Date: Tue, 26 May 1998 11:55:56 -0700 (PDT) From: Hugh LaMaster <lamaster@george.arc.nasa.gov> To: FreeBSD Hardware <freebsd-hardware@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Re: Seeking hardware recommendations Message-ID: <Pine.SOL.3.96.980526113852.11497A-100000@george.arc.nasa.gov> In-Reply-To: <356942B2.84CD3D8D@isocor.ie>
next in thread | previous in thread | raw e-mail | index | archive | help
On Mon, 25 May 1998, Peter Edwards wrote: > Not all 2114x cards have MII PHYs. As mentioned before, some cards' physical > layers implement media detection through the "General Purpose" register bits. > And yes, getting it to work for all cases is, to say the very least, > "Problematic". (Now _theres_ an understatement!). OK. I won't concede 10-15% CPU warrants an "Ugh!". Maybe "1/2 Ugh". Although it is an unnecessary overhead, you have to consider the entire range of optimizations: see multicast below. But I will concede that this problem (lack of standardized media auto-detect) does get an "Ugh". I've heard bits and pieces before, but, this thread represents the first general statement of the problem that I have seen. > Matthew N. Dodd wrote: > > > > On Fri, 22 May 1998, Tom wrote: > > > The DEC chipsets are not that well supported. The media detection is > > > problematic. There are many variances from model to model (at least a > > > half a dozen different chipset versions). Ugh... > > > > The failure to auto detect is caused by lack of specific support for PHY > > specific detection routines. On the plus side, the 2114x sides do multicast better than most, and, vastly better than some cards. Multicast is an "Ugh" for a lot of other cards. I don't see why chipset makers can't get all these correct. -- Hugh LaMaster, M/S 233-21, ASCII Email: hlamaster@mail.arc.nasa.gov NASA Ames Research Center Or: lamaster@george.arc.nasa.gov Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 No Junkmail: USC 18 section 2701 Phone: 650/604-1056 Disclaimer: Unofficial, personal *opinion*. To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-hardware" in the body of the message
Want to link to this message? Use this URL: <https://mail-archive.FreeBSD.org/cgi/mid.cgi?Pine.SOL.3.96.980526113852.11497A-100000>