COMMONLY HOUSED MULTIPLE PROCESSOR TYPE COMPUTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THE SAME

A multiple processor type computing system and an associated method of manufacturing the same from first and second computer systems, each of which include a PCI bus and both a processor and LAN device coupled to the PCI bus, which are selected such that the processors of the computer systems are configured to execute software utilizing different operating systems. Each LAN device is installed on the PCI bus using a PCI interface and is comprised of a data register, a data FIFO and a LAN controller coupled together using internal circuitry. Also coupled to the internal circuitry is a serial I/O port used to connect the LAN device to a network. From these, a multiple processor computing system is manufactured by removing the serial I/O port from each of the LAN devices to expose the internal circuitry thereof. The internal circuitry of the LAN devices are then interconnected to couple the first and second processors in a single multiple processor computing system which is supportably mounted in a common computer chassis. The data register and data FIFO of the first LAN device holds selected address, data and control signals during transfers from the first processor to the second processor arranged by the LAN controller of the first LAN device while the data register and data FIFO of the second LAN device holds selected address, data and control signals during transfers from the second processor to the first processor arranged by the LAN controller of the second LAN device.