Parameters Subkey Entries for Network Adapter Cards

Each network adapter card has a Parameters subkey with value entries that contain the settings for interrupt number, I/O port, and other parameters. These entries are found under subkeys for specific adapter cards in this Registry path:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet
\Services\adapter name#\Parameters

These values should all be set by choosing the Network icon in Control Panel. These value entries are provided here for informational purposes only. For a list of default values for network adapter card settings, see the table at the end of this section.

BusNumber REG_DWORD Number

Defines the bus number, beginning with 0 in the common case where the computer has one bus type, whether it is ISA, EISA, MCA, or TurboChannel. For the rare computer that has more than one bus, bus number 2 has the value of 1, and so on.

Note If you install an ISA network adapter card on a PCI bus computer and the network is not recognized, set BusNumber to 0 and your network adapter card will be recognized.

Default: Usually 0 (depends on the installation)

BusType REG_DWORD Number

Specifies the bus type for the computer, as in the following list:

This value should be maintained by the system. You cannot change it using the Network dialog box in Control Panel.

CableType REG_DWORD 1 or 2

Specifies the cable type as unshielded twisted pair (UTP=1) or shielded twisted pair (STP=2), for Proteon 1390 adapter cards.

CardSpeed REG_DWORD 4 or 16 megabits per second

Specifies card speed as 4 or 16 megabits per second in hex (0x4 or 0x10), for Proteon 1390 adapter cards.

CardType REG_DWORD Number

Specifies the card installed in the system. For some manufacturers, all their network cards use the same driver, which checks the value of CardType to determine the network card model number of the installed card. For example:

This value should be maintained by the system. You cannot change it using the Network dialog box in Control Panel.

DMAChannel REG_DWORD 5, 6, or 7

Specifies the DMA channel used by the adapter card.

InterruptNumber REG_DWORD IRQ number

Specifies the interrupt level (IRQ) for the adapter card. IRQ5 is a common choice (0x5).

IoBaseAddress REG_DWORD Number in hex

For some adapters, this entry specifies the I/O port base address as a hexadecimal string. For other adapters, this entry specifies whether this is the primary adapter card (1) or a secondary card (2).

MediaType REG_DWORD Number

Specifies the network type, as follows:

This value should be maintained by the system. You cannot change it using the Network dialog box in Control Panel.

MaximumPacketSize REG_DWORD Number

Specifies the maximum packet size that the IBM Token Ring adapter is allowed to transmit. Use this parameter when sending data across bridges that may have smaller packet sizes available on the destination network than on the native network. You cannot change this parameter using the Network dialog box in Control Panel.

MemoryMapped REG_DWORD 0 or 1

Specifies whether the adapter card is memory mapped.

MemoryMappedBaseAddress REG_DWORD Memory address in hex

Specifies the base memory (I/O) address used by the adapter card. This number must match the card's memory address settings as specified by its manufacturer.

NetworkAddress REG_SZ Number

Specifies the address the network adapter should use instead of the burned-in address. For example, for the IBM Token Ring card, this value is 40000000203. You can change this value for Token Ring adapters using the Network dialog box in Control Panel, but not for Ethernet adapters.

Transceiver REG_DWORD 1 or 2

Specifies the transceiver as External (1) or OnBoard (2). This value should be 1 for a DEC/Intel/Xerox (DIX) connection.

The following table summarizes default settings for various card types.

1 Settings are not required for EtherLink / MC, DEC PC, IBM Token Ring 16/4A, Proteon P1990, Novell NE3200, SMC/Western Digital 8013EA, and the Ungermann-Bass Ethernet NIUps (MC) or Ethernet NIUps/EOTP (short MC).