, in the control panel. I guess the device manager recognizes it still. Do you think it recognizes the drivers and not the modem? I've had this computer for a few years now. I can't believe I never realized that. I just thought it was an RJ45 jack.

[Budfred]

It probably recognizes the modem and may have basic drivers installed. You may want to disable it in Device Manager (not Remove it) and see if it makes any difference at all. You could always reenable if needed....

[tonysolomon]

Thanks, I'll try that out.

[tonysolomon]

I just looked more closely at my motherboard book and receipt. My receipt says that I have a 56k modem, so I think the vendors didn't realize that there was one installed. The receipt also says that I have a 10/100 NIC.

The motherboard book says:

Built-in Ethernet LAN
Built-in 10BaseT/100BaseTX Ethernet LAN
LAN controller integrates Fast Ethernet MAC and PHY compliant with IEEE802.3u 100BASE-TX, 10BASE-T and ANSI X3.263 TP-PMD standards
Compliant with ACPI 1.0 and the Network Device Class Power Management 1.0

---------
I still don't see any RJ45 jack on the back of the PC. Since it's built-in where do I put the CAT5 cable? The cable modem guy will be here this weekend. Does he need an RJ45 jack to hook up my modem?

[deddard]

Just one point - if you are just connecting two computers together via NICs, then the cable you require is a CROSSOVER cable. A CAT5 cable or above will be fine (the CAT part just tells you how good the cable is in simple terms, whereas the CROSSOVER part means that the two computers will be able to talk to each other)
A normal CAT 5 Patch cable is NOT suitable, as these are designed to attach a computer to a HUB/Switch etc.

If both computers are going to a router, then standard cat 5 patches are fine.

Here is the website for your board
FIC (http://www.fic.com.tw/product/motherboard/1stmainboard_detail.aspx?model_id=41)

[Budfred]

If your specs say you have an Ethernet port and you don't see it there are 2 possible solutions:

It is behind a punch out on the back of your case that they neglected to punch out. If so, you can do it yourself...

Or...

You were ripped off and they didn't provide what they said they provided.

And most likely they will need an Ethernet jack to hook up your modem. Many cable modems will also hook up by USB port, but I have heard that this tends to not work as well, particularly when you network.

[tonysolomon]

deddard, thank you for that CAT 5 cable info and the link. That motherboard is for the Windows 98 computer. That link you gave me in the other thread that had all of the drivers on it is for my motherboard, I think. I'll have to check it out tonight. Thanks.

@budfred, thanks for the help. I'll check inside the machine tonight. I hope they didn't rip me off. It's valex computers. I'll let you know.

[bassman]

Hello Tony,
I do not see any specs on you motherboard that describe an onboard modem. The location you are describing were the onboard modem outlet is, is the traditional place for onboard NIC (beside the two USB outlets). Are you sure you know the difference between an RJ11(phone) and RJ45(network) plug? I am not trying to be insulting ;)
An RJ11 is typicaly 4 wires, capable of 6 with the exact same plug body. An RJ45 is 8 wires. A slightly wider plug body but otherwise very similar looking to RJ11.

Next, if you are trying to hook these machines together simply for file sharing, a crossover cable and two NICs will suite your needs just fine.
If you plan to share your internet connection, you will need another NIC for the modem connection, unless of course the modem has ports for more than 1 connection.
I have read your other thread and will post a little note there so as not to cross communication on two different topics;)

[tonysolomon]

Bassman, yeah I know the difference. I plugged my phone jack into it and it fit just fine, but I couldn't get a connection to the Internet with it, because I think I didn't have it configured correctly.

[tonysolomon]

Well, I guess it was a NIC. The cable guy plugged the cable modem into it, today. I thought it wasn't a NIC, since the device manager recognized two modems and I could put a phone jack inside of it. I'm glad it is a NIC, because now I'm cruisin' in style. :D

[bassman]

Good deal Tony, glad it all worked out.:cool: