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    AST RESEARCH, INC.          TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1006                 10-28-94

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         ASCENTIA 900N FAILS TO CONNECT TO THE LAN WITH THE POWERSTATION WHILE
                          LOADING MADGE 16/4 TOKEN RING DRIVERS

    PROBLEM:        While docked on a PowerStation (both PowerStation I and
                    PowerStation II), the Ascentia 900N system fails to connect to
                    the LAN while loading the MADGE 16/4, or the MADGE SMART 16/4
                    Token Ring drivers.

    CAUSE:          The Madge 16/4 (MADGEODI.COM version 3.42 and below) and the
                    Madge SMART 16/4 Smart (SMART.EXE version 3.47 and below)
                    Token Ring drivers are incompatible with the Ascentia 900N's
                    VLSI I/O controller.

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:       All Ascentia 900N systems using a PowerStation and a Madge
                    16/4, or a Madge Smart 16/4, Token Ring Adapter.

                        AST                                               REVISION
                    PART NUMBER            DESCRIPTION                      LEVEL

                    501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CS10                  All
                    501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50 CT9                   All
                    501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CS10                  All
                    501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 CT10                  All
                    500982-001      POWERSTATION I                           All
                    500982-002      POWERSTATION I                           All
                    501600-001      POWERSTATION II                          All

    SOLUTION:       Contact Madge's Technical Support at (800) 876-2343 to obtain
                    the latest Madge Token Ring drivers that support the AST
                    Ascentia 900N system.

                    The drivers are also on the Madge BBS.  Download file
                    ASTDOCK.ZIP, which contains both the MADGEODI.COM and the
                    SMART.EXE driver, by dialing (408) 955-0262.  The password to
                    download this file is KCO.

    CAUTION:        In no case will AST Computer be liable for damage to the
                    system or loss of data caused by the improper implementation
                    of this technical bulletin.