Newsgroups: bit.listserv.novell
Date:         Tue, 8 Sep 1992 10:20:53 PDT
Reply-To:     Novell LAN Interest Group <NOVELL@SUVM.BITNET>
From:         Art Schoenstadt <0085P@NAVPGS.BITNET>
Subject:      SUMMARY: Using 16-Bit NIC's in EISA Machines

----------------------    Original Question   ---------------------------
>
>    We're due to upgrade a number of old AT machines to EISA bus
>shortly. We also already have on-hand a large number of 16-Bit Network
>cards, primarily NE 2000's and Intel EtherExpress 16's, and I'd like
>not to loose that investment.
>
>    One vendor is trying to tell us we HAVE TO junk those and buy
>all NE 3200's. I know the 32 Bit card should perform better in
>an EISA machine, but would appreciate hearing of any experiences -
>good or bad - with using 16 Bit cards in EISA machines.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

A summary of the replies is that:

1.  There "usually" is no problem with 16 bit cards in eisa machines,
although one reply did state that placing ANY ISA cards (like the
lan card .. a monitor card... a drive controller) in an EISA machine
may cause ALL the cards to run at the slower ISA bus speeds.
2.  There are some timing problems with very old cards.
3.  There is a potential for a problem with 16 bit cards that use DMA
in machines with 16mb or more of ram installed.  This is mostly a
problem when the machines are used as servers, since most
workstations don't have 16mb installed, and use DOS as the
operating system.
4.  There were no reported problems with NE2000 cards in any
EISA machines, including servers.
5.  On some (cheap) clone EISA machines, you may need to check with
the manufacturer on the specific PTLECU setup of your machine.
(PTLECU is the advanced CMOS configuration that's run off disk and
allows you to set memory, interrupt, and base I/O on the motherboard
and all cards.) Some "tweaking" with PTLECU may be required.
6.  There were reported problem trying to install 32-BIT cards
(NE 3200 or Intel) in workstations. (There were no reported problems
with 32-bit cards in servers.) The problem with NE3200 may be very
severe under Windows, since apparently the odi drivers for the
ne3200 and windows conflict VERY destructively.
7.  The Mylex LNE390A (in a server) apparently does not have
AppleTalk support in driver versions lower than LNE31.LAN version
3.11 (June 19, 1992)
8.  The Accton EISA board has problems with the bus timing on some
EISA boards (although they are supposedly coming out with a new
version.)
9.  The SMC Ethercard PLUS Elite 32bit EISA card has a reported
Novell driver bug.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks to:
   henry wilusz <hlw1@psuadmin.bitnet>
   Dan O'Brien <acs_dano@vax1.acs.jmu.edu>
   Arthur Green <ARTHUR@CCLANA.UCD.IE>
   Kevin Wang <kwang@hermes.calpoly.edu>
   WENDELL@safety.nwscc.sea06.navy.mil
   Russell Nelson <nelson@crynwr.com>
   Ray Todd Stevens <RAY@SAFETY.NWSCC.SEA06.NAVY.MIL>
   Mike Squires <mikes@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu>
   Kevin Speichts <kspeicht@KILCOM1.UCIS.DAL.CA>
   David Lewis <kelson@AIS.ORG>
   Glenn Fund  <und@Relay.proteon.com>

--------------------------------------------------------------------
|   Art Schoenstadt                     0085P@NAVPGS.BITNET        |
|   Code MA/Zh (Math. Dept)             0085P@cc.nps.navy.mil      |
|   Naval Postgraduate School             (408)-646-2662           |
|   Monterey, CA  93943            "Are we having fun yet??"       |
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