Western Digital Ethernet Cards

[Doug McCallum]

In article <9190 at sail.LABS.TEK.COM> keithe at sail.LABS.TEK.COM (Keith Ericson) writes:
>I have one of the earlier (and now unavailable) WD8013EB 16-bit interface
>Network Adapter cards in an Everex 486is that runs MS-DOS (4.01) and has an
>Orchid ProDesigner II and an Adaptec 2322 ESDI controller card.  I works great.
>HOWEVER, the WD8013EB differs from the WD8013EP (the *current* version of the
>card) in that it is loaded with jumpers that let you select the IRQ and I/O
>address from the full range of choices.  This is in contrast to the EP version
>which permits only a couple of selections with jumpers and the remainder only
>via software selection.  And my supplier didn't send the software (and I
>won't be buying any more from *them*)

WD ships the setup program with each package.  Your supplier must be repackaging
and leaving this out.  If so, definitely find a new vendor since the boards
are next to useless with the limited settings.  With the DOS setup program
the boards are very nice.

>>
>>On the positive side I've found the WD cards to be super reliable; we use
>>the 8-bit version here in large numbers.  
>

We've still got some very early versions of the boards running here.  The newer
ones seem just as reliable.

>Agreed!  If the EP version is all that's available I may have to revert to
>the WD8003 (8-bit) version to retain the jumper selectability I need.
>

I would get a new distributor and not give up on the newer boards.  The settings
are retained by the board so you only need to set them when they need to
change.  Once you get the setup program (from a better distributor) you
won't have problems.

>
>PS - our purchasing department is suggesting we not purchase WD products
>     any more because of the company's shaky financial condition.  But I'm 
>     persisting because I really feel like they're the best deal when it
>     comes to ethernet controllers (but not disk controllers - give me Adaptec
>     any day).

The trade press has been carrying rumors of the WD LAN division being up for
sale.  Apparently WD needs to raise some money so selling off a successful
division (that makes boards) to help the main business (which isn't making
add-on boards) is what they are considering.  SMC is the name that keeps
popping up as potential buyer.  

ISC will have full driver support for the EP in the near future.

Doug McCallum
Interactive Systems Corp.
dougm at ico.isc.com