DEC DEPCA/DEMCA NDIS driver version 1.3 for OS/2
================================================
with constructed NIF
====================
working at least with LAPS in IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1 or 2.0 for OS/2
==============================================================
README text
===========

Version 1.1

Horst Kiehl <h.p.kiehl@kfa-juelich.de>


Introduction
=-=-=-=-=-=-

NDIS is an industry standard for an interface between network adapter  drivers
and protocol drivers. A NIF (Network Information File) describes the  possible
PROTOCOL.INI file entries for the accompanying driver.

IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1 and  2.0 for OS/2 include  a program called LAPS,  which is a
tool to  install and  configure network  adapter drivers  and protocol drivers
complying with NDIS up to version 2.01.


Reason
=-=-=-

In late 1992 to early 1993, DEC Germany was unable to provide a DEPCA.NIF  for
their DEPCA/DEMCA driver which  was accepted by LAPS  in IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1  for
OS/2. Thus, this driver could not  be installed for IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1  for OS/2
using LAPS.


Notes
=-=-=

The accompanying  DEPCA.NIF was  constructed using  some NDIS  network adapter
driver's *.NIFs of NDIS version 2.01 (provided with IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1 for OS/2)
as form models  and the README.TXT  accompanying the DEPCA.OS2  driver version
1.3 as the content source, retaining the latter's comments.

The original README.TXT and DEPCA.NIF  from DEC are renamed to  README.BAK and
DEPCA.BAK, allowing for the  constructed DEPCA.NIF and this  README.TXT. There
is an additional DSKLBL.TXT file for a simple diskette label. The other  files
are unchanged as from DEC.

Not all files  accompanying the DEC  DEPCA/DEMCA driver version  1.3 are here,
but only files needed with IBM TCP/IP 1.2.1 or 2.0 for OS/2 LAPS, or providing
information pertaining to this combination.


Attention
=-=-=-=-=

In  the  past,  I  experienced  that  the  DEPCA.OS2 driver version 1.2, dated
92-04-30  17:51  and  sized  17460  bytes,  sometimes  mixed  up  the possible
RamAddress settings; at least:

* if the PROTOCOL.INI entry was D000,
  the driver sometimes displayed (when started) it used D800-DFFF

* if the PROTOCOL.INI entry was D800,
  the driver sometimes displayed (when started) it used D000-DFFF


Revisions
=-=-=-=-=

1.0 Created

1.0.1 * Renamed _DEPCA.NIF to DEPCA.BAK - and _README.TXT to README.BAK -
        because the name _DEPCA.NIF caused LAPS to display a confusing,
        although benign, error message

      * Changed the warning under "Attention"
        to say "in the past" and "sometimes"
        because I don't experience it anymore

      * Clarified the wording in the first paragraph under "Notes"
        about how the DEPCA.NIF was constructed

      * Updated my e-mail address

1.1 * Updated to driver version 1.3

    * Clarified the top heading
            and the text besides "Purpose:" in DEPCA.NIF
      about what the constructed NIF file works with

    * Corrected the text under "Introduction"
      and moved the part of it about DEC Germany
      to its own heading "Reason"

    * Clarified the wording under "Revisions"

    * Changed the characters forming the frame in DSKLBL.TXT
      from IBM codepage 437 to standard ASCII


Disclaimer
=-=-=-=-=-

There are no  warranties; the constructed  DEPCA.NIF, the DSKLBL.TXT  and this
README.TXT are provided as-is.
