Each workstation is a computer system that has a host CPU board, MUL TIBUS memory and an iSBC-552 board. The iSBC 552 board allows the host to gain access to the Ethernet channel
and to translate the serially formatted data of the transceiver to a data format acceptable to the host. Once started by a command from the host the receiving process requires no further host intervention while it detects the beginning of packets, performs address checking, and moves data.
In a transmit process the iSBC-552 board, upon command from the host, moves data from the memory, gains access to the serial link, formats the data into packets and addresses the packets for the designated station.
Once started by the host command, the transmit process requires no further host intervention while it moves data.
The following list briefly describes some of the major features of the iSBC-552 board:
- Provides High-Performance Network Front-End Processing for All MULTIBUS® I Systems Regardless of the Operating System of the Host
– Intelligent Controller with an 8 MHz 80186 Processor and 256K of DRAM Memory
– IEEE 802.3 Network Port Driven by the 82586 LAN Coprocessor - Can Execute On-Board the Intel iNA-960/961 Software, an Implementation of Industry Standard ISO 8073 Transport and ISO 8473 Network Protocols
- Resident Network Software Can be Down-Loaded Over the Bus or the LAN
- On-Board Diagnostic and Boot Firmware
- Supported by XNX-NET and RMX-NET Network File Service Software Products
