Here is the info I promised on the SMC8216 NIC, known to the marketing
departments as the SMC Elite Ultra. (A little thick with the
superlatives, there, guys)
There is both an error and incomplete information in the GB
documentation (gb300ug.pdf 11/19/1999) for the SMC8216 card.
The error:
The SMC8216 uses the ed driver, not the de driver as listed on page 50.
This lumps it in with the NE2000, SMC8416 and similar cards.
The incomplete information:
The SMC8216 uses a chunk of shared RAM for communication between the
computer and the board. This memory is in the space between the 640k
(top of real-mode program memory in the IBM PC architecture, sometimes
incorrectly called the DOS limit) and the 1M point (top of 8086 memory
range). This shared memory was a nightmare back when we were all using
EMM386 to maximize our available DOS RAM. It causes no problems (if
configured correctly, of course) to GB or any other non-DOS based OS.
Users who have used the SMC8216 under other OSs are used to just setting
the card up to a non-conflicting settings and having the driver find
it. GNATBox does not work this way! Like the other cards using the ed
driver, you have certain pre-defined settings, and you MUST use those
settings or things won't work! The proper shared RAM locations are not
disclosed in the manual. I found these settings by running GB on the
card and looking at the error messages (which say something like "RAM
not found at..."). Unfortunately, due to the way the available options
of the SMC8216 and the options of GB's ed driver mesh, there are limited
availability of compatible settings.
ed0: io: 280 irq: 10 memory: d8000
ed1: io: 300 irq: 5 memory: da000
ed2: io: 320 irq: 11 memory: dc000
ed3: io: 340 irq: 12 memory: ?????
ed4: io: 360 irq: 15 memory: 40000??
(from GB manual, pg 56)
Here are the problems with this layout: The SMC8216's memory block is
16k in size. You can not, therefore, use ed0 and ed1 settings, or ed1
and ed2. You can use ed0 and ed2.
Further problems:
* ed3 is out, as the SMC8216 doesn't permit the selection of IRQ12,
which isn't a bad idea, as IRQ12 is used by PS/2 mouse ports, and might
cause problems anyway on many systems.
* ed4 is out, as my testing indicated it wanted the shared memory at
0x40000, which is right in the middle of the "DOS memory", and not
selectable anyway on the 8216. To add insult to injury, I/O 360
conflicts with the standard LPT port location of 378, although many
computers will let you change this.
Short version in english:
If you want two SMC8216 cards, set them to:
280/10/d8000
320/11/dc000
If you want three or more SMC8216 cards, well, don't. You can't. You
could, however, use two SMC8216 cards and one (or more) other card(s) of
another type.
Note that it should be pretty easy for GTA to change the memory
definitions of the ed driver so that things work better with the SMC8216
card, so (with luck) all the above may change for a future release of
GB. I'd also suggest a change of the ed3 and ed4 definitions, while I'm
at it...most ed series cards offer better locations, and the ones that
don't (like the REAL NE2000) won't support IRQs 12 and 15 anyway)
Another problem: I could not find the SMC8216 setup program on SMC's
web site! Lots of drivers, no way to set the card. Doh! Fortunately,
I have kept copies of this from years past, I've uploaded it to:
http://members.home.net/nhollan/smc8216.zip
Note that this file unzips to pretty much fill a floppy. Delete the
file SMCA70.EXE and you will have enough space to put any version of
MS-DOS on the disk (inc. Win98 DOS). I've included this file because
this was a complete distribution of the "SMC Superdisk", distributing
partial copies of things violates many license agreements. The SMCA70
file is the drivers for a number of quite obsolete OSs, and GB doesn't
need it. You want to have your setup disk DOS bootable so you can
configure the GB NICs easily.
Other tips: The EZSTART.EXE program will configure multiple SMC8216
cards in one machine, but I recommend that you configure the cards one
at a time. This way, you can tell WHICH card you are configuring. This
is generally good info for any ISA software-settable NICs -- install one
card, set it, remove it, label it, install the next, set it, etc., until
all NICs are configured, then install all the cards. Don't forget to
label the cards!
Tips on the EZSTART program:
I'm going to assume you have followed my advice and are trying to
configure only one card at a time. At the DOS prompt, run EZSTART.EXE.
This program is mouse aware, if you have a mouse and mouse driver loaded
before you start it, you can use it. It isn't worth the effort,
however.
Choose Custom (i.e., not automatic setup)
Chose Setup
Make sure the "Soft" radio button is chosen
Set the I/O, IRQ, RAM and Interface options appropriately.
Save your changes
Hook up a network cable, and choose Basic Test. Pretty decent test,
makes sure card can see hub, verifies no resource conflicts.
Shut everything down, repeat on next card.
EZSTART will list memory addresses by segment (as a DOS app might be
concerned with, rather than by absolute addresses (as a 32 bit app would
be concerned with). In English, this means dc000 "=" dc00. EZSTART
will show dc00, GB will show dc000, that's fine. Same thing. Too bad
this doesn't work on pay checks ("Honest, Boss, Nick says $40,000 is the
same as $400,000, so how about giving me $400,000 a year?")!
Notes on SMC8416:
Like the 8216, this card uses the ed driver, however it has a few
issues to be aware of.
The same EZSTART program configures the 8416, but you will find
different options.
Plug and Play. Make sure this is turned off.
Make sure the shared memory is turned off (I/O mapped, not memory
mapped).
You can use any of the following settings: ed0, ed1, ed2, and maybe
ed4 (ed3 is not usable, as the 8416, like the 8216, does not permit
IRQ12. ed4 is questionable because its I/O address of 360 conflicts
with the most popular LPT1 setting of 378, and GBPro requires the
printer port be there (for the dongle). No idea if it has to be at 378,
many machines will let you move it to 278 or 3BC).
Comments on the SMC8216 and SMC8416 cards:
I've installed a lot of them. The upper memory on the 8216 makes it
unsuitable (in my opinion, at least a REAL PAIN) for DOS and Windows 9x
OSs. GB's support of them is solid, but a pain due to the fact that
only two of the cards can be used, and only at those locations. Years
ago, I did some informal benchmarking of a number of ISA NICs with
Novell, and found the SMC8216 to be the second fastest (behind the
3c509, probably the original version). The SMC8416 came in close behind
the 8216, definitely behind (Contrary to some advertising of SMC's at
the time), but close.
On PNP BIOS machines, you should probably also make sure you have
set the machine's BIOS to reserve the IRQs used by any ISA cards, so you
don't end up with conflicts with any PNP resource (like PCI NICs). Pull
out ANY cards not required by GNATbox.
If the above makes sense to you, you will probably have no trouble with
either the SMC8216 or the SMC8416. If it was totally incomprehensible,
you might want edit out my random ramblings and try again, or stick to
PCI cards.
Hope this helps! (and if it doesn't don't tell me. I spent too long
verifying things and writing it up... On the other hand, tell me, so I
don't try this again! 8)
NICk.
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