Apple Enterprise - NeXTanswers Support Archive

NEXTSTEP for Intel Processors Release 3.3

Networking Driver Overview

Driver: DEC21142Network
Driver Overview: NeXTanswer #2486
Last Update: June 27, 1997

Availability Information

Newer Released Driver in NeXTanswers*: No, Version 0.00, as NeXTanswer #
Newer Beta Driver in NeXTanswers*: Yes, Version 3.32, as NeXTanswer #2487

Driver Name / Installer .pkg: DEC21142Network
Driver Type: Networking
Driver Scope: Specific Product
Supported Components: DEC 21142, DEC 21143
PC Bus / Interface Supported by Driver**: PCI

General Overview notes: This driver supports the onboard ethernet LAN adapter in the DEC Celebris 61xx. The adapter is based on the DEC21142 chipset.

Supported Products / Add-on Adapters:

Supported Products / Systems (ie integrated into PC System):
DEC Celebris 61xx On-Board LAN Adapter

Special Features of Driver / Driver Notes:
This device driver provides information in the Configure application's help panel. Choose Info>Help from the Configure menu and scroll down to find this device driver's help topic.

Networking Driver Details

Network Type**: EtherNet
Speed*: 10 Mb/s
Access Mode**: Bus Master DMA
Buffer Size*:
Supported Connectors**: AUI, BNC, UTP

Known Problems

In the system BIOS setup screen (F2 at boot), be sure to set "Plug and Play OS" to "off". If left on, the driver will fail to retrieve the correct ethernet address (it will most likely be ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff).

Driver Version Notes

3.31 Initial version supporting 10 Mbit/s only.
3.32 Adds support for DECchip21143 in 10 Mbit/s mode.

Future Planning

Future / Update Planning: Under Development
Reason for New Driver / Update: New Driver
New Driver / Update Timeframe: N/A

New Driver / Update Description:
The beta version currently only supports the adapter in 10 Mbit mode.

Note: Information contained in the "Future Planning" section of this document does not constitute a commitment on the part of NeXT to complete the planned development work.

* - Any NeXTanswer number that is blank indicates that a driver will not be released for this version of NEXTSTEP.

** - Indicates information that is inclusive of the entire capability of this driver. Not all devices supported by this driver may include all features listed. Check any available NeXTanswers and the hardware manual for the device for additional information.

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