    AST RESEARCH, INC.           TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1320          10-12-95

                      BANYAN AND ES-3210 IN MANHATTAN X5090

    PROBLEM:     When booting Banyan VINES OS version 5.5x, the Racal-
                 Interlan ES-3210 Ethernet driver may fail to load and
                 generates the following error message:

                    "EISA Memory Controller Failure"

                 After displaying this message, VINES will continue to load
                 but the network will not function.

                 This error could occur when installing a new server or
                 after updating the BIOS on an existing server to a version
                 later than 1.07.

    CAUSE:       Manhattan x5090 BIOSs, versions 1.08 through 1.10, enable
                 the chipset "Posted Write Buffer" feature as a performance
                 enhancement.  This enhancement appears to cause some older
                 EISA adapter cards to become unstable.

    SOLUTION:    Call AST Server Support at (800)727-1278 and follow the
                 prompts.  Ask for Manhattan Banyan BIOS version 1.11.  This
                 update will be E-mailed to you as a self extracting .ZIP
                 file.

                 Execute the file and run the MAKDSK.BAT file.  After
                 executing the batch file, follow the on-screen instructions.
                 After creating the BIOS flash disk, enter CMOS setup and
                 exit with either of the "... Exit & Update Flash BIOS"
                 options.  The on-screen instructions will take you through
                 the rest of the update.

    SYSTEMS
    AFFECTED:    Part Number	Description

                 501502-XXX         AST Manhattan P5090
                 501500-XXX         AST Manhattan V5090