Path: utzoo!utgpu!attcan!uunet!peregrine!elroy!ames!amdahl!pacbell!belltec!dar
From: dar@belltec.UUCP (Dimitri Rotow)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.microport
Subject: Re: HELP! Floating Point Problems
Summary: Math adaptor works fine with Compaq
Message-ID: <248@belltec.UUCP>
Date: 30 Jul 88 02:22:29 GMT
References: <2424@inco.UUCP> <371@uport.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Technologies, Fremont, CA
Lines: 20

In article <371@uport.UUCP>, keith@uport.UUCP (Keith Hankin) writes:
> Your floating point hangs with Microport System V/386 2.2 could be the
> result of several things.
... 
> 2.  There is a known problem (Called Errata #21 by Intel) with the 80386
> 	chip.  If you are running in 386 protected mode (which UNIX always
> 	is) and you have a 80387 chip installed, if there is DMA going
> 	on (floppy, tape drive or smart serial card access), there is a
> 	possibility of random system hangs.  This can be fixed by a
> 	piece of hardware made by Bell Technologies, which by the way,
> 	will not work with Compaq machines.
...

This is an inaccurate description of Erratum 21:  it has nothing to do with
DMA at all.  Contact your local Intel sales office for a precise description
of Erratum 21.  Our Math Adaptor works just fine with Compaq.  You can, by
the way cure Erratum 21 in the operating system alone:  UNIX System V 
Release 3.1 does just that in all clones with no need for retrofit hardware.

- Dimitri Rotow