[rescue] SBUS Efficient Networks Inc fiber network adapter on a Sparcstation 4

Dave McGuire mcguire at neurotica.com
Sat Feb 24 10:40:19 EST 2024


   If the drivers are available, we may be able to use the card at LSSM. 
  We are (slowly) putting together a networking technologies exhibit, 
and ATM will figure into it.  So if it will otherwise go unused, we can 
give it a home.

   Fore Networks was a major player in ATM IP networking, and they were 
based in Pittsburgh. (as is LSSM)

               -Dave

On 2/24/24 10:06, Ville Laustela via rescue wrote:
> 
> Thanks! I had no idea that ATM was a completely separate telco-thing, I just recognized the fiber port…
> 
> The drivers won’t really matter now, as I will surely have no use chance to use the card!
> 
> Regarard,
> Ville
> 
> 
>> Doug McIntyre <merlyn at geeks.org> kirjoitti 24.2.2024 kello 16.48:
>>
>>
>> If its 155Mbps, thats an ATM card.
>> So you'd need to have an ATM switch, ATM optics, the proper ATM drivers, etc.
>> It won't interop with Ethernet.
>>
>> Back from a time when people (mostly the telcos) believed ATM to the
>> desktop was a viable alternative to Ethernet.
>>
>>
>>
>> On Sat, Feb 24, 2024 at 04:02:01PM +0200, Ville Laustela via rescue wrote:
>>> Hi.
>>>
>>> Some years ago I bought a Sparcstation 4 that came with a Efficient Networks Inc ENI-155s-MF SBUS fiber network card. I wonder how this machine was used, probably as a server to justify the cost of a fiber adapter...
>>>
>>> I have not tried to use the adapter - not that it would be practical in any sense, but it would be neat to at least attempt it… I have an old HP switch with the fiber transceiver with the fitting cable but before I start digging up all the equipment I’d like to know more; can anyone shed light on whether this card should work under Solaris 2.6, and how - does it need drivers? (Also; why is it 155 Mbps, and would this play nicely with a 100 Mbps switch?).
>>>
>>> I found these in archive.org <http://archive.org/>:
>>> https://web.archive.org/web/19971018225910/http://www.efficient.com/newww/sbus.html
>>> https://web.archive.org/web/19971019004902/http://www.efficient.com/newww/drivers.html -> all links with drivers or manuals go to a long-dead ftp.efficient.com <http://ftp.efficient.com/> -server :(
>>>
>>> Also; anyone know if the card would be usable under NeXTStep? (NS is more of my alley, and I’ve done just a test install of Solaris on a second hard drive to play with it a little).
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>> Ville Laustela
>>>
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> rescue list - http://sunhelp.org/mailman/listinfo/rescue_sunhelp.org

-- 
Dave McGuire, AK4HZ
New Kensington, PA




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