Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!usc!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!ames!dftsrv!nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov!lanmaint From: lanmaint@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov (Dave Yoest) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.tcp-ip.ibmpc Subject: Re: Xircom LAN adapters for laptops Message-ID: <4670@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov> Date: 29 Mar 91 11:51:27 GMT References: <1991Mar28.235814.8000@rick.doc.ca> Sender: news@dftsrv.gsfc.nasa.gov Reply-To: lanmaint@nssdcb.gsfc.nasa.gov Organization: NASA - Goddard Space Flight Center Lines: 50 News-Software: VAX/VMS VNEWS 1.3-4 In article , nelson@sun.soe.clarkson.edu (Russ Nelson) writes... >In article <1991Mar28.235814.8000@rick.doc.ca> andrew@calvin.doc.ca (Andrew Patrick) writes: > > I remember some discussion in this group a while ago about Xircom LAN > adapters. > >Perhaps someone would do me the favor of telling Andrew about Xircom, >as I am unable to do so at this moment... > >-- >--russ I'm proud to be a humble Quaker. >It's better to get mugged than to live a life of fear -- Freeman Dyson >I joined the League for Programming Freedom, and I hope you'll join too. Mr. Nelson (Without whom Packet drivers would probably not exist) claims (claimed) that XIRCOM obtained his code under the conditions of the GNU license, based their own packet driver on his code, and then refused to release the driver source code into the public domain (clearly a violation of the distribution conditions.) Because of this action Mr. Nelson suggested that a boycott of XIRCOM is in order. This is just a re-statement Russ's original complaint, as I understood it. I do not know the full facts myself nor do I know for sure If XIRCOM did as Russ claims. (Am I protecting myself legally?). Because I work as a government contractor, I am unable to support Russ's boycott against a product. We must submit all competetive products as sources when requesting a product procurement. I feel that it would be unethical to do otherwise. If I needed to purchase pocket lan adapters, XIRCOM would be considered without bias as would any other vendor acceptable to the procurement section. I personally support Russ's position outside my work hours as I agree with his philosophy and appreciate all the work he has done in support of the Packet drivers. Dave Yoest LAN Section Supervisor Allied Aerospace/Bendix Field Engineering NASCOM/Telecommunications Branch Code 543.8 NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center Greenbelt, Md. 20771 USA DYOEST@ZAPHOD.GSFC.NASA.GOV DYOEST@128.183.43.16