🚀 go-pugleaf

My system is configured with a serial mouse on COM1, a serial port
on COM2 and a modem on COM4, and I sometimes use all three at the same
time, in Windows.  I've configured the modem for IRQ 5, so that there
are no IRQ conflicts with COM1 (IRQ 4) and COM2 (IRQ 3).

Now I want to add an Ethernet card to COM3, but I'm out of IRQs!
I cannot share an IRQ with any of the three existing ports, since
I will use various combinations of them simultaneously.

I notice that IRQs 10, 11 and 12 are unassigned ("reserved for future
use"), so my problem would be solved, at least for Windows applications,
if I could find peripherals that supported the use of these IRQs.
WIth this as background, my questions, then, are:

1. Since "straight" RS-232 serial ports are probably the most widely
   available peripheral from the list above, does anyone know of a
   manufacturer who makes cards with serial ports that can be configured
   for IRQ 10 or 11 or 12?

2. In Windows, I can use the Control Panel to change the IRQ assignments
   of the COM ports, but how do I do the equivalent for DOS-based
   applications?

3. I'm relatively new to this stuff, so if I have any misconceptions
   about the problem itself, I'd also appreciate it if someone would
   point that out too!

I realize this whole problem is aggravated (or caused) by the limitations
of the "ISA" architecture, and that an EISA computer or a PS2 alleviates
it, to some extent.  Unfortunately, replacing my computer is not currently
an option, so any other solutions will be welcomed.

Thanks!
						Shahrukh Merchant
						shahrukh_merchant@att.com
						merchant@mvuxd.att.com