I figured it out. Got it working but I sure with this was a 10/100 card but not just a 10 card. This was easy before broadband so I’ll take what I can get.
Besides classic MacOS being slow at networking, it could just be a lousy application of the Ethernet chip used. The SMC FEAST (what a weird name) supports both 16-bit and 32-bit bus applications. The datasheet gives examples for ISA (16bit), EISA, and VLB (32bit) operation. Asante might have gone the 16-bit route with NuBus if they recycled an earlier 10Mbit Ethernet card design as a base. It's doubtful the card was designed for burst transfers or anything like DMA, likely just polled I/O.
*256 color mode - not 356 color modethe only classic Mac I have is a pair of Performa 460s (LC3+) . I have zero expectations to use this machine for any Ethernet networking beyond ftp or AppleTalk over TCP/ip to another Mac acting as a bridge machine. The Intel Mac Pros do all the heavy internet lifting, I just need a local network to shuffle over 68K files.
Since I just recently brought these machines es back from the dead with a blue scsi 2.0 and if I ever figure out the Pi SCSI correctly I’ve needed to relearn a lot of 68k stuff. Getting past the lack of multitasking at the moment is the most frustrating. I’ve taken it for granted that I can run safari, burn an .iso to a thumb drive and have mp3s playing in the background all simultaneously. Right now the act of copping a file from one drive to another and not being able to click on another window to check a directory is just a bit too much of the case of hurry up and wait. I mean this in a way that makes me appreciate how far we’ve co e.
My dive into retro - for me is approaching it all as puzzles - “ how can I get that to happen on a 30 year old machine” - how did I do that task on 93 ? Oh, I need to be in 356 color mode .. oh wow. I found this ancient software that I wanted but could not afford as a teenager… I explain the process to friends it’s like restoring a classic car. It’s a labor of love
the only classic Mac I have is a pair of Performa 460s (LC3+) . I have zero expectations to use this machine for any Ethernet networking beyond ftp or AppleTalk over TCP/ip to another Mac acting as a bridge machine. The Intel Mac Pros do all the heavy internet lifting, I just need a local network to shuffle over 68K files.
Getting past the lack of multitasking at the moment is the most frustrating. I’ve taken it for granted that I can run safari, burn an .iso to a thumb drive and have mp3s playing in the background all simultaneously. Right now the act of copping a file from one drive to another and not being able to click on another window to check a directory is just a bit too much of the case of hurry up and wait. I mean this in a way that makes me appreciate how far we’ve come.