Exercises Guide
Activity 2 – NICs
Estimated time
00:30
Overview
This activity covers
• Verify adapter settings given written instructions.
Introduction
There are many manufacturers of Network Interface Cards (NICs). NIC manufacturers provide
custom device driver software required for various operating systems to communicate with the
NIC. Some manufacturers provide diagnostic routines that are designed to verify the basic
function of the NIC hardware.
In this activity, you will identify the NIC MAC address for the built-in Ethernet adapter in your
Windows 10 client and explore the NIC properties.
Requirements
Student laptop running Windows 10
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Exercises Guide
Activity instructions
Display the MAC Address in the BIOS
__ 1. If you have a Lenovo computer, Restart your computer. Note the prompt at the bottom of
the screen that states To interrupt normal startup, press Enter. Press Enter. Press
Enter again to pause the timer.
Note: If the following step does not work for your computer, use a search engine of your choice to
find the instructions to enter BIOS on your type of computer. If this is the case you may need to
modify the next few steps.
__ 2. Read the screen, press F1 to enter the setup utility.
__ 3. At the Main menu screen identify your Mac Address (Internal LAN).
Note: This screen displays the MAC address as seen by the hardware and recorded in the BIOS
when there is no operating system installed. This is a basic problem determination step if your
operating system does not recognize the adapter.
__ 4. Exit the BOIS utility without changing any settings and allow your computer to boot.
__ 5. Log on your computer.
Work with local area connections
__ 6. In your search block, type Control panel. Select Network and Internet. Select Network
and Sharing Center.
__ 7. In the left pane, select Change adapter settings.
__ 8. The Network Connections window is displayed.
Note: The icons denoting your network connections both physical and virtual. It is best practice to
have your Wi-Fi or Wireless icon disabled when you are using a wired connection. This prevents
confusion on exactly where your connection is coming from, wired or wireless.
__ 9. Move your mouse pointer directly over all the icons, but do not click. When held still over
and icon for several seconds, Windows displays details about that icon, such as the full
name of the network adapter.
__ 10. You can right-click the adapter and click Rename. This allow you to give the adapter a
more meaningful name. You can also Enable/Disable the adapter or explore its
Properties.
__ 11. If you are using a wired connection, unplug your Ethernet patch cable and observe the
corresponding icon. When it give you an indication that the cable is unplugged, plug the
cable back in and observe.
__ 12. Right-click the wired Ethernet icon. Select Status.
__ 13. The Ethernet Status window displays. It should indicate that the adapter is connected, the
duration of the connection, and the speed that the adapter is running.
__ 14. Close the Ethernet Status window.
__ 15. At the Network Connections screen, right click the wired Ethernet icon. Select Properties.
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Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.
Exercises Guide
__ 16. In the Connect Using: field, notice the name of your Ethernet adapter is displayed.
__ 17. Note that Client for Microsoft Networks, File and Printer sharing for Microsoft Networks,
Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) and Internet Protocol Version 6 (TCP/IPv6) are
some of the services that are currently bound to this NIC.
__ 18. Click Configure > Advanced tab.
__ 19. In the Property window make several selections and observe the value settings. Observe
but make no changes.
__ 20. Click the Driver tab in the Properties display.
__ 21. Click the Driver Details button. This displays details about the installed driver. Click OK.
__ 22. Click the Update driver button, this allows you to search the internet or browse your
computer for an updated driver. Click Cancel.
Note: The Roll Back Driver button is grayed out. If you just updated the driver and it was the
incorrect driver for your application, by pressing the Roll Back driver button Windows automatically
uninstall the incorrect driver and reinstalled the previous driver. Thus bring you back to where you
started.
__ 23. Explore any other features of your Ethernet NIC that interests you, do not make any
changes.
End of activity
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Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.
Exercises Guide
Activity review and wrap-up
In this activity, you displayed the BIOS setup of your windows workstation and verified the
presence of the computer’s Ethernet NIC by viewing its MAC address.
You accessed the driver properties of the Ethernet adapter and explored the available
configuration options.
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Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.
