1 - 3 IT Essentials II v2.0 - Lab 7.1.8 Copyright 2002, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Lab 7.1.8: UsingtheHCL
Estimated Time: 20 minutes
Objective
Upon completion of this lab, the student will be able to identify and analyze the
compatibility of system hardware to the corresponding operating system.
Equipment
• Internet access
Scenario
A server needs a Network Operating System (NOS) that best supports the existing
hardware. The manager would like the NOS to be Windows 2000, Linux Red Hat, or
Linux Caldera.
Procedures
There are four pieces of hardware that must be compatible with the NOS. Compatibility
will be determined by usingthe Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) on the Web site of
each NOS.
Step 1
Open three internet browser windows.
Step 2
Enter the following URLs into each of the browser windows:
• Windows 2000 Server.
• http://www.microsoft.com/windows2000/server/howtobuy/upgrading/compat/
default.asp Once connected, click on the Hardware Devices tab to start the
search Linux Red Hat.
http://hardware.redhat.com/
• Once connected, click on Hardware Compatibility List to start the
search.Linux Caldera.
http://www.caldera.com/support/hardware/
• Once connected, click on OpenLinux eSERVER 2.3 to start the search.
Step 3
Use theHCL to gather information for the following hardware components. If the product
is supported by the NOS, write yes next to the device. If the product is not supported by
the NOS, write no next to the device.
2 - 3 IT Essentials II v2.0 - Lab 7.1.8 Copyright 2002, Cisco Systems, Inc.
Device Product Windows 2000 Linux Red Hat Linux Caldera
Network Interface Card 3Com Etherlink XL (3c905)
Video Card RAGE 128 PRO
CPU Pentium III
AMD K5
AMD K6-III
SCSI DELL PowerVault 110T LTO
Network Operating Systems
Hint:Type "compatable
CPU" in the Search
This Site box
Step 4
Click on the Resources tab. What IRQ is the keyboard using?
_______________
Step 5
Locate the CD-ROM device. Double-click the CD-ROM and the CD-ROM installed on the
machine will be displayed. Double-click the CD-ROM. What tabs are listed? What do the
tabs contain?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Step 6
Click on the Drivers tab. Now click the Uninstall button. Click OK. The computer is
uninstalling the CD-ROM. When it is finished, look for the CD-ROM device. Is it there?
Why or why not?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Step 7
Reinstall the CD-ROM driver. Click the Action button in the Device Manager. Click Scan
for Hardware Changes. What happens?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
Is the CD-ROM drive still shown in the Device Manager?
__________________________________________________________________
Reflection
How can usingthe Hardware Compatibility List be beneficial to an administrator who is
3 - 3 IT Essentials II v2.0 - Lab 7.1.8 Copyright 2002, Cisco Systems, Inc.
troubleshooting the devices connected to the server?
__________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________
.
Use the HCL to gather information for the following hardware components. If the product
is supported by the NOS, write yes next to the device. If the. that must be compatible with the NOS. Compatibility
will be determined by using the Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) on the Web site of
each NOS.
Step