*BSD News Article 69835


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From: Cassandra Perkins <cassy@loop.com>
Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
Subject: Re: Looking for EISA support for 3Com's3C509
Date: Thu, 30 May 1996 22:21:36 -0700
Organization: The Loop
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In-Reply-To: <199605122023.VAA02011@winu.fa.umist.ac.uk>

Bill,

Sorry it took so long for my reply.  I haven't yet been able to use your 
advice.  I went ahead and loaded Linux on the machine, for now.  As soon 
as I get a chance, I'll take a swing at it. 

Thanks for the assistance,

Cassandra.
**************************************

On Sun, 12 May 1996, Bill Nutt wrote:

> This is a copy of the follow-up I posted to comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc:
> 
> 
> Subject: Re: Looking for EISA support for 3Com's3C509
> Newsgroups: comp.unix.bsd.freebsd.misc
> References: <4n0ni4$o6u@joni.loop.net>
> Distribution: 
> 
> Hi, Cassandra,
> 	aha, I know this one - it bothered me for a while too.
> After a little playing, my 3c509b works wonderfully in my EISA machine.
> 
> here are some pointers to help you out.
> 
> 1) EISA boards dont have ISA slots as they dont need them.   The dual depth on 
> the connector means you can plug any ISA card straight into an EISA slot.
> 
> 2) Make sure you use an EISA slot that supports bus mastering - my first 
> six slots or so do if I remember.
> 
> 3) freebsd can find a 3c509 in EISA mode, but it wont do any good, as the 
> driver doesnt seem to like it.
> 
> 4) Setting ISA mode on the 3c509 with the DOS based install/config program is 
> essential, as is finding free IRQ and base address settings.   Your EISA 
> configuration utility (ECU) will tell you what address space and what 
> interrupts are already being used.   Dont be fooled by the install utility 
> telling you that the irq/address you select is already in use - if your ECU 
> says its free, the 3c509 software may be looking at its own configuration and 
> noting it as already used.   
> 
> 5) No matter if your ECU says irq 9(2) is free, never
> use it - using it caused my 3c509 to run very slowly; my video card interrupt,
> although DISABLED through my ECU and dos install software, must have been 
> RE-ENABLED by freebsd, causing an irq conflict and timeouts. - I'm now using
> irq 10 and a base address of 0x210 and have no problems. (remember to 
> reconfigure the kernel if you deviate from irq 10 and 0x300).
> 
> 6) Your BIOS is telling you that your slot is incorrectly configured because
> you have set the 3c509 to ISA mode using the dos install / config software,
> but still have that slot set for 3c509 in EISA mode.   If you re-run your
> ECU utility, and use the ADD/REMOVE boards option to remove the 3c509 from
> the slot it actually uses (physically), the BIOS will not search for an EISA
> enabled 3c509 when it boots the machine, and you can use your 3c509 in ISA mode
> in your EISA motherboard.
> 
> 7) Make sure you disable plug-and-play for the 3c509 (in the dos install / 
> config utility), as your 3c509 may not be found properly if plug-and-play is 
> enabled.
> 
> 
> hope this helps a bit, I have had no problems with the card after resolving
> my teething troubles (even though the freebsd folks say the code is buggy,
> and that the SMC ultra elite is better) - it all works fast enough for me ;o)
> 
> Bill Nutt
> Electronic Systems Engineering (MEng)
> UMIST, Manchester, UK
> bill@winu.fa.umist.ac.uk
> 
> In article <4n0ni4$o6u@joni.loop.net> you wrote:
> : I'm using a Micronics EISA VL-Bus mother board and 3Com's 3C509 Ethernet
> : card, with the EISA configuration setting since the board does't have ISA
> : slot.  FreeBSD 2.1 does list the card for ISA support in the kernel 
> : configuration file and suggest that it's "buggy".  Do anyone know of an 
> : EISA driver for the 3Com for BSD or a workaround for the Micronics board?
> : I tried setting ISA setting for the 3Com but when I reboot the computer 
> : it complains of a slot config error.
> 
> : Any assistance would be appreciated. :)
> 
> : Thanks
>