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Text File | 1991-08-26 | 19KB | 487 lines

*--* 08-26-91 - 09:23:16 *--* 2 C South Coast Engineering Services 3463 State Street, Suite 187 Santa Barbara, CA 93105 (805) 681-7327 Voice (805) 964-6343 Fax Ring Counter/Reset Device Installation Instructions Document Number: 8500-0101 Rev. A0 Related Part Number: 9200-0101 Rev. A0 Written By: Jim Brandon MORE - [Y]es, [N]o, [C]ontinuous, [R]edisplay Document Revision History Rev. Date Reason Author A0 March 14, 1991 Initial Release J. Brandon Table of Contents Document Revision History Table of Contents How to use this document For experts For everyone else 1.0 Revision history 2.0 Scope 3.0 Related documents 4.0 History 5.0 Warnings 6.0 Tools needed for installation 7.0 Programming the RC/RD 7.1 Ring Count Preload 7.2 Ring Holdoff Timing 8.0 How to install the RC/RD 9.0 Testing the RC/RD 9.1 External Modem 9.2 Internal Modem 9.3 The final test 10.0 Some other considerations 11.0 Warranty/License/Copyright 11.1 Warranty 11.2 License 11.3 Copyright 12.0 Upgrade Policy 13.0 How to reach us 14.0 Registered Trademarks List of Tables Table 6.1 Ring Count Preload Table Table 6.2 Ring Holdoff Timing Table How to use this document For experts If you have installed expansion cards in a PC before and you understand the features of this card, turn directly to section 6.0 Programming the RC/RD. Then read section 8.0 Testing the RC/RD before completing your installation. For everyone else Please read the complete document and familiarize yourself with the operation of the Ring Counter/Reset Device before continuing with the hardware installation. Review your computer documation to insure you know what to expect when opening the computer case. 1.0 Revision history _________________________________________________________________ This is the first release of the The Ring Counter/Reset Device (hereafter known as the RC/RD). There is no software associated with the hardware release. Please check the hardware package for the current revision. Revision X0 August, 1990 Alpha only (two units made) Revision X1 January, 1991 Beta (6 units made) Revision A0 April, 1991 General Availability 2.0 Scope _________________________________________________________________ This hardware RC/RD is for use with a Bulletin Board System or any computer that is interfaced to a phone line that is intended to be available 24 hours per day and is unmanned during most of that time. It is not recommended for any other use. It is intended to cause the computer to be reset (cold boot) when a predetermined number of telephone rings have been received without the modem or other device answering. This is done via the 'HARDWARE RESET' connection on the main or motherboard of the host computer. WARNING: Making the wrong connection WILL cause damage to the computer. This document ONLY pertains to the IBM or 100 percent compatible clone motherboards found on MOST 8088, 80286, 80386, and 80486 motherboards. 3.0 Related documents _________________________________________________________________ DOC, Ring Count/Reset Device Product Specification, SCES part number 8500-0101. 4.0 History _________________________________________________________________ After running a Bulletin Board Service for several years and having the problem of the system hanging during the execution of programs outside the BBS software, like door programs, or just plain hardware system crashes, I felt the need to develop a means for resetting the computer remotely. Outside of a long stick or a wire attached to the reset jumper on the motherboard, not much could be done. I used a timer that would reset the computer every few hours. This would take a user off-line rather abruptly, but did insure the computer would be on line most of the time. The obvious answer was what we all used everyday - the telephone. Wouldn't it be nice if you could call into our BBS number and cause the system to reset when we found it hung? Even better would be if a caller, who dropped carrier because the system was not responding due to a system crash, would cause the same system to reset the computer and bring the BBS back on-line by calling back - and without your (the Sysop's) intervention. 5.0 Warnings _________________________________________________________________ WARNING: Making the wrong connection WILL cause damage to the computer. This document ONLY pertains to the IBM or 100 percent compatible clone motherboards found on MOST 8088, 80286, 80386, and 80486 motherboards. One assumption is made during this process--your computer boots from its boot device (either the C drive, A drive or a network boot ROM) and the boot device contains all bootable software for your operating system, or directs the system to find the operating system. All examples given in this document will assume the system boots to a standard Disk Operating System (DOS) and calls the BBS software via the AUTOEXEC.BAT and whatever other device drivers are needed are loaded via the CONFIG.SYS. 6.0 Tools needed for installation _________________________________________________________________ A pair of needle nose pliers #2 Phillips screwdriver 3/16" standard screwdriver About one hour of time 7.0 Programming the RC/RD _________________________________________________________________ The RC/RD comes pre-programmed to reset at the start of ring number 6 with a 30 second delay. The phone takes approximately 30 seconds to complete 6 rings. Jumpers E1 - E4 are used to preload or "set" the number of rings needed to issue the reset command. It can be set for 2 to 12 rings. A preload count of 0 will disable the device and it will not issue a reset command, and therefore is not recommended. Note: The Preload Count value does not represent the number of rings to be counted before a reset will occur, but rather, what count value the counter will start incrementing from. Remember that the first incoming ring will load the Preload Count value selected, and subsequent rings will increment it. To understand the sequence, try this exercise. When you hear the first ring, say outloud what your selected preload value is (your jumper setting). For each subsequent ring, add one to your number and call it out again. When your number reaches eleven, you know that the next ring will generate a CPU reset. For more detailed explanation of the Preload Count and Ring Holdoff Timming please refer to the Ring Count/Reset Device Product Specification, document number 8000-0101. 7.1 Ring Count Preload Preload # of Rings Count to Reset E4 E3 E2 E1 Comments 0 - 1 1 1 1 Disabled 1 11 1 1 1 0 2 10 1 1 0 1 3 9 1 1 0 0 4 8 1 0 1 1 5 7 1 0 1 0 6 6 1 0 0 1 Factory Setting 7 5 1 0 0 0 8 4 0 1 1 1 9 3 0 1 1 0 10 2 0 1 0 1 Not Recommended 11 1 0 1 0 0 Not Recommended 12 - 0 0 1 1 Invalid Setting 13 - 0 0 1 0 Invalid Setting 14 - 0 0 0 1 Invalid Setting 15 - 0 0 0 0 Invalid Setting Note: 1 = Jumper Installed Table 7.1 Ring Count Preload Table Counts of 2 and 3 rings are not recommended because it takes some time for the software to recycle and come back on line. Use these settings only at your own risk. 7.2 Ring Holdoff Timing The Ring Holdoff Timing is designed to allow the reboot of the computer without the worry of the number of rings being reached before the computer has completed its boot cycle. In the busy time of the day, it is possible to have a reboot and a user call immediately causing another reset getting the machine stuck in a reboot cycle going on until the user finally gives up and lets the machine finish its boot. Seconds Minutes E7 E6 E5 Comments 210 3.5 0 0 0 180 3.0 0 0 1 150 2.5 0 1 0 120 2.0 0 1 1 90 1.5 1 0 0 60 1.0 1 0 1 30 0.5 1 1 0 Factory Setting 0 0.0 1 1 1 Holdoff disabled Note: 1 = Jumper Installed Table 7.2 Ring Holdoff Timing Table 8.0 How to install the RC/RD _________________________________________________________________ CAUTION: The printed wiring boards contained in your computer can be damaged by static electricity discharge. You will be less likely to cause a static discharge if you ground yourself with a grounding wrist strap or by touching the bare metal of the chassis while inside your computer. Moving around increases the chance of static discharge, so limit your movements while installing the RC/RD. Shut down your system software taking the phone off hook, and powering off the computer, and unpluging the power cord. Open the computer case. There are several styles of computer cases available. Whatever type of computer case you have, you must open the case and expose the inside of the computer. Please refer to your computer documentation for further information, or ask the person you purchased your computer from. Once inside, locate the expansion slot where you will install the RC/RD. Remove the screw holding the filler plate and remove the filler plate. Install the RC/RD. It should be as close to the reset connector as possible. It is not necessary, however, to have it in the first slot as the leads are more than long enough to reach from any slot. The RC/RD is installed like any other IBM interface card. Make sure the board is firmly seated in the backplane slot. WARNING: DO NOT FORCE THE BOARD INTO THE BACKPLANE SLOT. YOU CAN CAUSE DAMAGE TO BOTH THE RC/RD OR THE MOTHERBOARD CONNECTOR. Replace the screw previously removed. Do not overtighten. Locate the hardware reset connection on the motherboard. Take the two pin 12" long jumper and connect one end to the RC/RD connector labeled P1. Connect the other end to the motherboard hardware reset connector. Connecting the wire coming from your Reset Switch on the front panel of your computer to the P2 connector on the RC/RD insures that you can still reset your system by using the reset switch on the panel. Consult your computer documentation for the correct connectors. Make the phone connections to the RC/RD. The endplate is marked with 'PHONE' and 'LINE'. In essence, there is no connection between the phone line and the computer since the RC/RD only "looks" at the phone line for the ring signal. This concludes the hardware installation of the device in the computer. Next we will need to hook up the modem and phone line and verify that it will reset the computer. 9.0 Testing the RC/RD _________________________________________________________________ The first test will be to see if the phone rings will reset the computer. Make all connections to your computer and turn your computer on. Since you will not have your modem connected and your BBS software may hang up trying to initialize the modem, you may want to boot to a floppy disk and DOS and not your BBS software Either way, once your system is up and running pick up your phone and call your BBS number. Count the rings. After the programmed number of rings, you will see your computer system reboot. This concludes the initial test. You may now reassemble your computer. 