wstef@beta.eng.clemson.edu (W. Gregg Stefancik) (04/25/89)
Does one exist? If so where can I ftp it from? W. Gregg Stefancik < wstef@eng.clemson.edu >
nelson@SUN.SOE.CLARKSON.EDU (Russ Nelson) (05/03/89)
Seems to me that 3Com doesn't want a freely copyable packet driver for their 3c505 board. Seems like an odd attitude to me. -russ Date: Wed, 3 May 89 10:17:25 -0400 From: "W. Gregg Stefancik" <wstef@eng.clemson.edu> To: nelson@clutx.clarkson.edu Subject: Re: Packet Driver for 3C505 We finally got word from 3Com about programmers documentation for the 3C505 board. The documentation would cost $1000.00. Sounds a little outrageous to us here. I'm still willing to write a driver for the 505, but purchasing the documentation is rather costly and hard to justify. Gregg
clements@bbn.com (Bob Clements) (05/04/89)
>Date: Wed, 3 May 89 10:17:25 -0400 >From: "W. Gregg Stefancik" <wstef@eng.clemson.edu> >Subject: Re: Packet Driver for 3C505 > >We finally got word from 3Com about programmers documentation for the >3C505 board. The documentation would cost $1000.00. Sounds a little >outrageous to us here. I'm still willing to write a driver for the >505, but purchasing the documentation is rather costly and hard to justify. > >Gregg Contact Eric Siegel at 3-Com directly. Tell him you want to write a non-commercial FTP Packet Driver spec driver like I did for the 3C503, and that you will not require technical support. Under those circumstances he will give you the info you need. /Rcc clements@bbn.com
jbvb@VAX.FTP.COM (James Van Bokkelen) (05/04/89)
If the "documentation" is the same kit I've seen, it includes machine-readable ASM source code for a driver for the board, and supposedly you can freely copy this code, or things built from it. I have never relly looked into whether they provide real support in return for the money, but they won't have to worry about internal dispute over whether it is worthwhile. Not defending the practice, but you do get more than just a manual. jbvb
timk@NCSA.UIUC.EDU (Tim Krauskopf) (05/07/89)
Our server, ftp.ncsa.uiuc.edu (128.174.20.50) contains a contributed driver for the 3C505 in the contributions directory. Someone could take that and add the packet-driver support on top of it. Tim Krauskopf NCSA From: Russ Nelson <nelson@sun.soe.clarkson.edu> To: pcip@louie.udel.edu Subject: [wstef@eng.clemson.edu: Re: Packet Driver for 3C505] Seems to me that 3Com doesn't want a freely copyable packet driver for their 3c505 board. Seems like an odd attitude to me. -russ Date: Wed, 3 May 89 10:17:25 -0400 From: "W. Gregg Stefancik" <wstef@eng.clemson.edu> To: nelson@clutx.clarkson.edu Subject: Re: Packet Driver for 3C505 We finally got word from 3Com about programmers documentation for the 3C505 board. The documentation would cost $1000.00. Sounds a little outrageous to us here. I'm still willing to write a driver for the 505, but purchasing the documentation is rather costly and hard to justify. Gregg
cccapon@ziebmef.uucp (Chris Capon) (05/14/89)
>Seems to me that 3Com doesn't want a freely copyable packet driver for >their 3c505 board. Seems like an odd attitude to me. >-russ ... >We finally got word from 3Com about programmers documentation for the >3C505 board. The documentation would cost $1000.00. Sounds a little >outrageous to us here. I'm still willing to write a driver for the >505, but purchasing the documentation is rather costly and hard to justify. >Gregg It seems to me that 3COM is still in the dark ages. I called them up for technical info on their 3C501 board using the phone number supplied with the card. Later that day and many, many routed phone calles later I was told that if I wanted to get that info I would have to talk to a tech support representative and that would only cost me $150 per hour. Nice! I finally got hold of a sales representative and managed to convince him to send me some smatterings of information. Gosh, they really are *protective* over there. "You have our card... why do you need to know how to talk to it?" *sigh*
karn@ka9q.bellcore.com (Phil Karn) (05/15/89)
3-Com's attitude towards programming info (yes, I've run into their brick wall too) seems to be a carry-over from the days when they monopolized the PC Ethernet market. They do no longer, but old habits die hard. I suggest that the best way to deal with 3-Com is to buy from their competitors instead, of which there are now many (Western Digital, TRW, Interlan, etc). In many cases, the competition not only makes better products for which you can get documentation, but they're more competitively priced too. Be sure to let 3-Com know when you do this. Phil PS. These are strictly my personal opinions, not those of my employer...