Chris adds to the 100BaseTX saga:

>> > We have an HP FE scheduled for Friday evening to install a
>> > 100base-TX network card in our HP3000 987/200.
> >>
> >> I went through two cycles before I finally got all the parts we
>> needed for 100BaseTX:  First time around HP sent me just what
>> Steve got:  The card plus some documentation.  ...

> Ditto what Ken said... and then some. Out of the last *3* system's
> we've ordered these cards for; *NONE* came with anything but the
> card and a manual.   ........

> I don't know about firmware, but you can tell if you have the
> software to run the cards by :nmmaint.pub.sys,77 I believe.

I'm fairly sure I've got all the software I need now, so I *think* if
y'all try what Chris suggested you should see something like this:
==========================================

[1] PUB.SYS:nmmaint,77
NMS Maintenance Utility  32098-20014 B.00.09

THU, NOV  5, 1998,  7:34 PM
Data comm products build version: N.55.15

Subsystem version ID's:

HP-PB 100Base-T Fast Ethernet driver B5427AA  module versions:

NL procedure:   BT_NL_VERS            Version:  A00550B0
XL procedure:   BT_XL_VERS            Version:  A00550B0
NL procedure:   LAN_100_NL_VERS       Version:  A00550B0
XL procedure:   LAN_100_XL_VERS       Version:  A00550B0
XL procedure:   SUBSYS_77_FMT_VER     Version:  A00550B0
Catalog file:   NMCAT77.NET.SYS       Version:  A00550B0
NL procedure:   LAN_STATION_ADDR_VER  Version:  A00550B0
NL procedure:   IEEE_MULTICAST_VER    Version:  A00550D0
NL procedure:   WANDMPSURRVERS        Version:  A00552B0

HP-PB 100Base-T Fast Ethernet driver B5427AA
overall version = A.00.55
[1] PUB.SYS:
==========================================

**** BUT ****:  Y'all also be advised that although I think I've got the
software I need, I still haven't got the card working:  I plugged it in;
made what I thought were the right config changes;  plugged in the
Cat 5 cable;  and..... nothing....  then we got diverted to other high-
pri stuff for awhile....  and then came the start of the new FY... and
our FY99 software maintenance $$ have *still* not showed up yet
from D.C. (that one is definitely NOT HP's fault)...    :-((     sigh....
figure it's probably the smart thing to do not to mess with the box
until we have a support contract again.....


> Also, once you get the subsys tape with the s/w on it; you STILL
> have to install that, *THEN* re-install the latest powerpatch tape
> to get all the patches required to run it.

Been there;  done dat....

> The people that handled the orders for the new machines kept
> insisting that the product numbers we were ordering didn't
> "specify" any software. Somehow someone finally did give in,
> but it took weeks. :-(

Yup....  sigh*2

.... let's see:  how many years has it been now;  since HP senior
management first said at some Interex conference that they were
making a major effort to "fix" order processing and contracts ??...
it was.....  too long ago;  I can't recall for sure any more...  we can
only live in hope....   actually, to be fair:  Quite a bit of the support
contract process really has gotten noticeably better and easier in
the last couple years;  at least from my end of the telescope...  but
it's things like the above 100BaseTX saga that tells us they haven't
quite finished the job yet....

Ken Sletten