[rescue] Fwd: sparcstation 10 fast-ethernet

[john]

 > SunFastEtherNet 1.x is first-generation Sun 100MB/sec hardware, in 
one form:

>
>     1. X1056A "BigMac" card
>
> This uses the "be" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.4, 2.5,
> 2.5.1 and 2.6.
> For Solaris 4.1.3, 4.1.3u1, 4.1.4 and Solaris 2.3 HW 5/95, the
> SunFastEthernet Software 1.1 CD is needed. Other SunOS and Solaris versions
> are *not supported*.
>
> The "BigMac" can only do half-duplex, thus can be difficult to make work
> with some modern switches. It was also notoriously buggy at the
> hardware/register level, requiring the (unbundled) device-driver software
> to perform considerable contortions just to make the thing work at least
> somewhat reliably.
>
> SunFastEthernet 2.x is a 2nd-generation Sun 100MB/sec hardware, in two
> forms, both based on the "HappyMealEthernet" controller core:
>
>      1. X1059A "Colossus-Lite" card
>      2. X1018A "Colossus" card, formally known as SunSwift adaptor. This
> also provides an external 20Mb/sec Fast_Wide-SCSI port.
>
> Both of these use the "hme" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.5
> 11/95 through Solaris 9. For SunOS 4.1.3u1 through Solaris 2.4, you need
> the SunFastEthernet Software 2.1 CD.
>
> The HappyMeal is much less buggy than BigMac, and can do full-duplex.
> However, you still sometimes need to *force* duplex mode either in OpenBOOT
> or at the O/S level, rather than letting it auto-negotiate
> half-/full-duplex when connecting to some particular switches; it always
> negotiates speed correctly, but the IEEE specs for autonegotiation of
> full-/half-duplex were not quite as 100% unambiguous as could have been
> hoped, and some manufacturers had different opinions about how to interpret
> the duplex-negotiation specs (hint: Sun were probably overly liberal in
> interpretation).
>
> *** I have an original SunFastEthernet 2.1 Software CD *** (original Sun
> package purchased in 1996), which I could turn into a downloadable ISO
> file, if you so wish.
>
> Based on having to live with both "be" and "hme" for quite a while, on both
> my SPARCstation-10s, as well as an SS-20 and SS-1000E, I strongly recommend
> you try to get an "hme" card, either X1018A SunSwift or X1059A
> SunFastEthernet-2.x.
>
> Regards,
> Mike
>
>
Thanks Mike for sharing this.B  information.B  I need to check some things
on my end before anyone (you) spends anymore time on this. I'm running
part of our system on Cisco carrier current ethernet transponders (now
sold as Linksys PLS(?) 400 series). I need to check if the ones I'm
using support fast-ethernet - i think they do, also check on the sun
sbus card availability. And then I'll get back to you.

best,

john