Subject: Re: Heads up: DFE-530TX+
To: None <seebs@plethora.net>
From: John Kohl <jtk@kolvir.arlington.ma.us>
List: current-users
Date: 04/13/2000 07:53:18
>>>>> "PS" == Peter Seebach <seebs@plethora.net> writes:

PS> There's a new DFE-530TX (you may know this as 'vr0'), and it has a '+', and
PS> the chip is labeled 'DL10038' instead of 'DL10030'.

You've fallen into the D-Link marketing trap.  The DFE-530TX+ is
supported by the "rl" driver.  However, note the following comments from
the top of the driver (sys/dev/pci/if_rl.c):

 * The RealTek 8139 PCI NIC redefines the meaning of 'low end.' This is
 * probably the worst PCI ethernet controller ever made, with the possible
 * exception of the FEAST chip made by SMC. The 8139 supports bus-master
 * DMA, but it has a terrible interface that nullifies any performance
 * gains that bus-master DMA usually offers.

... and it goes on from there with further venting.

-- 
==John Kohl <jtk@kolvir.arlington.ma.us>, <john_kohl@alum.mit.edu>
Home page: <http://people.ne.mediaone.net/jtk/>
Bicycling and Skiing to keep fit.