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Date:      Sun, 13 Oct 1996 11:27:01 -0600 (MDT)
From:      Nate Williams <nate@mt.sri.com>
To:        "Brian T. Schellenberger - Personal Account" <babbleon@mercury.interpath.com>
Cc:        freebsd-mobile@freebsd.org
Subject:   Re: Working PCMCIA/CD-ROM/Modem/ethernet?
Message-ID:  <199610131727.LAA27376@rocky.mt.sri.com>
In-Reply-To: <199610131641.MAA18476@mercury.interpath.com>
References:  <199610131641.MAA18476@mercury.interpath.com>

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I changed the distribution: to 'freebsd-mobile', since that's where the mobile
folks hang out. :)

> I have a laptop.  Not wanting to repeat earlier mistakes, I want to
> get a PCMCIA cards and devices that will WORK with my o/s of choice
> without having to go to a lot of extra bother.

For ethernet, the 3Com 3C589 series are your best bet.  For modems, most
of the modems cards work.

> I have a "one Type III or two type II" PCMCIA on my machine, a
> Prostar 9400.
> 
> Questions . . .
> 
>   - Are there differences in PCMCIA slots on the machine that might 
>     possibly render the FreeBSD drivers unusable regardless?

Possibly, but recent Nomad snapshots have added support for newer
(unsupported) cards.  I haven't integrated the code yet, but I promise
to get to it before Christmas. :)

>   - If so, how can I find out if they wil work?

Try out the boot floppy in the machine.  If it recognizes the cards it
works. :)

>   - What versions of FreeBSD support what cards?

-current and SNAPS support some of the cards, and the Nomad boot floppy
supports even more (although a future SNAP will hopefully support most
of the Nomad cards at some point).

> And, most centrally,
> 
>   - I'd like to know of the exact brands being used by anybody who is
>     actually running FreeBSD (preferably production versions) with a
>     PCMCIA card or cards with the following devices attached:

>       - CD-ROM (essential)

I've heard that the EIDE driver works with the built-in CD's.  I've got
a Sony external, but there isn't a driver for it.  You might be able to
hook an external CD to the Adaptect SLIM-SCSI card (supported by the
Nomad code but not yet the FreeBSD -current code), but I haven't heard
anything one way or the other.

>       - 28.8 modem 

I know of folks using Megahertz X-Jack.  Someday I'm going to actually
try getting my Motorola working, but up till now I have need for a
modem.  I'm sure it would be trivial to get it to work (as with any
modem card).

>       - ethernet

3Com cards are known performers.



Nate



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