Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!gatech!amdcad!ncpjmw
From: ncpjmw@amdcad.AMD.COM (Mike Wincn)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans
Subject: Re: Starlan/Ethernet compatibility
Message-ID: <26127@amdcad.AMD.COM>
Date: 26 Jun 89 16:05:03 GMT
References: <2009@wasatch.utah.edu> <2230006@hprnd.HP.COM> <26097@amdcad.AMD.COM> <36666@sgi.SGI.COM>
Reply-To: ncpjmw@amdcad.UUCP (Mike Wincn)
Organization: Advanced Micro Devices
Lines: 37

In article <36666@sgi.SGI.COM> vjs@rhyolite.wpd.sgi.com (Vernon Schryver) writes:
<However, after the votes for less than compelling changes taken in the
<X3T9.5 FDDI SMT meeting on Wednesday, I am a little puzzled by someone from
<AMD defending the standards process.  Can the FORMAC capture the 6 byte
<info field in the newly required "directed beacon"?  If not, how might one
<build a network manager with the "SUPERNET Family for FDDI"?  (I understand
<the FORMAC can at least send them, unlike the silicon of a big computer
<computer vendor.)

I'm not as acquainted with the FDDI program as I am with 10BASE-T.  If I can
get an answer for you, I'll reply later... 

<Remembering milestones like "Extended BASIC" or "COBOL80" should be enough
<to make anyone unenthusiastic about standardization efforts before the
<market place has spoken.  All too often, the process is turned into
<a way to increase employeement for consultants and a way for
<companies who are late to penalize those which had their act more
<together.
<
<Vernon Schryver
<Silicon Graphics
<vjs@sgi.com

I can see that as a possible result, but I've not had any personal experience
along those lines.  For 10BASE-T our primary concerns include feasibility and
interoperability, and while AMD joined this standard development later than
others, our goals have not included penalizing anyone.  Our preference at this
stage is to offer silicon expertise in joint development with those who have
superior systems knowledge.

Mike Wincn
ncpjmw@amdcad.AMD.COM
(408) 749-3156

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed are my own, not necessarily those of my employer, 
nor those of 802.3 Committee or 10BASE-T Task Force.