luke@tasis.utas.oz (Luke Visser) (09/06/88)
Over a period of about 9 months we have now had an ImageWriter II take out
half of our PhoneNet network about 3 or 4 times. I am interested in finding
out if anyone else has had this behaviour and if there is any corrective
solution.
The equipment being used is a laboratory of 25 SEs, II server, and 2 IW IIs.
All this equipment is networked together using PhoneNet connectors. The
network is also linked into a MultiGate box (similar but better than
a FastPath box (cause its Aussie :-)) but I doubt if this has any
influence on the problem.
What happens is that the IW II sits there with its error light flashing
erratically which (according to the IW II's Owner Manual) means that either
a) the AT DIP switch isn't set properly (it is)
or b) the AT card is not installed properly (it is - see below).
Not only does the printer not work but it also divides the network in two
with disastrous effects to those without connectivity to AppleShare.
The reason that I said that I doubt that the AT card is not installed
correctly (or has deinstalled itself) is because turning the IW II off and
then on solves the problem. I doubt if this reinstalls the card properly!
Various hypothesis have been suggested but none are really verifiable from
our end so I wonder if anyone else has had this problem.
1) That the interaction between PhoneNet and the AppleTalk option
card causes the problem. (Unlikely but possible.)
2) That there exists a hardware bug on the AppleTalk card that comes
up very occasionally.
Luke Visser
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