Re: mac68k LC-PDS EtherNet support?

>> Now my PDS EtherNet card is based on the Sonic chip, and i have read in
>> that not all Sonic chip based EtherNet cards are supported, so i figure
>> this could be the problem.  Will an Asante PDS EtherNet card solve the
>> problem?
>
>Why are you asking?  Why not plug it in and find out?

Because i don't have an Asante card, otherwise i would have tried that 
already!  As i said, my card doesn't work and i'm wondering if *any* PDS 
EtherNet cards do?  The FAQ implies none work, but then it also says my 
ADB keyboard won't work on my hardware, even though it does.  That's why 
i asked if anyone has a working EtherNet card in a PDS slot.


>Before OpenBSD/mac68k quit working on my LCIII, I had spotty success
>with a couple LCPDS cards -- One worked, but reported a MAC address of
>0:0:0:0:0:0.  I think the other one worked, too...don't recall the
>details any more...

At least there's hope, i guess.


>Building a kernel on a fast Mac68k takes most of a day. 
>You don't get to test too many things in a week...

I wonder how much work it would be to cross-compile on a G3 or G4, then 
ship it off to a 68K Mac?  Could it be compiled under MacOS X, i wonder?  
I haven't checked, but i assume there are sources for the 68K compilers, 
so in theory the compiler could be compiled under MacOS X.  I suppose 
it's a question of how much work it would be to set everything up (e.g. 
headers, libraries, linkers, etc.)


>> Otherwise, what are my options?  NetBSD? Linux?  
>
>Maybe, but this is the wrong place to ask. 8-)

Yes, i suppose so!  I'd rather stick with OpenBSD for the security.


>> Modify the OpenBSD kernel?  
>
>Go for it! 8-)

Yeah, well i did notice that OpenBSD chokes on an accelerated Quadra 605 
(aka LC/Performa 475).  I'm guessing it has something to do with the 
Gestalt ID (as the accelerated logic boards present a different ID when 
running at a faster clock speed).  This page explains the procedure and 
lists some of the Gestalt ID's:

<http://homepage.mac.com/schrier/q605.html>


>> Since i'm trying to make this machine
>> into a web/mail server box, EtherNet is kinda important to me!
>
>OUCH.
>
>You do realize the performance (or lack of) of these machines, right?

Yep.  This is strictly a low volume application i have in mind; not 
trying to host an eBay.


>Assuming you have a 128k uplink on a DSL or cable modem on a
>low-volume site, it probably would run mail and web services
>fine...but maintaining it might be...painful.  

Maintenance was my other concern.  I'm not sure about available backup 
tools, but guessed i'd worry about that once i got the system up and 
running.  It would be nice if i could see the OpenBSD partition from the 
Mac environment.  That way i could just copy the whole UNIX partition 
over to another Mac and deal with backups there.

And i hadn't figured out how i was going to go about updating the HD 
(except i do have a second 68K Mac i could use for this, and maybe do it 
offline or something).

But these issues are completely moot if i can't get the EtherNet going.


>As you indicate you have the machine running OpenBSD, plug in your NIC
>and find out if it works.  

Well that's just it, my current NIC doesn't work.  I've ordered a couple 
Asante cards off eBay.  Keeping my fingers crossed that they might work.  
Don't have them yet, though.


>if it doesn't [work], you know the answer to your question.

Well, no i wouldn't, unless i try every brand/model of PDS EtherNet card. 
 My question was:  Does anyone have a PDS EtherNet card running?  I 
already know that mine doesn't work, but that's all i know.  The FAQ 
implies none of them will work, but i'm unsure how much faith to place in 
that.


>If you don't have the NIC, for the expense and effort of finding and
>getting one, you could buy a 486/66 that would run circles around a
>Mac68k.  

Hmmm... You might be right that this is the way to go.  However it seems 
to me i'm potentially trading one devil for another.  At least i know 
(and have) Mac hardware.  With an Intel box, i'm in a foreign land.  How 
do i even get OpenBSD onto the box?  I suppose i can figure out how to 
burn a CD for it, but it does seem to me like opening a different can of 
worms, if you catch my drift.  On the other hand, i imagine OpenBSD is 
much more well oiled (and tested) on this platform.  I'll have to mull it 
over.  Thanks for the suggestion.

How well supported is the PPC version of OpenBSD?  Or is the i486 really 
a better bet?