[comp.os.minix] advice wanted: Ethernet cards for IP/TCP + Minix

jonathan@comp.vuw.ac.nz (Jonathan) (04/15/88)

I need some advice on Ethernet boards and free (cheap?) TCP/IP
implementations for IBM PC/AT clones. Source for the TCP is a must.
The background is as follows:

Some graduate students here are starting projects to implement IP/TCP
over Ethernet on Minix.  We currently have a couple of XT clones with
3C501 (3Com Etherlink) Ethernet boards, and source for PC/IP. We are
sure that these will work together, though we have not yet installed
PC/IP.

We are about to get some more hardware for this project: AT clones
(commodore PC-40s) and some kind of Ethernet boards.  We have found
local suppliers for two boards: 3c505 (3Com Etherlink+), and a Western
Digital board.  PC/IP does not have drivers for these cards.  We also
know KA9Q (sp?) exists, but don't know what cards it has drivers for.

Does anyone know of drivers for these TCP implementations for either board?
Also, could anyone comment on which boards (or software) would be
least troublesome for  Minix?

One specific thing that concerns me is DMA. The WD board doesn't do
DMA; I don't know about the 3Com board.  Would moving data to and from
the ethernet board via programmed I/O loops cause serious problems for
Minix? Eg: do we have to disable interrupts? Could we lose asynch TTY
interrupts? Will it kill response time?

I know DMA is slower on ATs, but with a multi-tasking OS, there are
considerations other than raw throughput.

(I shouldn't have to say this, but mail any replies to me.  If there
is sufficient interest, I will summarise to the net.)

Thanks in advance,

	Jonathan Stone
	Programmer/Student
	Comp Sci Dept
	Victoria University
-- 
                                      |`Toto, I have a feeling we're
sane mailers: jonathan@comp.vuw.ac.nz |  not in Kansas anymore ...''
UUCP path: ...!uunet!vuwcomp!jonathan |      - Dorothy,arriving in Oz

vandys@hpindda.HP.COM (Andy Valencia) (04/19/88)

	Please see KA9Q (Phil Karn)'s excellent TCP/IP package.  It
works for both Ham Packet, as well as direct 802.3 connect.  The code
is available via anonymous FTP.

	MIT's PC/IP is also available, and equally good in its own
way.  It is also available via anonymous FTP.  You could start with
simtel20.arpa, which will at least have pointers.  You might also
try the comp.sources archives on uunet.uu.com.

				Good luck!
				Andy Valencia

BECKER%HUMBER.BITNET@cornellc.ccs.cornell.edu (Bruce Becker) (04/21/88)

>
>    Please see KA9Q (Phil Karn)'s excellent TCP/IP package.  It
>works for both Ham Packet, as well as direct 802.3 connect.  The code
>is available via anonymous FTP.
>
>    MIT's PC/IP is also available, and equally good in its own
>way.  It is also available via anonymous FTP.  You could start with
>simtel20.arpa, which will at least have pointers.  You might also
>try the comp.sources archives on uunet.uu.com.
>
>                Good luck!
>                Andy Valencia

For us FTP-less BitNet-ers, where might the archives be made available thru
listservers or similar facilities?

Thanks, B. Becker    Humber College        Etobicoke, Ont.

Leisner.Henr@xerox.com (marty) (04/22/88)

The National Center for Supercomputing Applications also has out a Telnet/Ftp
package running TCP  for the 3Com 3C501 etherlink board.  They also have other
drivers for a few other boards.  The code looks pretty clean.  I never actually
brought it up on Ms/Dos.  I pulled it off arpanet, not sure of the path right
now.

I've been thinking of bringing it up on Minix but never got around to it.

Hey, Andy, can you post perhaps a page description of how your ethernet
architecture is organized?   

marty
ARPA:	leisner.henr@xerox.com
GV:  leisner.henr
NS:  martin leisner:henr801c:xerox
UUCP:  nsc!nscimg!amps!marty