Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!husc6!purdue!umd5!umbc3!thierbac
From: thierbac@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Ed Thierbach )
Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
Subject: Re: ethernet circuit keeps on synchronizing
Message-ID: <808@umbc3.UMD.EDU>
Date: 23 Feb 88 15:45:21 GMT
References: <8802152305.AA10268@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu>
Reply-To: thierbac@umbc3.UMD.EDU (Ed Thierbach)
Organization: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Lines: 32

In article <8802152305.AA10268@gpu.utcs.toronto.edu> SYSRUTH@utorphys.BITNET writes:
>
>I don't know if this is your problem, but at the Canadian DECUS last
>week some DEC people mentioned that the BI Ethernet interface, the
>DEBNA, has a replacement module with many many fixes; I believe it is
>called the DEBNT. In the States this upgrade is being offered free,
>at least to those who have hardware maintenance (has anyone tried it
>in Canada yet?). They also said that "future major functional releases"
>of VMS after "the next major functional release" would cease to support
>the DEBNA.

Actually, it's the other way around...the DEBNT is being replaced by the
DEBNA.  Here's the story according to our Field Service folks:

At least in the US, the DEBNT -> DEBNA upgrade will be free to all DEBNT
sites with hardware maintenance contracts.  It won't happen soon, though,
because DEC can barely produce enough DEBNAs to keep up with orders for new
BI machines, much less produce enough to replace all the DEBNTs currently
installed.  If you're experiencing problems, though, you may be able to
talk your local field service manager into upgrading it now.

Also according to field service, the DEBNA is supported under 4.6, and a
driver can be obtained for 4.5 if you need it.  The DEBNT should be
supported for a while, though, 'cause there's a lot of sites with 'em.

Hope this helps!

------
Ed Thierbach
VAX System Manager
Roy F. Weston, Inc.
thierbac@umbc3.umd.edu