Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pacbell!qvax2!israel From: israel@qvax2.UUCP ( Renegade@ex2564) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.lans Subject: Re: Ethernet chip sources/references needed Summary: Ethernet Chips - you want'em, I got'em Message-ID: <552@qvax2.UUCP> Date: 2 Jun 89 16:23:07 GMT References: <1053@necis.UUCP> Organization: Qantel Corp., Hayward, CA Lines: 87 In article <1053@necis.UUCP>, adamm@necis.UUCP (Adam Moskowitz) writes: > I've been asked to look into what Ethernet chips (or chip sets) are available > these days. I know that AMD makes a set as does Intel. I remember hearing > about something called (a) "Lance", but I don't know who makes it. If you > know who does, or if you know of any other manufacturers who make Ethernet > chips, I'd really appreciate hearing from you. > > As usual, email is preferred (if not mandated by "protocol") and I will > summarize if/when I get anything. Addresses? Oh, yes: adamm@necis.nec.com > or ...!uunet!harvard!necntc!necis!adamm. Many thanx, hopefully not too far > in advance. > -- > Adam S. Moskowitz ...!(backbone)!{necntc,encore}!necis!adamm > > Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die > your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck. You lucky guy! I've just been conducting a survey of Ethernet chip sets for a project of my own. Chip sets generally come in three pieces - A) The Data Link Controller, which interfaces to the microprocessor, B) The Manchester Encoder/Decoder, which converts serial data from the Data Link Controller into Manchester Data format, detects carriers and collisions, converts between TTL signals and differential signals, generates clocks and C) The physical media transceiver, used for translating voltage levels between the cable and the Encoder/Decoder, and usually implements jabber functions as well. The LANCE chip to which you refer is the AMD7990 Data Link Controller, probably tied with National's 8390 in terms of popularity. A summary of the more popular components is provided below. AMD --- Am7990 - Local Area Network Controller for Ethernet (LANCE) Am7992B - Serial Interface Adapter (SIA) Am7996 - Transceiver Chip Thompson/Mostek (Second Source for AMD) --------------- MK68590 - Local Area Network Controller for Ethernet (LANCE) MK68592 - Serial Interface Adapter (SIA) Intel ----- 82586 - Local Area Network Coprocessor 82C501 - Ethernet Serial Interface 82502 - Ethernet Transceiver Chip Standard Microsystems Corp (Second Source for Intel) -------------------------- 82586 - Ethernet Local Area Network Coprocessor 82501 - Ethernet Serial Interface 82502 - Ethernet Transceiver Chip National Semiconductor ---------------------- DP8390/NS32490 - Network Interface Controller (NIC) DP8391/NS32491 - Serial Network Interface (SNI) DP8392/NS32492 - Coaxial Transceiver Interface (CTI) Fujitsu ------- MB8795B - Ethernet Data Link Controller (EDLC) MB502A - Ethernet Encoder/Decoder I also hear that SEEQ has a Data Link Controller, but I have no data for it. I have also heard unconfirmed rumors that Intel is discontinuing the 82502 Transceiver chip. Note that all these transceivers are meant for use with Thicknet or Cheapernet - I have looked closely into 10baseT since the standard is finalized for that yet. Also, AMD has just announced a new chip which combines the 7990 and the 7992 on one IC, and National has come out with a new version of the 8392 in CMOS which uses much less power. Many of these parts can be mixed and matched together. I'm implementing a 68000-based design, so I found the Am7990 the easiest to work with. However, National's 8391 and 8392 look like much better parts than AMD's 7992 and 7996, so I'm using them with the 7990. Hope this helps! -- Renegade of Berkeley, Qantel Business Systems, hplabs!qantel!qvax2!israel or Renegade Systems, hplabs!qantel!hamster!israel Disclaimer: "Who, me? I wasn't even there!"