NeXTSTEP 3.3 Driver: DEC21142 Network

This document discusses a device driver for the NeXTSTEP operating system, version 3.3. This driver will not work with any version of OPENSTEP.
Availability Information

An updated BETA version of this driver, version 3.32, is avaiable on Apple's FTP servers at:
ftp://ftp.info.apple.com/Apple_Support_Area/Apple_Software_Updates/MultiCountry/Enterprise/nextstep/drivers/beta/DECChip21142Net.pkg.compressed

Driver Name / Installer .pkg: DEC21142Network
Driver Type: Networking
Driver Scope: Specific Product
Supported Components: DEC 21142, DEC 21143
PC Bus / Interface Supported by Driver**: PCI

General Overview notes: This driver supports the onboard ethernet LAN adapter in the DEC Celebris 61xx. The adapter is based on the DEC21142 chipset.

Supported Products / Add-on Adapters:


Supported Products / Systems (ie integrated into PC System):
DEC Celebris 61xx On-Board LAN Adapter

Special Features of Driver / Driver Notes:
This device driver provides information in the Configure application's help panel. Choose Info>Help from the Configure menu and scroll down to find this device driver's help topic.

Networking Driver Details

Network Type**: EtherNet
Speed*: 10 Mb/s
Access Mode**: Bus Master DMA
Buffer Size*:
Supported Connectors**: AUI, BNC, UTP

Known Problems

In the system BIOS setup screen (F2 at boot), be sure to set "Plug and Play OS" to "off". If left on, the driver will fail to retrieve the correct ethernet address (it will most likely be ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff).

Driver Version Notes

3.31 Initial version supporting 10 Mbit/s only.
3.32 Adds support for DECchip21143 in 10 Mbit/s mode.


** - Indicates information that is inclusive of the entire capability of this driver. Not all devices supported by this driver may include all features listed. Check any available NeXTanswers and the hardware manual for the device for additional information.

Product Vendor
Published Date: Feb 20, 2012