From owner-freebsd-hardware Sun Jun 30 10:09:39 1996 Return-Path: owner-hardware Received: (from root@localhost) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) id KAA28601 for hardware-outgoing; Sun, 30 Jun 1996 10:09:39 -0700 (PDT) Received: from jparnas.cybercom.net (jparnas.cybercom.net [206.28.135.58]) by freefall.freebsd.org (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id KAA28596 for ; Sun, 30 Jun 1996 10:09:36 -0700 (PDT) Received: from localhost.cybercom.net (localhost.cybercom.net [127.0.0.1]) by jparnas.cybercom.net (8.6.10/8.6.10) with SMTP id NAA11248; Sun, 30 Jun 1996 13:08:43 -0400 Message-Id: <199606301708.NAA11248@jparnas.cybercom.net> X-Authentication-Warning: jparnas.cybercom.net: Host localhost.cybercom.net didn't use HELO protocol To: Michael Smith cc: henry@zoo.toronto.edu, hardware@freebsd.org, bsdi-users@bsdi.com X-External-Networks: yes Subject: Re: muliport boards - building a PPP dialup server In-reply-to: Your message of Sat, 29 Jun 1996 17:12:46 +0930. <199606290742.RAA20768@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au> Date: Sun, 30 Jun 1996 13:08:30 -0400 From: "Jacob M. Parnas" Sender: owner-hardware@freebsd.org X-Loop: FreeBSD.org Precedence: bulk In message <199606290742.RAA20768@genesis.atrad.adelaide.edu.au>you write: >Jacob M. Parnas stands accused of saying: >> >> The TI 17550 can go up to 900kbaud/second, which is a new UART. > >Compatible with the 16550? Appropriately clocked, the 16550 will run at >1.5Mbps. > >> Why connect at high speeds with a UART: money. Most ethernet solutions >> cost well over $1000 not counting the ethernet hardware which may not be at >> home. (card, tranceiver or hub, cables, etc). I've seen a PC Card that > >This is total bollocks. An NE2000 clone ethernet card and cables will cost >you about $30 all up. As I said other places, I never said it would cost $1000 for the etherneting. Just the card costs at least $50. >> costs $199-$319 depending on who you are, and it does everything >> with a UART on top (the software driver for BSDI will be $95. So, >> how does $400 sound to you compared to the ethernet solution, >> considering that the $400 non-ethernet solution compare to an >> ethernet one. > >But it doesn't. You have zero flexibility, a driver with no source, and >from what you're saying, a UART-style interface with the associated high >interrupt and CPU overheads. I'm not sure about the status of the source. Hopefully BSDI will have them include the source. I wouldn't be surprised, but I have no information on that. >> You can get up to 512 Kbaud/second with it, it has 3 >> types of compression and header compression (Stac, Ascend and >> Microsoft) and can change from two BRI channels down to one and vice >> versa as the other channel is used for voice fax, analog modem, >> phone, etc. Pretty good in my opinion. > >Thanks, but I'd go for an Ascend P50 or something similar any day. >Particularly since this card is unlikely to pass the Austel tests >anytime soon. If you have unlimited funds, and don't mind wasting money for equal performance and features, go for it. I'd personally like to save $700+. Jacob >-- >]] Mike Smith, Software Engineer msmith@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ >]] Genesis Software genesis@atrad.adelaide.edu.au [[ >]] High-speed data acquisition and (GSM mobile) 0411-222-496 [[ >]] realtime instrument control (ph/fax) +61-8-267-3039 [[ >]] Collector of old Unix hardware. "Where are your PEZ?" The Tick [[ >