Subject:   -43- Why are network connections between SGIs and Suns much
                slower than between SGIs and SGIs or Suns and Suns?
Date: 13 Aug 1995 00:00:01 EST

  Dave Olson <olson@sgi.com> explains: Some older Sun systems (I don't
  remember which, but not current systems) have ethernet *chips* (this
  isn't an OS issue) that can't handle the recommended 9.6 usec
  interpacket gap. This is not a problem when sending packets, but when
  receiving packets from faster systems (like SGI Indigos and later) it
  results in lost packets, retransmission and major slowdown.