3Com Dual Port 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC Driver

Applies to
3C996-T and 3C996-SX 3Com 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC

Author
3Com Corporation

FileSize
55.40 MB

Description

For 3C996-T based 3Com 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC, 3Com has listed few available driver download on its page. The latest driver version is a 0.40 MB driver update file version 7.43.0.0 and I assume you will need to install the full base driver prior to this update. The latest full driver installation file is 55.40 MB and with version number 2.1.

However, when I try to download both files from ftp.3com.com, both driver files return a [550 Failed to change directory] error. Have a look yourself here. The driver date was back in year 2004 so I guess 3Com has somehow managed to change the ftp file directory structure without updating this page. Anyway, I managed to locate the driver file on another website which allow us to download.

According to the driver information page above, 3Com 10/100/1000 PCI-X server NIC are supported up to Windows 2003 (and various Linux/SCO Openserver flavors). No mention of newer Windows OS such as Windows XP (see paragraph below), Vista, Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008. So to use this 3Com Dual Port 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC on the newer Windows OS, try at your own risk.

After I downloaded and extracted the zipped self-extract exe driver file, I managed to see /WindowsXP32/ and /WindowsXP64/ folders. According to the INF file, we can determine this driver does support the following NIC models:

1. 3Com 10/100/1000 PCI
2. 3Com 3C1000 Gigabit NIC
3. 3Com 3C940 Gigabit LOM
4. 3Com 3C996 10/100/1000 Server NIC
5. 3Com 3C996 Gigabit Fiber-SX Server NIC
6. 3Com 3C996B Gigabit Server NIC
7. 3Com Dual Port 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC
8. Broadcom 570x Gigabit Integrated Controller
9. Broadcom NetXtreme Fast Ethernet
10. Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Ethernet
11. Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Fiber
12. Broadcom NetXtreme Gigabit Fiber WOL

Dual Port 10/100/1000 PCI-X Server NIC Windows XP 32-bit Driver Installation

1. Use the following procedure to install the driver for the first time in a system running Windows XP 32-bit version.
2. Start Windows and log in. You must have Network Administrator privileges to install the driver software
3. Download and run the 3Com Driver Installation exe (996_cd_21.exe)
4. The main menu appears. Select NIC Software.
5. From the list on the left, select NIC Drivers.
6. Click Install NIC Drivers.
7. Click Install Win XP 32 NIC Drivers.
8. The Please Wait screen appears. After the installation is complete, and Update dialog box appears. Click OK.
9. The Choose Operating System screen appears. Click Windows XP .
10. Follow the steps in the Completing NIC Installation with Windows XP screen. After you are through, click Done. The drivers are installed.