Board Instances

One board driver must be specifically loaded for each active network board. Every such {board, board driver} pairing is known as a board instance or adapter instance. The first loading of a particular driver for a particular type of board becomes known as “board instance #1”; a subsequent loading, if any, of the same driver for an additional board of the same type would become known as “board instance #2” for that type of board.

For example, if two NE2000 Ethernet boards were being used, the board driver, NE2000.COM, would have to be loaded twice: The board controlled by the first instance of the driver would be known as NE2000 board instance #1”, and the remaining board would be known as “NE2000 board instance #2”.

By way of contrast, if two boards of different types were being used, then a different driver would be loaded for each board. There would then be a “board instance #1” for each kind of network board. There would not be a “board instance #2” for either type of board.