From: mhw@warlord.UUCP (Michael H. Warfield)
Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip,comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc,comp.dcom.lans.ethernet,comp.sources.wanted
Subject: Re: Help wanted: Interlan Ethernet drivers
Date: 20 Jul 92 01:18:00 GMT
Followup-To: comp.protocols.tcp-ip
Organization: Thaumaturgy & Speculums Engineering

In <1992Jul17.180609.11685@bostech.com> weare@bostech.com (Ged Weare) writes:

>Hi:

>I just acquired two Interlan NP600A Ethernet cards real cheap, and am
>trying to find drivers for DOS and AT&T Sys V/386 R3.2 (preferably STREAMS).

	I've got a pile of them.  Lotsa luck!  I'm not going to be much
help.  I've got a little info and more requests.

>1.	anyone have a NP600A packet driver I can use w/o the Novell
>	utilities?
>2.	Are the Novel utilities PD, and if so how do I get them?
>3.	How do I use the NDIS and/or ODI drivers with the PD TCP/IP
>	stuff, such as ka9q, NCSA Telnet, and so on?

	You need some stubs that should have come with the Clarkson
package.  There should be and NDIS stub for PDS in there somewhere.

>I don't have any Novell or other commercial network SW, and don't want to
>buy them (these are for private use, so no funds available).

	Hmm...  Same here.  It's a catch 22.  I got the boards basically
because they were excess and useless for a commercial application (read
that as "Your software is way overpriced!!!!").  I have the klunky DOS
package but I need drivers for SCO UNIX.  All personal stuff.  Nobody
in there right commercial minds will touch the things because they can
get better boards and MUCH better software for less than the price of
the drivers for the board!

>Unix:
>Interlan has a complete TCP/IP package for Sys V, but they sell it for
>$1090, and it includes the NP600A itself.  This is way outside my budget,
>and I already have the cards anyway.  I can do it a lot cheaper by
>junking the NP600As, and buying something mainstream like 3C503's.

	I got refered to NCM (I don't remember what that stands for).  They
seem to be supplying the software for the boards.  They can quote you
separate software packages for a lot of configurations, including upgrades.
HOWEVER....  The individual I talk to didn't seem real enthusiastic.  I
got the feeling he was being put out to even be discussing the subject with
some lowly individual.  They also want around $500 just for the SCO drivers.
Needless to say, there are better routes to go than that.  I don't know
if they have anything for the ATT stuff but their number is 1-800-786-3696.
As I say - their rep had a real attitude and their pricing sucks so lots'a
luck.

	I do a lot of consulting as well as my normal job as an Engineering
VP for an outfit down here in Georgia.  My recommendation to anyone, after
that encounter with NCM, is to avoid Interlan products like the plague!
If that's their attitude to a consultant who can recommend for or against
their products, heaven help the poor user who is stuck with them!

>Again, I don't want to spend money; I can always buy a cheap supported
>controller at low cost and junk the NP600As.

	Yea, my dozen or so are now collecting dust.  And Interlan has
already lost several sales as a direct result!  Anyone asking or consulting
me will get told that the software was so expensive I could not justify
even evaluating the boards.  And I certainly would never recommend something
that I couldn't even evaluate!

	Michael H. Warfield
	mhw@warlord.uucp