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    Netport(R) Print Server (Original Ethernet Version): Update Information

    
    

    UPDATING THE ORIGINAL ETHERNET NETPORT(R) PRINT SERVER TO V2.57

    
       Update Information for Version 2.57
    
    
    
       Note: If you received an upgrade packet (K8) for your NetPort(R) print
    
       server (Original NetPort, not NetPort II), the diskettes may be
    
       incorrectly labeled as NetPort II diskettes.  The diskettes in question
    
       marked "software part #303006-08" on the 5.25 inch disk, and "software
    
       part #303003-008" on the 3.5" disk.  Be assured that the software on the
    
       diskettes is correct.  Only the disk labels are in error.
    
    
    
       For current information about the most recent Original Token Ring
    
       NetPort update, download or connect to Intel's online services to obtain
    
       document 6113.
    
    
    
       Symptom
    
       This is a maintenance update that primarily fixes a print server mode
    
       connection problem with version 2.53.  This does not add any
    
       functionality to NetPort beyond the 2.53 release.
    
    
    
       Solution
    
       NetPort upgraded v2.53 (BackPort) is in Print Server mode.  If a printer
    
       attached to the NetPort is offline for about 15 minutes,  the Novell
    
       Watch Dog timer will break the connection.  NPLIST reports that the
    
       NetPort is in print server mode.  NetPort never goes into the attaching
    
       mode as it should.  Pconsole's Currently Attached Servers is blank.  A
    
       reset is required to reconnect NetPort.  This has been fixed.
    
    
    
       Solution
    
    
    
         *  In print server mode the banner will print correctly if the queue
    
            name and file server name is longer than 27 characters.
    
    
    
         *  NP2UPDAT.EXE has been improved to help prevent update failures.
    
    
    
         *  A problem with tab expansion has been corrected.
    
    
    
         *  NP2CON and NP2UPDAT replace NPCON and NPUPDATE
    
    
    
       Because this update is based on the NetPort II code, the same utilities
    
       work for NetPort II and this update. Therefore, NP2CON.EXE and
    
       NP2UPDAT.EXE replace NPCON.EXE and NPUPDATE.EXE. This is convenient if
    
       you have both the original NetPort and NetPort II on your network. 
    
       NPCON.EXE and NPUPDATE.EXE should not be used with NetPort II.
    
    
    
       SERVERNAME=  (PREFERRED SERVER)  ***THIS IS A REQUIRED PARAMETER***
    
    
    
       This new REQUIRED parameter is used to tell NetPort what server (file
    
       server or Novell Pserver) it should associate with.  This means NetPort
    
       no longer searches all the servers on the network to look for its
    
       configuration.  Instead, it "attaches" to the server defined by the
    
       SERVERNAME= option.  Now, when no servername is specified, your NetPort 
    
       remains "AVAILABLE", and does not search through the servers on the
    
       network.  This ensures that NetPort will NOT disappear from your network
    
       while it searches for its configuration.
    
    
    
       For information on how to use this option, see the "CONFIGURING
    
       NETPORT..." sections below.
    
    
    
       Note:     Do NOT give your Novell Pserver and file server the same name.
    
        If you do have a Novell Pserver and a file server with the same name, 
    
       NetPort will not be configured as a print server even though you have
    
       defined it as a print server and used the SERVERNAME= option to assign
    
       NetPort to a specific file server.
    
    
    
       Because NetPort checks for a Pserver match first, then tries to attach
    
       as a remote printer to the Pserver, it finds a match with the Pserver
    
       and does not try the file server with the same name.
    
    
    
       Attaching mode
    
       This functionality allows NetPort to dynamically reattach to the file
    
       server or Pserver after the file server or Pserver is brought down and
    
       back up.  You do not have to reset the NetPort.  NetPort also goes into
    
       ATTACHING mode as it is attaching to the server as set by the
    
       SERVERNAME= option.
    
    
    
       If the NetPort cannot successfully attach to the server, it goes into an
    
       attaching error condition.  Information about this error condition is
    
       displayed with the NPLIST and in more detail with the NPSTAT utilities.
    
    
    
       To obtain more complete information on NetPort and NetPort II Attaching
    
       mode, obtain document 6015 from Intel's online services. 
    
    
    
       Error condition notification
    
       NetPort notifies all users defined as NetPort's Queue Operators in
    
       PCONSOLE any time the printer is offline or halted for forms.  Users are
    
       notified on 25th line of their monitor.
    
