john
2018-01-03 02:29:30 UTC
SunFastEtherNet 1.x is first-generation Sun 100MB/sec hardware, in
1. X1056A "BigMac" card
This uses the "be" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.4, 2.5,
2.5.1 and 2.6.
For Solaris 4.1.3, 4.1.3u1, 4.1.4 and Solaris 2.3 HW 5/95, the
SunFastEthernet Software 1.1 CD is needed. Other SunOS and Solaris versions
are *not supported*.
The "BigMac" can only do half-duplex, thus can be difficult to make work
with some modern switches. It was also notoriously buggy at the
hardware/register level, requiring the (unbundled) device-driver software
to perform considerable contortions just to make the thing work at least
somewhat reliably.
SunFastEthernet 2.x is a 2nd-generation Sun 100MB/sec hardware, in two
1. X1059A "Colossus-Lite" card
2. X1018A "Colossus" card, formally known as SunSwift adaptor. This
also provides an external 20Mb/sec Fast_Wide-SCSI port.
Both of these use the "hme" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.5
11/95 through Solaris 9. For SunOS 4.1.3u1 through Solaris 2.4, you need
the SunFastEthernet Software 2.1 CD.
The HappyMeal is much less buggy than BigMac, and can do full-duplex.
However, you still sometimes need to *force* duplex mode either in OpenBOOT
or at the O/S level, rather than letting it auto-negotiate
half-/full-duplex when connecting to some particular switches; it always
negotiates speed correctly, but the IEEE specs for autonegotiation of
full-/half-duplex were not quite as 100% unambiguous as could have been
hoped, and some manufacturers had different opinions about how to interpret
the duplex-negotiation specs (hint: Sun were probably overly liberal in
interpretation).
*** I have an original SunFastEthernet 2.1 Software CD *** (original Sun
package purchased in 1996), which I could turn into a downloadable ISO
file, if you so wish.
Based on having to live with both "be" and "hme" for quite a while, on both
my SPARCstation-10s, as well as an SS-20 and SS-1000E, I strongly recommend
you try to get an "hme" card, either X1018A SunSwift or X1059A
SunFastEthernet-2.x.
Regards,
Mike
Thanks Mike for sharing this.B information.B I need to check some things1. X1056A "BigMac" card
This uses the "be" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.4, 2.5,
2.5.1 and 2.6.
For Solaris 4.1.3, 4.1.3u1, 4.1.4 and Solaris 2.3 HW 5/95, the
SunFastEthernet Software 1.1 CD is needed. Other SunOS and Solaris versions
are *not supported*.
The "BigMac" can only do half-duplex, thus can be difficult to make work
with some modern switches. It was also notoriously buggy at the
hardware/register level, requiring the (unbundled) device-driver software
to perform considerable contortions just to make the thing work at least
somewhat reliably.
SunFastEthernet 2.x is a 2nd-generation Sun 100MB/sec hardware, in two
1. X1059A "Colossus-Lite" card
2. X1018A "Colossus" card, formally known as SunSwift adaptor. This
also provides an external 20Mb/sec Fast_Wide-SCSI port.
Both of these use the "hme" device-driver which is built-in to Solaris 2.5
11/95 through Solaris 9. For SunOS 4.1.3u1 through Solaris 2.4, you need
the SunFastEthernet Software 2.1 CD.
The HappyMeal is much less buggy than BigMac, and can do full-duplex.
However, you still sometimes need to *force* duplex mode either in OpenBOOT
or at the O/S level, rather than letting it auto-negotiate
half-/full-duplex when connecting to some particular switches; it always
negotiates speed correctly, but the IEEE specs for autonegotiation of
full-/half-duplex were not quite as 100% unambiguous as could have been
hoped, and some manufacturers had different opinions about how to interpret
the duplex-negotiation specs (hint: Sun were probably overly liberal in
interpretation).
*** I have an original SunFastEthernet 2.1 Software CD *** (original Sun
package purchased in 1996), which I could turn into a downloadable ISO
file, if you so wish.
Based on having to live with both "be" and "hme" for quite a while, on both
my SPARCstation-10s, as well as an SS-20 and SS-1000E, I strongly recommend
you try to get an "hme" card, either X1018A SunSwift or X1059A
SunFastEthernet-2.x.
Regards,
Mike
on my end before anyone (you) spends anymore time on this. I'm running
part of our system on Cisco carrier current ethernet transponders (now
sold as Linksys PLS(?) 400 series). I need to check if the ones I'm
using support fast-ethernet - i think they do, also check on the sun
sbus card availability. And then I'll get back to you.
best,
john
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