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From: "Serge A. Babkin" <babkin@hq.icb.chel.su>
Message-Id: <199605170310.JAA05519@hq.icb.chel.su>
Subject: Re: xircom hardware specs
To: nate@sri.MT.net (Nate Williams)
Date: Fri, 17 May 1996 09:10:13 +0600 (ESD)
Cc: kevin@NDA.COM, freebsd-hackers@freebsd.org
In-Reply-To: <199605170031.SAA25091@rocky.sri.MT.net> from "Nate Williams" at May 16, 96 06:31:45 pm
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> 
> > i'm using an nec versa 2200c laptop with a xircom ethernet+modem
> > pcmcia card.  no drivers available.
> 
> Nope, because Xircom won't release the specs. w/out an NDA.
> 
> > i sent email to xircom customer support and was informed that they
> > would release the specs to interested developers.  is anyone pursuing
> > this?
> 
> Nope, because signing an NDA means the source can't be distributed if a
> driver is written.
> 
> > ps next and solaris x86 provide xircom drivers, not sure if freebsd
> > is kernel compat with them (probably not...)
> 
> Nope, and NeXTStep and Solaris don't provide OS source, so signing an
> NDA is not a problem.

But it's possible to take say BSDI driver, disassemble it and make the specs
publically available.

-SB