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