Conference noted::etherworks

1315.0. "Software upgrade from DE500-XA to AA?" by CSC32::A_LICAUSE () Thu May 29 1997 09:52

    Can the DE500-XA be upgraded to a DE500-AA through driver upgrades or
    is this a different chip set?
    
    A chart I ran across recently indicates that the XA uses a 21140 chip
    while the AA uses a 21140A chip.  But I was also told that anything
    prior to rev V2.0 is concidered to be an XA while anything at or later
    is an AA.
    
    I have also read that the AA is bit more stable?
    
    Have a customer that is seeing long ( a minute or more ) interruptions
    in system activity on an XA dunix system while it increases its FIFO.
    This happens several times before the system finally settles on a
    value of 1024.
    
    Don't know if the versions are related but since it has been stated
    that nothing can be set to preassign the FIFO value, either the
    customer accepts the delays on a busy system or we try an upgrade
    if it can be done and will offer some possible relief!
    
    Will an upgrade help here?
    
    Thanks,
    Al

>>    Can the DE500-XA be upgraded to a DE500-AA through driver upgrades or
>>    is this a different chip set?

It cannot be upgraded.  The DE500-XA and DE500-AA adapters use different chips.
    
>>    A chart I ran across recently indicates that the XA uses a 21140 chip
>>    while the AA uses a 21140A chip.  But I was also told that anything
>>    prior to rev V2.0 is concidered to be an XA while anything at or later
>>    is an AA.

The DE500-XA is a DE500-XA while the DE500-AA is a DE500-AA.  Don't get hung up
on chip revisions.  The boards are stamped with the correct label and the
serial ROMs also have the proper signature based on the adapter model.  By the
way, you're correct on the chips (DC21140 on -XA and DC21140A on -AA).

-Larry

    Thanks Larry,
    
    Al