IBM LAN ADAPTER/A FOR ETHERNET Contents Announcement Letter Number 192-210 dated September 15, 1992 US - Last Revised on September 15, 1992 Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet is an addition to the family of Ethernet workstation adapters designed to operate in IBM Personal System/2 (R) (PS/2 (R)) machines implementing Micro Channel (R) Architecture. The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet is a 32-bit Ethernet workstation adapter that allows attachment to an Ethernet network using 10BaseT (twisted-pair), 10Base5 (thick coaxial), or 10Base2 (thin coaxial) media. Remote Initial Program Load (RIPL) is standard with the adapter. In addition, the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet has an increased warranty of 5 years. The announcement of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet and the IBM LAN Adapter for Ethernet (IBM Product Announcement 192-209) represents another step in the fulfillment of the IBM Networking Systems Blueprint, a statement of Networking Systems' strategy recognizing a major customer requirement for broad support of industry and standard protocols. All models of the following machines are supported by the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet: o The 8550, 8555, 8556, 8557, 8560, 8570, 8573, 8580, 8590 and 8595 PS/2 system units o The 7546, 7561, 7562, and 7568 (GEARBOX (R) Model 800) Industrial Computers. Planned Availability Date: January 29, 1993. (R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. IN BRIEF . . . o The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provides customers with a single IBM workstation solution for all common Ethernet wiring environments. o The 32-bit data path of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provides the customer with quicker response times for I/O activities on the Ethernet network than current 16-bit data path adapters offer. o The five-year warranty of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet protects the customer's investment in this product for an increased period of time. o Device drivers included with the adapter provide the capability to operate with many of today's leading network operating systems including OS/2 (R) LAN Server and NetWare from IBM. o RIPL included with the adapter provides the capability for improved security and simplified Initial Program Load content control for workstations without purchasing additional software. Customer Letter Section DESCRIPTION FEATURE PART PRODUCT CODE NUMBER IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet 7171 48G7171 INVESTMENT PROTECTION The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provides customers with a single workstation solution for all common Ethernet wiring environments. Customers can use the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet whether they have 10BaseT (twisted-pair), 10Base5 (thick coaxial), or 10Base2 (thin coaxial) media for their network wiring. Connectors for all three media are included on the adapter. The 16/32-bit data path of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provides the customer with performance options while setting up the network. The customer can select to install the adapter in a 16-bit Micro Channel slot and have comparable performance with other 16-bit workstation adapters, or the customer can select to install the adapter in a 32-bit Micro Channel slot and realize increased throughput from 32-bit operation. The additional throughput provided by the 32-bit operation will protect the customer's current hardware investment by extending the time before additional hardware is required as local area network (LAN) activity increases. The five year warranty period of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet protects the customer's investment in the product for an increased period of time. The device drivers included with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provide the capability to operate with many of today's leading network operating systems. The RIPL function in every IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet allows a workstation to be used in the RIPL or non-RIPL environment with no additional hardware cost or changes. In addition, the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet is compatible with other IBM Ethernet adapters operating at the same speed (10Mbps). The protocols conform to IEEE 802.3 and Ethernet Version 2. SYSTEMS MANAGEMENT The RIPL feature in every IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provides the capability for improved security and simplified administration of workstation Initial Program Load (IPL) modules. The RIPL feature makes it possible for the customer to load application programs from one computer connected to a Ethernet network into another computer on the same Ethernet network. The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet with RIPL may be