---
name: "ep"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["linux", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ep"
---

# ep(4)

3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink III 10/100 Ethernet device

## NAME

**ep** – 3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink III 10/100 Ethernet device

## SYNOPSIS

**ep\* at eisa?** **ep\* at isa?** **ep\* at pci?** **ep\* at pcmcia?** **ep\* at isapnp?** **tqphy\* at mii?**

## DESCRIPTION

The **ep** device driver supports the 3Com EtherLink III and Fast EtherLink III family of Ethernet cards. This includes, among others, the following models:

- 3C509

  EtherLink III ISA

- 3C509B

  EtherLink III ISA (Plug-and-Play)

- 3C556

  EtherLink III LAN+Modem PC Card (PCMCIA)

- 3C562

  EtherLink III LAN+33.6K Modem PC Card (PCMCIA)

- 3C574

  Fast EtherLink III 10/100 LAN PC Card (PCMCIA)

- 3C579

  EtherLink III EISA

- 3C589

  EtherLink III LAN PC Card (PCMCIA)

- 3C590

  Fast EtherLink III PCI

- 3C592

  EtherLink III EISA Bus Master

- 3C595

  Fast EtherLink III PCI 10/100

- 3C597

  Fast EtherLink III EISA 10/100

Category 3, 4 or 5 unshielded twisted-pair (UTP) cable should be used for RJ-45 (10baseT), thick Ethernet coaxial (RG59 B/U, 50 ohm) for AUI/DIX, and thin Ethernet coaxial (RG58 A/U or C/U, 50 ohm +/- 4) for BNC (10base2). Some 3Com NICs also support MII connectors (switchable 10/100Mbps UTP).

The following media types and options (as given to [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)) are supported:

- **media** autoselect

  Enable autoselection of media type and options.

- **media** 100baseTX **mediaopt** full-duplex

  Set 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) operation and force full-duplex mode.

- **media** 100baseTX **mediaopt** half-duplex

  Set 100Mbps (Fast Ethernet) operation and force half-duplex mode.

- **media** 10baseT **mediaopt** full-duplex

  Set 10baseT (UTP) operation and force full-duplex mode.

- **media** 10baseT **mediaopt** half-duplex

  Set 10baseT (UTP) operation and force half-duplex mode.

- **media** 10base5

  Set 10base5 (thick-net) operation (half-duplex only).

- **media** 10base2

  Set 10base2 (thin-net) operation (half-duplex only).

Note that the 100baseTX media type is only available if supported by the adapter. For more information on configuring this device, see [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md). To view a list of media types and options supported by your card try “ifconfig \<device\> media”. For example, “ifconfig ep0 media”.

If more than one of the supported cards is installed, they are probed for in the following order:

1. PCI cards based on PCI function number order.

2. EISA cards based on EISA slot number order.

3. ISA cards based on increasing Ethernet address order.

4. Any ISA cards in Plug-and-Play mode, in Plug-and-Play order.

You may specify the port and IRQ numbers where the cards are expected to be found, but it is not necessary. The cards are intelligent enough to let us know where they live on the bus.

## DIAGNOSTICS

- ep0: reset (status: %x)

  The driver has encountered a FIFO underrun or overrun. The driver will reset the card and the packet will be lost. This is not fatal.

- ep0: eeprom failed to come ready

  The EEPROM failed to come ready. This probably means the card is wedged.

- ep0: erase pencil mark, or disable PnP mode!

  This means that someone has scribbled with pencil in the test area on the card. Erase the pencil mark and reboot. (This is not a joke).

## SEE ALSO

[eisa(4)](/eisa/4.md), [ifmedia(4)](/ifmedia/4.md), [intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [isa(4)](/isa/4.md), [isapnp(4)](/isapnp/4.md), [pci(4)](/pci/4.md), [pcmcia(4)](/pcmcia/4.md), [tqphy(4)](/tqphy/4.md), [hostname.if(5)](/hostname.if/5.md), [ifconfig(8)](/ifconfig/8.md)