August 9, 2003

False Assumptions

You'd think I would know better by now. After 20 years of professional experience as a software developer, I should have checked a small but important detail before I reached this stage in my project to implement a home network including an ADSL broadband connection.

My assumption was that I could use my old 486 as a gateway machine running Bering and Shorewall.

It sounded like a reasonable assumption to me. It had been done before I was assured.

So today, having ordered ADSL a week ago, armed with two network cards, I decided it was time to unscrew the cover of the old 486. A minor hitch revealed itself. The network cards didn't fit into the motherboard. Bugger!

Then I followed up an ad in yesterday's local paper. But it would appear that Pentium 1's also have larger motherboads than today's network cards are designed to fit into. I know the cards slot into my 3 year old Pentium 3. But can I get away with a Pentium 2? I'll find out soon enough.

But the lesson is that I should check my assumptions.

Posted to Computers, Personal by Keith Pitty
Comments

Aaah. The 486 would have ISA slots. Might be able to get an old network card or two from the computer fair.

Posted by: Alan Green at August 10, 2003 10:57 PM

Aaah. The 486 would have ISA slots. Might be able to get an old network card or two from the computer fair.

Posted by: Alan Green at August 10, 2003 10:57 PM