Date: Mon, 12 Jun 1995 16:37:11 -0700 From: "Mike O'Brien" <obrien@antares.aero.org> To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: ISDN connection: serial, or ethernet? Message-ID: <199506122337.QAA08290@freefall.cdrom.com>
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I'm considering installing an ISDN connection, and I'm trying to figure out which of the two methods usually used in the U.S. would be better: an ISDN 'modem' that connects to a serial port, or something like the Ascend Pipeline 50 HX, which connects to an Ethernet interface. Now, if I were back in the minicomputer world this would be a no-brainer. Character interfaces are interrupt-per-character, at least potentially, though of course with a 16550 silo, things aren't nearly this bad. Ethernet interfaces are DMA devices, resulting in a much lower load on the CPU. This, though, is the PC world. I am quite prepared to believe that due to vicious cost-cutting measures and generally brain-dead design, this MIGHT not be true. So, I'm asking for the REAL answer: which is the better type of interface to go with? And, if it's Ethernet, what are the more satisfactory types of Ethernet interface to use? I know I've seen a lot of traffic about the 3C509, but whether that's because it's the most popular, or because it's the most brain-dead, I don't know. Opinions, please? Mike O'Brien
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