503+ with lotsa network cards

I have a 503+ running the linux ipcop firewall distribution. In
ipcop-speak it's a RED-GREEN-BLUE firewall, where red=outside interface,
green=wired lan, blue=wireless lan.

Currently the network layout is:
RED: eth2: ne compatible ISA network card.
BLUE: eth1: natsemi compatible PCI network card.
GREEN: eth0: 8139too compatible PCI network card.

I just got a static IP and I'd like to change my ipcop box to a
RED-GREEN-BLUE-ORANGE firewall, where orange=DMZ, a demilitarized zone
where I can stick a server that will be isolated from the rest of the
network.

I dug out a 3com 905c (3c59x driver) PCI card and installed it in the box.
When I powered it up the only card that worked was the green internal
interface. The interfaces were still there but the cards were not
initializing.

This seems to me to be some kind of hardware bug. Is it possible to get
this many cards network cards working on a 503+? Appreciate any advice.

 

Ah well. Back in the day this was a valuable resource for 503+ owners.

I got it fixed after all. I played with the bios settings until all the
PCI cards came up, then reserved IRQ 10 (used by the ISA network card) for
Legacy/ISA.

These old otherwise unused 503+ boxes make great firewalls.

 

yes this sed to be quite a nice resource for 503+... sadly most owners
seem not to be as resourceful as you are...
glad to see those MB's put to good use...