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AST RESEARCH, INC.         TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1245                 7-6-95

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ASCENTIA 900N/910N LOSE NETWORK CONNECTION WHEN THE LID IS CLOSED


PROBLEM

When the Ascentia 900N goes into suspend, the network connection established 
via I/O ports is broken.


CAUSE

This is a normal function of the Ascentia 900N/910N design.  When system 
suspend is forced via a lid closure (without external CRT attached), via the 
+ keystroke, or via a dangerously low battery level (battery fail), 
suspend is initiated without checking for system activity.  

When the Ascentia 900N and 910N are in suspend, all devices are put in their 
lowest power state.  This means that the serial and parallel ports are turned 
OFF.  Also, the CPU is stopped.  As a consequence, even if the serial and 
parallel ports were kept alive, the CPU would not be available to service any 
network connection, and hence the connection would be lost anyway.


SYSTEMS AFFECTED:
AST PART NUMBER AND DESCRIPTION

501299-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/50  10.3" DS STN
501300-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75  9.5" TFT
501302-2XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 10.3" DS STN
501304-3XX      ASCENTIA 900N 4/75 10.4" TFT
501590-3XX      ASCENTIA 910N 4/75 CS10
501589-3XX      ASCENTIA 910N 4/75 CT10
501589-4XX      ASCENTIA 910N 4/75 CT10
501592-2XX      ASCENTIA 910N 4/50 CS10


SOLUTION

If a network connection must be maintained, 

DO NOT close the lid (unless operating on CRT),
DO NOT press +,
DO NOT let the battery discharge to a dangerously low level.