3c59x more on ff:ff:ff:ff:ff:ff problem

[Greg Whalin]

Check out the following page

http://cesdis.gsfc.nasa.gov/linux/misc/modules.html#ffff

This is a known bug.

Greg
--------------------
Greg Whalin
gwhalin@numerix.com

On Mon, 10 Aug 1998, Avi Barel wrote:

> Hello.
> I'm using Linux-slackware 2.0.33 on an MMX 200 machine with Award
> Modular BIOS
> v4.51PG. On the same machine booting trough lilo: Linux (slackware) and
> NT 4.0.
> 
> I (had to) changed my network card from 3c905 to 3c905B. First I've
> supported my Linux with 3c59x.c:v0.99E 5/12/98 by Donald Becker.
> Compile, insmod ... working perfectly. Then I booted NT and installed
> the 3Com driver. I've noticed that 3Com NIC diagnostic utillity, was
> automatically installed.
> I booted Linux again and the FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF (as the adaptor's mac
> address) problem appears (PnP OS is disabled on my machine from day
> one). I suspected that the windows driver did something to the card, so
> I replaced it with a new one... Linux worked perfect.
> ... After the first time running NT with the new 3c509B card the
> FF:FF:FF:FF:FF:FF problem re apeated on Linux.
> I've managed to remove the "3Com NIC diagnostic tool" (trough the
> registry) and went over the all checking process again ( including using
> "virgin" cards), the same results.
> 
> Summary (known facts):
> 1. The 3c59x.o works fine on "virgin" 3c905b cards.
> 2. On the same HW setup, Linux can not drive the 3c509B after NT
> messed-up with it.
> 3. NT has no problem to run with that card (after Linux or whatever).
> 
> Conclusion (if I'm not missing something):
> 1. The Windows 3Com driver writes something to the cards EEPROM that
> prevents the Linux driver to init the card properly. After that change
> NT driver can still drive the card (extract the correct mac addres), but
> the 3c59x can't.
> 
> If anyone else has seen the same kind of problems, or better, if someone
> has a solution to this problem, please let me know!!
> 
> Thanks in advance.
> 
> Avi Barel
>