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Ethernet Interface SoftwareManufacturer's Ethernet ID
Each manufacturer of Ethernet network adapters and interfaces is assigned a unique
manufacturer's ID by the IEEE Standards Office. A network address consists of 48 bits. The upper
24 bits are the manufacturer's ID and the lower 24 bits are the board's unique ID.
For developers who are creating network applications, knowing the manufacturer's ID for network
adapters attached to the network may or may not be important.
Ampro's 24-bit manufacturer's ID for Ethernet controllers is displayed in hex as follows:
00 40 53
Network Operating Systems
The Ethernet interface is typically connected in a network controlled by a network operating
system. The network operating system may be part of the computer's operating system or be
provided separately. For example, Windows® NT provides the network operating system as part of
a computer's operating system. Novell's NetWare™ provides a separate, add-on network operating
system for DOS and Windows. The network operating system provides file server and network
services to the distributed systems connected to the network. Each node on the network must have
a compatible network operating system installed as well.
Modern network architectures are based on the OSI model, which defines layers of software
between the network hardware, the network operating system, and the applications that use the
network services. The actual Ethernet cable and the Little Board P6d hardware interface are at the
bottom level. A driver program at the next level handles communication between the hardware and
the operating system, masking any unique differences in the hardware from the layers above it,
including the network operating systems.
Network OS Drivers
The Little Board P6d Ethernet subsystem uses Intel drivers available from Intel. The driver is the
only unique software you need to use the Little Board P6d system. The supported network
operating systems provide the other software layers normally provided in the OSI model. These
include:
AHSM ODI Drivers (DOS, OS/2, Server)
CHSM ODI Driver for NetWare 5.0
NDIS 2.0.1 Drivers (DOS version 6.x, OS/2 version 3.x and 4.x)
NDIS 3.x MAC Drivers (for WFW 3.11; NT versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0; Win95)
NDIS 3.x Miniport Drivers (for Windows 95 and Windows NT 3.51)
NDIS 4.x Driver (for Windows NT 4.0 and Windows 95 OSR 2)
Novell UnixWare Drivers (for v1.1 and 2.0)
There are also drivers for various flavors of UNIX and for other operating systems. Intel also
supplies diagnostic software for testing your Ethe rnet se tup.
For the most up-to-date drivers and utility software, please refer to th e Intel w eb pag e: