Conference noted::etherworks

1307.0. "DE500-BA ship hold" by NETCAD::FERGUSON () Tue Apr 29 1997 10:46

Hello,

	This message is to notify you that the DE500-BA product has been 
placed on SHIP-HOLD status as of 4/24/97.  You may have already seen the
official notice from NPB Quality.

	NPB Adapter Engineering has decided to take this action due to a
recently discovered design flaw in the DECchip 21143-PB, which, in some 
cases, could allow the DE500-BA to cause data corruption.  Other failure 
modes are system hangs and failure to recognize the adapter.  This problem 
is described in the Digital Semiconductor PCN# G007 (attached below).
Please note that this PCN describes problems with a number of Digital
Semiconductor network controllers.  Only one of these controllers, the 
DC21143-PB, which is used on DE500-BA, is used by NPB.  Other adapters 
currently being shipped by NPB are not affected.  There was a plan to use
the 21041-PA chip on the DE450-CA in the near future.  Obviously, that 
will not occur; we will wait for the 21041-PB.

	More details about the recovery plan will be provided as they
are known.  This much is known now:
	o A software workaround is not possible, this must be fixed in 
	  the network controller chip
	o DE500-BA will most likely ship in July 1997 with the new chip

	We intend to build more DE500-AA to cover customer needs for fast
Ethernet adapters.  Materials are being purchased now to support this.
	
	Thank You,
	Janice Ferguson
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Digital Semiconductor                                             PCN G007
77 Reed Road
Hudson, MA  01749


22-April-1997                                                  

SUBJECT:  Digital Semiconductor  Network Products Product Change Notification 
          PCN#  G007

Digital Semiconductor recently discovered that the faster speed of its new 
fab6 CMOS process created several PCI bus issues which allowed for the 
possibility of data corruption or inoperability on some systems.  While the 
situation was identified in only a very few applications, it was decided by
Digital Semiconductor to enhance our design to provide additional PCI bus noise
immunity and to make our design less susceptible to data corruption and 
inoperability in the identified systems.

PRODUCT CHANGE:
Functionally, the new Fab 6 version of each product will remain the same 
including any erratas existing in the previous revision of each product.   
In addition the device revision ID register entry(s) have not been changed.  
This is significant because absolutely no changes are required to software
drivers.  The products affected and their new markings are shown below.

   
			CURRENT Markings        	NEW Markings    

Ordering Part Number:	21040-AB  			21040-AC
Device Code Number:	DC1043 A    			DC1043 B       
Internal Part Number:   21-40593-05            	 	21-40593-06

Ordering Part Number:	21041-PA			21041-PB
Device Code Number:	DC1044 E			DC1044 F
Internal Part Number:	21-40756-03			21-40756-04

Ordering Part Number:	21041-TA			21041-TB
Device Code Number:	DC1044 E			DC1044 F
Internal Part Number:	21-40756-21			21-40756-22

Ordering Part Number:	21140-AE			21140-AF
Device Code Number:	DC1064 B			DC1064 C
Internal Part Number:	21-43864-03			21-43864-04

Ordering Part Number:	21143-PB			21143-PC
Device Code Number:	DC1071 B			DC1071 C
Internal Part Number:	21-44085-11			21-44085-12

Ordering Part Number:	21143-TB			21143-TC
Device Code Number:	DC1071 B			DC1071 C
Internal Part Number:	21-44085-21			21-44085-22

PRODUCT CHANGE IMPLEMENTATION:
These products will begin phasing into customer shipments in June of 1997 with 
samples available in May.   Digital Semiconductor's Quality Specifications 
require that we notify our customers of impending changes to our products and 
processes so as to allow ample time for customer preparation.  These new
products will be qualified, at a minimum, to the same quality and reliability
standards that apply to our other products.  Qualification test results will be
available prior to shipment, and will be provided upon request.
 
CUSTOMER ACTION REQUIRED:
1. Please notify all appropriate persons (materials, quality and process 
   engineers) of this change to ensure that all affected production documents  
   are updated with the new device markings.
2. Please notify your Digital Semiconductor Area Sales Manager within two weeks 
   of receiving this notice if you require samples for evaluation and 
   regression testing.
3. Please return the attached Customer Acknowledgment Form.


CUSTOMER ACKNOWLEDGMENT FORM
 
TO:	Kinga Zielinski,  PCN Administrator	FAX Number:  508-568-4681
        Digital  Semiconductor			EMAIL ID:
 	75 Reed Road				[email protected]
	HL02-1/G6
	Hudson,  MA  01749


FROM: 






RE:  PCN No:  G007   - Digital Semiconductor Network Products Product Change 
                       Notification

Digital Semiconductor requests that you acknowledge receipt of this notice by 
E-mail, fax or mail.  Please return this form within the next 30 days.  If you 
do not return this acknowledgment form, Digital Semiconductor will assume that 
you have received that you have received this PCN, and that you have no 
comments.


CUSTOMER COMMENTS: