pci network card price

BOICE, RUSSEL (RBOICE@uscolo.edu)
Thu, 17 Dec 98 15:52:00 PST

I maintain an INOVA 300 system for the University of Southern Colorado.
We are considering updating the existing SPARCstation 4 with an Ultra 5.
We need to install a second Network Interface Card in the Ultra 5 since
it only comes with one.

The sun part (#1033A) has been quoted to me for $695 Retail. I have seen
other 10/100 PCI network cards available for as little as $16. (see
http://www.pricewatch.com). I looked at Sun's site
(http://www.sun.com/pci/pci/pci.cards.ihv.html) for PCI NIC cards and
found
(http://www.antares.com/52-1058.htm) which shows that their card will
work in a Sun Ultra 5 or a Pentium computer and compatibles.

My question is: Do any of you have experience with PCI Network Interface
Cards for use in an Ultra from vendors other than Sun? How can it be that
Sun charges $695 for a card that functions identically to a $16 Card? Am
I missing something?

Russ Boice