Prometheus network cards

[mpiva]

   I just bought a Prometheus card for my A4000T but am unsure what network card to get with it.  Should I get a RealTek RTL8029 compatible card or RTL8139 card?  Obviously the RTL8139 is faster but it appears it is still being developed?  Anybody know how buggy the drivers are?  Are these cards still usable or are the RTL8029 cards better?
Also, when I check computer stores' website, many have a lengthy list of network cards; how do I know which ones are RTL8029 compatible?

   I'm new to networking so I'd like some help with my setup.  I have a WindowsXP machine connected to the internet via high-speed cable and would like to add my Amiga to the network with Samba.  I've heard the Amiga can be used as a hardware firewall, would this slow down my PC's connection.  Most importantly, how do I set this all up?  Any advice would be helpful.

[EzdineG]

Get an 8029 from redrumloa.  I think he sells them for $10.  That's what I use, it works flawlessly.

Your best bet is to get a hardware router/firewall and connect both machines to it.  That way, no dependencies are formed and it will be as fast as ever on either machine.  Just my 2c.

Adrian

[mpiva]

@ EzdineG

   Yes, but I can get an 8139 locally for the same price, thus my question.  Just how developed are the 8139 drivers?  Are they buggy?  Is the bugginess worth the extra speed?  For example, if the 8139 is 10x faster than the 8029 but the computer crashes every few hours, I'd rather have the 8029.  However, if the 8139 is even only 2x faster than the 8029 and only occasionally loses connection (or something else minor), I think I'd rather have the 8139, especially keeping in mind that improved drivers may come out later.

   Price is not the issue.  The question is speed and reliability.  I want someone to tell me how the 8139 drivers compare to the 8092 in term of speed and reliability.  Anyone?

[Ilwrath]

I have an unused RTL8139 (actually about 10 of them) sitting around here.  So I asked Redrumloa about this, and if I remember correctly, his exact quote was "the beta drivers are not yet ready for public consumption."

So, from that, I'd take it that if you want your network to work reliably, you should use the RTL8029.

[mpiva]

  Interesting.  According to this web site, the drivers are "100% finished under Miami and MiamiDX", they are version 1.0, and there is a link to download them.  I am reluctant to buy an RTL8029 card when I can get an 8139 for the same price.  But I'm not sure who to believe... are the drivers 100% finished, or are they only betas?

[billt]

The OpenPCI web site says this as well as what was quoted above:

Fast Ethernet 10/100Mb (Realtek RTL8139 B/C/D/E chipset) openpci_8139Device 1.0

I ordered an 8139 board a couple days ago and should receive it tomorrow or Friday. This weekend I'll find out how well it works...

[redrumloa]

I just emailed you concerning this. I do not recommend using an 8139. The OpenPCI driver is very buggy on all patforms including Prometheus and Pegasos(MorphOS). Unfortunately Titan(OpenPCI author) has ceased all Amiga related development.

Use a RTL8029AS, you won't be disapointed.

[adolescent]

You can get RTL8139 cards off of eBay for $.01! (+ shipping of course :-)) I got one for .99 in my Mediator and it works great.  Not sure about the Prommy driver yet.

[redrumloa]

So I asked Redrumloa about this, and if I remember correctly, his exact quote was "the beta drivers are not yet ready for public consumption."

This is still the case. I was very optimistic at the time that final 8139 drivers could be released, and quickly. I have unreleased beta drivers that work much better than the public ones. Unfortunately the OpenPCI author has since ceased all Amiga related devlopment, due to a new marraige and child, and has gone quiet. The beta drivers I have, while much better, still are buggy. I have approached just about every devloper left in this market trying to find one willing to do drivers, under contract, for profit. Not a single developer is interested, regardless of price. I have even offered bounties for simply finishing existing drivers, no interest.

Furthermore I couldn't even get people to do driver betatesting. A mailing list was set up, some free and discounted boards were given out, drivers were made available for testing, and not a single feedback was received. The 2 developers who were waiting for feedback got tired of waiting. One of which has since quite, the other has gone quiet and also probably gave up. I myself was the only one doing any testing whatsoever.

The current price of the Prometheus reflects it's status. With the exception of upcomming Catweasel MK4, there are no future new driver guarantees. If anyone knows a hungry driver developer willing and capable let me know.

[whabang]

Gee! I guess the market is really dying! If not even the hobby developers are left... :-(

[x56h34]

whabang wrote:
Gee! I guess the market is really dying! If not even the hobby developers are left... :-(

The whole scene is one big hobby. :-)

[tjaoz]

@mpiva

Interesting. According to this web site, the drivers are "100% finished under Miami and MiamiDX", they are version 1.0, and there is a link to download them. I am reluctant to buy an RTL8029 card when I can get an 8139 for the same price. But I'm not sure who to believe... are the drivers 100% finished, or are they only betas?

Go for RTL8029. Only this card works in Prometheus.

OpenPCI drivers for RTL8139 were ready long time ago. RTL8139 cards with OpenPCI drivers were reported as working stable on the Mediator busboards over two years ago.

The very well known problem with the Prometheus is that Prometheus has the serious hardware bug in the support of the PCI busmastering. After a few transmissions between PCI cards (initialized by the PCI busmaster) the transmission hangs.

It means that cards like: Fast Ethernet, sound, USB, TV tuner cannot be used in Prometheus.

If you have Prometheus you should know that only working PCI cards are gfx and 10Mbps Ethernet cards - these two kind of PCI cards do not require busmastering.

[redrumloa]

The very well known problem with the Prometheus is that Prometheus has the serious hardware bug in the support of the PCI busmastering.

Welcome back rat. I guess you also think the Pegasos and all PC motherboards has a serious hardware bug in support of PCI busmastering? The driver does the same thing on a Pegasos and Amithlon.

Oh yeah, and there is no OpenPCI for Mediator, try again.

February 9, 2003:
- OpenPci.library v1.0 (with powerpci.library 1.76 for Amithlon included)

Information: The mediator support of a well-known company is definitively canceled because of their poor developer policy and their questionable attitude towards customers.  

[x56h34]

The very well known problem with the Prometheus is that Prometheus has the serious hardware bug in the support of the PCI busmastering.

No, no, no, noooo. Not again this crap. Please stop. :pissed:

[Brian]

@tjaos

There are other PCI options than the Mediator, and if someone ask about a specific issue on that option you don't always have to leave replys advertising your own preffered option and trashtalking the option they've gone for.

Give it a break, please, you appear retarded.

For those who chuse a different road let them do so and if you can help them complete their objectives on that road then fine, reply. But if your only reason for replying is to promote a different option that they don't own and trashtalking other thing they do own then please shut the fawk up and go play with your self.

I too think the Mediator is by far the better option but I do wish to see Prometheus prosper as a cheaper PCI option for those with a smaller wallets and lesser needs.