The Intel PRO/100 NICs using the 82557, 82558, and 82559 controllers were a joy to work with on Windows. The NICs performed well and there was some backwards compatibility in the drivers. I have a vague memory of a lockup bug in some Linux driver versions that would knock machines off the network but it was eventually fixed.
I really enjoyed Intel's foray into networking in the late 90s. Their Ethernet hubs and switches were economical and reliable. It really made no sense for them to be in that market, and they ultimately ditched it, but I liked the simple and inexpensive gear.
The first chassis switch I ever used was the XLNT Millennium that Intel acquired and rebranded as the Intel "6000 Series". At a time when gigabit Ethernet was still exotic getting to play with one in a lab was a treat.
Aside: Videos like this leave me with this "Gee, I could've done that" feeling. It would probably be fun to divest myself of the old junk I have sitting around by way or making videos about the stuff before I liquidate it.
The bug on Linux still exists today on this family (e100, e1000, e1000e). Maybe the root cause is different, but the solution is still to disable TCP segmentation offload and I suppose this is a firmware bug. At some point, Mellanox took over the "top" card segment for servers.
If you like this kind of thing I also highly recommend this 43 minute history of Creative and the Sound Blaster: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTPa6wRECw0
I really enjoyed Intel's foray into networking in the late 90s. Their Ethernet hubs and switches were economical and reliable. It really made no sense for them to be in that market, and they ultimately ditched it, but I liked the simple and inexpensive gear.
The first chassis switch I ever used was the XLNT Millennium that Intel acquired and rebranded as the Intel "6000 Series". At a time when gigabit Ethernet was still exotic getting to play with one in a lab was a treat.
Aside: Videos like this leave me with this "Gee, I could've done that" feeling. It would probably be fun to divest myself of the old junk I have sitting around by way or making videos about the stuff before I liquidate it.
Rock-solid drivers - can’t think of a single platform they didn’t run on.