Device Drivers
AMDs new Networking CD-ROM includes enhanced PCnet device drivers. These drivers provide enhanced functionality and new features for the PCnet family of Ethernet Controllers. The PCnet drivers are also optimized for forward driver compatibility. These PCnet drivers include the following NOS support :

• Novell UnixWare: v1.1 and 2.0 DLPI drivers
• OS/2: Enhanced AHSM ODI driver, enhanced NDIS 2.0.1 driver for OS/2 version 3.x and 4.x
• OS/2 Server: Enhanced AHSM ODI driver
• Packet Driver
• SCO UNIX: New MDI driver (UnixWare 7.0), enhanced MDI for Open Server 5.0, SCO ODT 3.0 LLI
• Sun Solaris: v2.4 driver
• Windows For Workgroups 3.11: NDIS 3.x MAC driver Windows 95: New NDIS 3.x Miniport, enhanced NDIS 4.x (OSR 2), NDIS 3.x MAC driver
• Windows NT 3.5: NDIS 3.x MAC driver
• Windows NT 3.51: New NDIS 3.x Miniport, NDIS 3.x MAC Driver
• Windows NT 4.0: Enhanced NDIS 4.x Miniport driver with DMI 2.0 support, NDIS 3.x MAC driver
• Windows CE 2.x support for PCnet PCI devices
• Wind River VxWorks: New x86 driver (real-time operating system support) in both BSD and END format

AMD is proactive in incorporating new industry-standard features and is continually updating its PCnet software portfolio to offer the latest technology to its customers. AMD was the first to offer Ethernet controllers with Magic Packet™technology. Co-developed by AMD and Hewlett-Packard, this feature allows a system to be remotely powered up on the network. This is now a standard feature in the industry. AMD is also on the forefront of industry standards with support for the Desktop Management Initiative (DMI) 2.0 specification in the latest PCnet device drivers (NDIS 4 Miniport driver).

AMD is proactive in incorporating new industry-standard features and is continually updating its PCnet software portfolio to offer the latest technology to its customers. AMD was the first with a Magic Packet™ technology driver. Co-developed by AMD and Hewlett-Packard, this feature allows a system to be remotely powered up on the network. This is now a standard feature in the industry. AMD is also on the forefront of industry standards with support for the Desktop Management Initiative (DMI) 2.0 specification in the latest PCnet device drivers (NDIS 4 Miniport driver).

With the new PermaNet™ Server software and the HotPlug NIC replacement capability, AMD is pioneering the latest technological advances in the industry in its driver set for Novell NetWare 4.11 and IntraNetware I, OS/2 and Windows NT 4.0. PermaNet brings fault tolerance to server links by supporting redundant, dual connections. HotPlug PCI provides the ability to swap network cards while maintaining the connection and data traffic when used with the PermaNet server. This HotPlug support is available in the Novell Netware 4.11 environment.

Implementing the Post Aggregation feature with the PermaNet server allows NICs to be aggregated, thus increasing bandwidth and improving throughput. A standards-based implementation assures compliance across the platform.

Diagnostics Utility
AMD has also updated the set of tools that enable users to check the functionality of Network Interface Cards (NICs). The PCnet Diagnostics Utility includes a setup utility for network card installation, the Netdiag diagnostic utility for testing PCnet-based boards, and the low level diagnostic, Ethernet Monitor [Emon].

The utility has a simple-to-use DOS interface allowing users to run resources tests (I/O addresses, IRQ, MAC addresses) and perform internal loopback and external loopback tests to verify LAN functionality. The tools also support link tests for peer-to-peer clients to verify connections. These PCnet utility allows users to evaluate network cards at the system level, and verify correct network operation during production, system integration and field support.

The PCnet Advantage
By adopting AMD PCnet solutions, system manufacturers can tap into the latest high performance networking features and support for industry standards. AMD provides comprehensive support for all major NOS specifications and revisions at no additional cost. Through PCnet driver updates, AMD continues to add innovative features that give equipment manufacturers and system integrators a competitive advantage. Since the software drivers and the latest diagnostics utilities are bundled with the hardware, value can be added no additional cost.