    AST RESEARCH, INC.       TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1487             5-9-96

    TITLE: Ascentia 910N, ProStation, Remote Boot

    SUMMARY

       When the Ascentia 910N is docked in PowerStations I, II, III, or
       the ProStation, the system will not remote boot on Lanwork
       BootWare Plus PROM.

       This issue affects all the Ascentia 910N systems.

    ISSUE

       When the Ascentia 910N is docked in PowerStations I, II, III, or
       the ProStation, the system is unable to boot using a 3Com 3C509
       Ethernet card and a Lanworks BWPLUS boot PROM.
       During POST, the boot PROM displays a message indicating that
       it has failed to initialize, and asks the user to press
       to reboot.

    BACKGROUND

       The BWPLUS boot PROM by Lanworks is no longer a currently marketed
       product.  Lanworks has encountered problems with this product in
       numerous systems because of the critical timing requirements in
       the BWPLUS PROM.

       The BWPLUS PROM is no longer supported by the 3Com 3C509 board
       that is currently being produced.

       The Ascentia 910N does not meet the strict timing requirements of
       the BWPLUS PROM, resulting in this issue.

       This issue is not caused by any inherent fault in the Ascentia 910N
       system; it is due to the overly critical timing requirements within
       the PROM.

    ACTION

       Customers should use a different product to satisfy their need
       for a boot PROM.

    NOTES

       N/A

    TAN 000500RC

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