WFWG 3.11: 3C509 MLID May Cause Lost Connections and Hangs

• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11

SYMPTOMS

If you use the 3COM EtherLink III (3C509) network interface card (NIC) and the 3COM ODI MLID (3C509.COM or 3C5x9.COM) with Windows for Workgroups version 3.11 and Novell NetWare is installed as your secondary network, you may encounter the following problems:

• Copying large blocks of data across the network cause the computer to stop responding (hang).
• The computer inadvertently loses network connections.

CAUSE

The 3C509 NIC has a 4-kilobyte (K) FIFO buffer. This allows 2K to receive and 2K to transmit. If more information than this is passed through the card at one time, that information is lost.

In addition, the 3C509 uses approximately 88 percent of the CPU's resources when it is transmitting.

RESOLUTION

Microsoft, in joint effort with 3COM has developed an Application Note (WG1004) to correct this problem. This Application Note provides an updated MSODISUP.386 file. For more information, query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   appnote and msodisup.386 and WG1004

• Use the IPX Monolithic driver.

  -or-

• Use only the NDIS 3 drivers that ship with Windows for Workgroups 3.11.

  -or-

• Use NetBEUI as your only protocol.

  -or-

• With the "IPX/SPX Compatible Transport with NetBIOS" set as the default protocol, place the following setting in the [Networks] section of the SYSTEM.INI file:

        [Networks]
        SlowLANAs=0
  

  -or-

• If you installed Windows for Workgroups 3.11 over Windows for Workgroups version 3.1, use the MSIPX protocol from Windows for Workgroups 3.1.