9.1 External Modem Reconnect your serial cable to your modem and the phone line to the device. Take the extra phone wire and connect the device to the modem. This will place the device in the path of the phone line so it will intercept the phone rings even if the system is powered off. 9.2 Internal Modem Connect the phone line to the device. Take the extra phone wire and connect the device to the modem. This will place the device in the path of the phone line so it will intercept the phone rings even if the system is powered off. 9.3 The final test Power on your system. Bring your BBS software on-line. Now exit your software with the phone ON hook (so the phone will ring). Once your system is up and running, pick up your phone and call your BBS number. Count the rings. After the programmed number of rings, you will see your computer system reboot. 10.0 Some other considerations _________________________________________________________________ If your BBS system hangs and the device resets the system, there is a period of time from when the device resets and the system boots that it is susceptible to further resets from the modem line. In order to keep the system on line and going through the boot sequence, a period of time can be programmed where the RC/RD will NOT count the rings and therefore not cause a reset. You need to know how long your system takes to boot and set the jumpers to the closest 30 second time that is just under the total time it takes to boot. Example: Network XXIII's node 1 is set to wait for 120 seconds, giving the server a chance to mount all volumes of the disk and bring the network software back on line in case of power failure. The actual floppy boot and memory check takes about 45 seconds. The total boot time is 120 + 45 = 165 seconds. The RC/RD is set to delay 5 - 30 seconds units, disabling the RC/RD while the machine is booting. The phone will ring, but the RC/RD will not cause a reboot. This is especially important when you are running on a network which takes several minutes to boot (like Novell NetWare when it mounts the volumes). 11.0 Warranty/License/Copyright _________________________________________________________________ 11.1 Warranty The company grants you, the original purchaser, a maximum warranty of twelve (12) months for the hardware only with the following conditions: o This warranty is for the hardware only, and only to the extent of workmanship and materials. o If the product fails within the first six (6) months of service, it will be replaced with a like kind of equal or greater value or performance. There will be no refund of money paid for the product after 30 days. o For the remaining months (6-12), the device will be repaired or replaced at the company's discretion. o The starting date of warranty will be the date of shipment but will not exceed a period of 15 days after proof of shipment by the below named company. o You, the purchaser or enduser, cannot hold the provider of the device (hardware) liable for any damages, including any lost profits or other incidental or consequential damages arising out of your use or your inability to use the supplied product. o By using the product, you agree to this. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, so the above limitation may not apply. 11.2 License None granted. 11.3 Copyright All rights to the hardware, the schematics and circuit design belong to the below named company. It cannot be reversed engineered for your personal gain nor may the rights to it be sold to another entity without prior permission of the below named company. The hardware, hardware design, schematics and circuit design, and all documentation are Copyright (C) 1991 by: South Coast Engineering Services Company 12.0 Upgrade Policy _________________________________________________________________ There is no hardware upgrade policy. We reserve the right to make modifications to the hardware at any time. 13.0 How to reach us _________________________________________________________________ We can be reached at Network XXIII Bulletin Board at the following numbers: Node 1 (805) 962-0122 Courier HST 24-hour using GAP 5.0/M5 Node 2 (805) 962-0963 Courier HST 24-hour using GAP 5.0/M5 Node 3 (805) 962-1206 Courier HST 24-hour using GAP 5.0/M5 or by writing to: South Coast Engineering Services P. O. Box 3000-187 Santa Barbara, CA 93130 or by phone or FAX: (805) 681-7327 Voice (effective March 21, 1991) (805) 964-6343 FAX Our FAX machine answeres the phone with a voice message. Start your FAX transmisson at anytime during the voice message or press "*" on your telephone to start FAX operation. 14.0 Registered Trademarks _________________________________________________________________ IBM is the registered trademark of International Business Machine Corporation. 8088, 80268, 80386, 80486 are the property of the Intel Corporation. NetWare is a trademark of Novell, Inc. Courier HST is a trademark of USRobotics, Inc. GAP is a trademark of GAP Development company [74 mins] (12) BBS Reset Forum Command :