[Info-vax] OpenVMS V8.3 ES40 NIC compatibility question

[RobertsonEricW]

On Jul 28, 2:55 pm, MG <marcog... at SPAMxs4all.nl> wrote:
> On 28-7-2011 18:02, RobertsonEricW wrote:
>
> > Does anybody know if the HP NC7771 Gb Ethernet interface is compatible
> > with OpenVMS V8.3 on an AlphaServer ES40?
>
> > As always, any wisdom is appreciated.
>
> If it's based on the Broadcom BCM5703, I believe it ought to, unless
> there's specific firmware loaded on it (i.e. for HP/Compaq ProLiant
> systems).  If the latter should be the case, you could always try
> this firmware hack:
> <http://moon.hanya-n.org/comp/alpha/hct/GbE-mod.html>
>
> I got a NC7770 (BCM5701) a while back and it unfortunately didn't
> work under OpenVMS for me (at the time I posted about it, here, on
> comp.os.vms).
>
>   - MG

MG,

Thanks for your wisdom! The firmware modification you pointed out does
indeed work for the AlphaServer ES40 running OpenVMS Alpha V8.3. I
compared the results of the firmware from a "real" 3X-DEGXA-TA that
was available where I work with the $20 generic HP Broadcom
BCM95703A30U that I purchased from ebay and the ONLY difference was
the PCI Subsystem Vendor ID in the firmware image! So, in about five
minutes I changed my $20 NIC into a $200+ NIC! What a load of crap
anyway! Since the electronics and the firware are idenitcal (not
withstanding the Subsystem Vendor ID), the only difference in behavior
between the two NIC's is the response to the PCI device inquiry! So,
all that extra money you pay is for two bytes that have no bearing
whatsoever on how the NIC actually works. Those two bytes only serve
to differientiate what OEM's "named" the device.

Anyway, thanks for your post!

Eric