nelson@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Russ Nelson) (06/26/91)
In article <3807@sirius.ucs.adelaide.edu.au> legg@ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Christian Legg) writes:
Does anyone out there have a packet driver or similar for use
with a Xircom ethernet adaptor?
I advise people not to buy Xircom adaptors. Here's the story, you
can decide for yourself if you wish to buy their products:
I wrote some skeleton software to assist people writing network
drivers. It's copyrighted using the FSF's GPL. Xircom donated one of
their pocket Ethernet adapters to Brad Clements in our computing
center. He used their object module and wrote some of his own code,
and linked it to my skeleton. They were not happy when Brad told them
that the copyright required that they release their source code. And
I insisted that they do so. So we came up with a compromise -- they
would give the source to anyone who signed a nondisclosure agreement.
I thought that was reasonable (at the time), and agreed to it. So
they went on distributing it. Then I heard that they had reneged on
our agreement, and that they were writing their own proprietary packet
driver. However, they continued to distribute the one derived from my
code so I called for a boycott of their products. Legal action
wouldn't be useful, because I have no money to sue them, and they've
been making lots of money off their adaptors. And even the boycott
isn't going to accomplish much because the people who need packet
drivers aren't a large part of their business.
So, I guess they get away with their theft.
There are alternatives to their products made by D-Link, Accton Technology,
and others.
--
--russ <nelson@clutx.clarkson.edu> I'm proud to be a humble Quaker.
I am leaving the employ of Clarkson as of June 30. Hopefully this email
address will remain. If it doesn't, use nelson@gnu.ai.mit.edu.legg@ucs.adelaide.edu.au (Christian Legg) (06/26/91)
Hello folks, Does anyone out there have a packet driver or similar for use with a Xircom ethernet adaptor? We'd like to use a slotless notebook PC with both Novell and Telnet, and the only way we can connect it to the network is via a Xircom plugged onto the printer port. any leads would be appreciated christian legg legg@itd.adelaide.edu.au