used in environments requiring the additional security provided by media-less workstations with no additional cost incurred. It can be used to simplify the updating and control of RIPL content on any workstation. The RIPL content can be changed at the server and, the next time a workstation is 'IPL'd', the revised content is automatically received by the workstation. Thus, large numbers of workstations can be updated from a central location. The adapter diagnostic program and instruction manual shipped with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet provide quick problem determination and offer resolution hints in the unlikely event a customer should have a problem with an adapter. END USER PRODUCTIVITY Since device drivers for DOS, OS/2 and Netware operating systems are included with the adapter, the end user may attach to Ethernet networks running those environments without having to obtain drivers from another source. The additional throughput provided by the 32-bit data path of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet improves the response time for end users at LAN I/O workstations. GROWTH ENABLEMENT The additional throughput provided by the 32-bit data path of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet gives the customer the potential to run additional applications on their systems without upgrading the hardware. BUSINESS SOLUTIONS With the introduction of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet and other Ethernet products on September 15, 1992, customers can now look to IBM for complete token-ring, Ethernet, and FDDI solutions. The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet protocols conform to these standards of IEEE 802.3 and Ethernet Version 2. PRODUCT POSITIONING The announcement of the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet and the IBM LAN Adapter for Ethernet is another step in the fulfillment of the IBM Networking Systems Blueprint, a statement of Networking Systems' strategy. The Blueprint recognizes 'broad support for industry and standard protocols' as a major customer requirement. We know that Ethernet is a major protocol in the LAN industry, and it is the intent of IBM to enhance our offerings in the Ethernet product line. IBM is the leading vendor of token-ring LAN products. Token-Ring remains IBM's premier LAN technology. It is IBM's intention, though, to provide our customers complete LAN solutions, whether they choose Ethernet, token-ring or FDDI based on their requirements. IBM has announced Ethernet support in a number of products - the IBM Credit Card Adapter for Ethernet and 8250 intelligent hub announced today, the 3172 Interconnect Controller, the PS/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Networks, the PS/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Twisted-Pair Networks, the 6611 Router, the 8209 LAN Bridge, the PS/2 Model 25 LAN Station, the PS/2 Model 35 LAN Station, and the PS/2 Model 56 LAN Station. The two new adapters, along with the planned high-performance Micro Channel server adapter, will round out our range of products which support that protocol, giving our customers a total package of support for their Ethernet, as well as token-ring FDDI, and LANs. In addition to today's announcement, there are two IBM Micro Channel Ethernet adapters. These adapters are the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Networks (part number 6451091, feature code 1091) and the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Twisted-Pair Networks (part number 6451136, feature code 1136). If the customer desires the lowest cost solution for attachment to an Ethernet network with 10Base2 (thin coax) wiring, the adapter of choice is the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Networks. If the customer desires the lowest cost solution for attachment to an Ethernet network with 10BaseT (twisted pair) wiring, the adapter of choice is the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Twisted-Pair Networks. If the customer desires the lowest cost solution for attachment to an Ethernet network with 10Base5 (thick coax) wiring, the adapter of choice is either the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Networks or the IBM Personal System/2 Adapter/A for Ethernet Twisted-Pair Networks. If the customer values the performance improvement due to the larger data path (32-bit vs. 16-bit), the longer warranty (5 years vs. one year), or the flexibility of having all three common types of Ethernet media (10BaseT, 10Base5, and 10Base2) on the same card, then the adapter of choice is the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. STATEMENT OF GENERAL DIRECTION IBM intends to add a high-performance server adapter to support its Ethernet offerings in the future. The announcement and availability of the referenced function will be based on IBM's business and technical judgement. PUBLICATIONS The publication, INSTALLATION AND TESTING INSTRUCTIONS is shipped with this product. TECHNICAL INFORMATION SPECIFIED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS: o Width: 314mm (12.35 inches) o Depth: 21mm (0.83 inches) o Height: 100mm (3.93 inches) o Weight: .260kg (0.60 lbs) OPERATING ENVIRONMENT: This device is subject to the Federal Communications Commission Rules. This product shall be verified to comply with the rules for Class A computing devices before final delivery to the buyer or centers of distribution. Temperature: 10.0 to 35.0 degrees C (50 to 95 degrees F) Relative Humidity: 8% to 80% Wet Bulb: 23.0 degrees C (73 degrees F) MACHINE REQUIREMENTS: The IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet is designed to operate in the following machine types (all models except as indicated): o The 8550, 8555, 8556, 8557, 8560, 8570, 8573, 8580, 8590 and 8595 PS/2 system units. o The 7546, 7561, 7562, and 7568 (GEARBOX Model 800) Industrial PCs. PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS: The following are program requirements when operating an Ethernet/802.3 network in the following environments: IBM DOS (WORKSTATION ENVIRONMENT) o IBM DOS 3.3, 4.0, or 5.0 o IBM LAN Support Program Version 1.3 o DOS Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS) device driver, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. IBM DOS (DOS SERVER ENVIRONMENT) o IBM DOS 3.3, 4.0, or 5.0 o IBM PC LAN Program (PCLP) Version 1.34 o DOS NDIS device driver, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. OS/2 EXTENDED EDITION o IBM OS/2 Extended Edition Version 1.30.2 o OS/2 NDIS device driver, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. OS/2 LAN SERVER o IBM OS/2 LAN Server Version 2.0 o OS/2 NDIS device driver, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. OS/2 EXTENDED SERVICES o IBM Extended Services for OS/2 Version 1.0 o OS/2 NDIS device driver, included in the option diskette provided with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. NETWARE FROM IBM o Netware from IBM Version 2.2 or Version 3.11 o Novell NetWare (1) device drivers, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. NOVELL NETWARE o Novell NetWare Version 2.2 or Version 3.11 o Novell NetWare device drivers, included in the option diskette packaged with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet. (1) NetWare is a registered trademark of Novell Corporation SOFTWARE SUPPORT: The following software is provided with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet Option Diskette: o IBM DOS NDIS Driver o IBM OS/2 NDIS Driver o Novell NetWare 2.2 Server Driver o Novell NetWare 3.11 Server Driver o Netware DOS Open Data-Link Interface (ODI) Workstation Driver o Netware OS/2 ODI Workstation Driver o Adapter Diagnostic program to assist in problem determination. COMPATIBILITY: The following products have been tested and operate properly with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet (part number 48G7171, feature code 7171): o IBM LAN Support Program Version 1.3 o IBM OS/2 Extended Edition Version 1.30.2 o IBM OS/2 LAN Server Version 2.0 o IBM Extended Services (ES) Version 1.0 o IBM PC LAN Program Version 1.34 o IBM Personal Communications/3270 Version 2.0. COMPATIBILITY WITH NON-IBM SYSTEM UNITS: The following non-IBM system units have been tested and operate properly with the IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet (part number 48G7171, feature code 7171). Customers must consult with their hardware vendor for information, warranty and support for communications adapters and devices installed on their machines. MANUFACTURER MODEL Olivetti (2) P500 (2) Olivetti is a registered trademark of Ing. C. Olivetti and C., S.P.A. LIMITATIONS: A maximum of two IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernets may be installed in a machine. PLANNING INFORMATION CABLE ORDERS: A customer-supplied attachment cable is required by this feature to attach to the Ethernet network. Customers can select either 10Base-T (twisted pair), 10Base2 (thin coax), or 10Base5 (thick coax via AUI attachment cable and 10Base5 transceiver) media. SECURITY, AUDITABILITY AND CONTROL User management is responsible for evaluation, selection and implementation of security features, administrative procedures and appropriate controls in application systems and communications facilities. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FEATURE SECTION WARRANTY PERIOD: Five years. MES DISCOUNT APPLICABLE: No. FIELD INSTALLABLE FEATURE: Yes. CUSTOMER SET UP: Yes. All other terms and conditions are the same as those applicable to the IBM machine listed below which has the adapter installed: o The 8550, 8555, 8556, 8557, 8560, 8570, 8573, 8580, 8590 and 8595 PS/2 system units. o The 7546, 7561, 7562, and 7568 (GEARBOX Model 800) Industrial PCs. CHARGES -- FEATURES: DESCRIPTION FEATURE PURCHASE NUMBER PRICE IBM LAN Adapter/A for Ethernet 7171 $395