    
    
       To avoid getting this message, go into Pconsole and delete the user's
    
       name from Queue Operators under Print Queue Info.  If you want to have
    
       users as Queue Operators, but do not want them to get the offline
    
       notification message, you can create a group in SYSCON and add any user
    
       you want to be a queue operator to this group.  Add this group name to
    
       the PCONSOLE Queue Operators field for the NetPort queues.  NetPort does
    
       NOT notify groups defined as Queue Operators, only users.
    
    
    
            QSCAN=
    
    
    
       This new option allows you to set the amount of time that a NetPort 
    
       (configured as a print server) waits before checking to see if there is
    
       a print job in the queue.  To set the scan time, type this at the DOS
    
       prompt:
    
    
    
            NP2CON NetPortName QSCAN=n
    
    
    
       where n is the time in tenths of seconds, from 10 to 6000, that NetPort
    
       waits before checking the queue.  The default is 40, which means NetPort
    
       checks the queue every 4 seconds.
    
    
    
       Splitting ports
    
       This new functionality allows you to configure one port as a remote
    
    
    
       printer or print server, and the other port mapped as a virtual circuit.
    
        You can not configure one port as a print server and the other as a
    
       remote printer.
    
    
    
       Naming
    
       You can no longer name an individual port.  You can only give the
    
       NetPort box a name.  This means when you rename NetPort (NP2CON NPxxxxxx
    
       NAME=new_name), that same name shows up under NPLIST as new_name-P and
    
       new_name-S.
    
    
    
       Updating your NetPort to the new version of software
    
       The upgrade is available on Intel's online services.  There is a README
    
       file included with the update which explains in detail the new features,
    
       how to use them and, most important, how to update your NetPort.  To
    
       obtain this software update, follow the instructions included at the
    
       bottom of this document.
    
    
    
       To complete the NetPort upgrade, you will update the NetPort's Flash
    
       memory (the non-volatile, read-only memory that stores the NetPort's
    
       internal operating instructions).  You can either update over the
    
       network or over a serial cable.
    
    
    
       The following instructions are for updating over the network.
    
    
    
       Note:     If you want to do a serial port update, see the Installation
    
       Guide for complete instructions or call Intel's online services to
    
       request document 6012. 
    
    
    
       You will need a special serial cable to do a serial port update.
    
    
    
         1. Copy the new update software into a public directory on your
    
            network.  You may use the DOS copy command.
    
    
    
         2. Determine which Flash ROM version your NetPort currently uses. 
    
            This information is necessary to complete step 5 below.  To do
    
            this, type: NPLIST VER.  The NetPort must show up on the network
    
            under NPLIST before you can proceed with the update.
    
    
    
         3. Log into the network as a Supervisor.
    
    
    
         4. Perform A, B, and C listed below ONLY if NetPort is currently set
    
            up as a remote printer.  If NetPort is set up as a remote printer,
    
            you must complete these steps to set it to AVAILABLE:
    
    
    
           A.  Assign NetPort a new name.  Type:
    
    
    
               NP2CON NPxxxxxx NAME=temp_name
    
    
    
           B.  Reset the NetPort.  Type:
    
    
    
               NP2CON NPxxxxxx RESET
    
    
    
           C.  After you complete the update (as described in update steps 1
    
              through 6), your NetPort will be set to the default NPxxxxxx
    
              name. If your NetPort had a new_name before the update, you must
    
              set it back to that new_name, before configuring NetPort.  At the
    
    
    
              DOS prompt, type:
    
    
    
               NP2CON NPxxxxxx NAME=original_name
    
    
    
                 Where NPxxxxxx is the default NetPort name, temp_name is the
    
                 new name you're temporarily assigning to NetPort and
    
                 original_name is the name NetPort had before you started the
    
                 update process.
    
    
    
         5. Complete one of the following update procedures from the directory
    
            to which you copied the new software.
    
    
    
           NoteThe following MUST be followed to assure a successful update:
    
    
    
               *  The NetPort and workstation must be local.  Do NOT update
    
                  across a wide area link.
    
    
    
               *  Do NOT update your NetPort while running under Windows.  You
    
                  should only update from DOS.
    
    
    
               *  Update when network traffic is at its lowest.
    
    
    
               *  Do not update a NetPort that is currently printing.
    
