Re: Ethernet for the IIgs...

[derek@slab.isdn.uiuc.edu (Derek Taubert)]

In <4olihb$88m@cville-srv.wam.umd.edu> David R. wrote:
>      A cheaper alternative to something like this would be to maybe 
> write a driver for a Xircom parallel port ethernet adapter hooked
> to a Grappler.  I believe the development information for the Xircom
> parallel port NICs is public, and BSDI has a driver for them.  This
> would definately be slower than SCSI though.

Actually, there are several parallel port adapters that have driver 
information available.  The biggest problem with these is that with a 
unidirectional parallel port you can only pull in 4-5 bits of information at 
a time.  Re-ordering these bits on something like a 66 MHz 486 isn't such a 
bottleneck, but on a GS it will KILL performance.

It is much more feasible with adapters that support bidirectional parallel 
ports.  If someone would like to investigate these (hint hint).  Building a 
bidirectional parallel port for the GS would be a trivial endeavor.

--
Derek Taubert                    | Ask me about TCP/IP for the Apple IIgs!
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