    
    
           A.  If you are running on Ethernet 802.3 and want to update your
    
              NetPort from version 2.10 or lower to the new version, type the
    
              following command at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  CONVERT NPxxxxxx ECONVERT.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
           B.  If you are running on Type II, and want to update your NetPort
    
              from version 2.10 or lower to the new version, type the following
    
              command at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  CONVERT NPxxxxxx ECNVRTEN.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
           C.  If you are running on Ethernet 802.3 and want to update your
    
              NetPort from version 2.11 or 2.13 (unreleased patches for
    
              specific remoter printer problems) to the new version, then type
    
              the following command at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx ECONVERT.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
           D.  If you are running on Type II, and want to update your NetPort
    
              from version 2.11 or 2.13 (unreleased patches for specific remote
    
              printer problems) to the new version, type the following command
    
              at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx ECNVRTEN.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
           E.  If you are running Ethernet 802.3 and want to update your
    
              NetPort from 2.53 or above, to the new version, you can either
    
              update your NetPort using NPAdmin (see the section below entitled
    
              'Updating NetPort from version 2.53 to 2.57 using NPAdmin') or
    
              type the following command at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  NP2UPDAT NPxxxxx NP257.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
                  or (for Ethernet Type II only)
    
    
    
                  NP2UPDAT NPxxxxx NP257EN2.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
                  where NP257.UPD is the latest release of the NetPort software
    
                  and NP257EN.UPD is the Ethernet Type II version of the latest
    
                  release.
    
    
    
         6. Reset the NetPort by typing the following at the DOS prompt:
    
    
    
                  NP2CON NetPort_Name RESET
    
    
    
            Where NetPort_Name is the default name shown on the bottom of the
    
            NetPort box (NPxxxxxx).
    
    
    
       Note:     Your NetPort will now be at the default settings.  Remember,
    
       if your NetPort had a new name before the update, it no longer does. 
    
       You'll need to reassign the new name to NetPort (NP2CON NPxxxxxx
    
       NAME=new_name).  Also, any other non-default parameters will need to be
    
       reassigned, such as serial ports setting, form checking flags etc.
    
    
    
       Restroing to v2.10
    
       If you ever want to restore your NetPort to use version 2.10 (over the
    
       network), do one of the following:
    
    
    
       Note:     You can not restore your NetPort to type II using NP210EN2.UPD
    
       across a serial cable.  You must restore over the network.
    
    
    
         1. For Ethernet 802.3, type:
    
    
    
            NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP210.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
         2. For Type II, type:
    
    
    
            NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP210EN2.UPD NETWORK
    
    
    
       Updating NetPort from 2.53 to 2.57 using NPadmin
    
       NPAdmin can be used to update your NetPort from version 2.53 or above to
    
       this release.  You must have NPAdmin version 1.55 or above. If you have
    
       an earlier version, see the end of this document which explains how to
    
       get the current NPAdmin from Intel's online services.
    
    
    
       NPAdmin Upgrade:
    
    
    
         1. Copy the new update software into a public directory on your
    
            network.
    
    
    
         2. Log into the network as a Supervisor or equivalent.
    
    
    
         3. Change to the directory where the new update software resides.
    
    
    
         4. At the DOS prompt type: NPADMIN  (or NPADMIN /MONO)
    
    
    
         5. Select the Update menu. Then select the Update option.
    
    
    
         6. From the NetPort list, select the NetPort you want to update.
    
    
    
         7. In the new NetPort software field, press <Insert> to display a list
    
            of update files.  Highlight NP257.UPD (IEEE 802.3) or NP257EN2.UPD
    
            (Ethernet type II) and press <Enter> twice.
    
    
    
         8. NetPort displays an update verification statement.  If you want to
    
            stop the update, press <Escape>; otherwise, press any key.
    
    
    
       NPAdmin will tell you when the update is complete.  You must refresh the
    
       NetPort list window to see the new NetPort version number.  NetPort II
    
       should be back in the configuration that it was set to prior to the
    
       update.
    
    
    
       Configuring NetPort as a print server
    
    
    
       Note: You can use NPAdmin, NetPort II's menu-driven interface,  to
    
       configure an original NetPort with this update version 2.57, as long as
    
       the version of NPAdmin you are using is 1.55 or above.  If you have an
    
       earlier version of NPAdmin, see the end of this document which explains
    
       how to get the current NPAdmin from Intel's online services.
    
    
    
       NetPort configuration has not changed with the exception of the
    
       following:
    
    
    
         *  You must assign NetPort to a specific file server.  If you do not
    
            assign NetPort to a file server, NetPort goes into attaching mode
    
            and does NOT connect as a print server.
    
    
    
            NP2CON NPxxxxxx SERVERNAME="file_server_name"
    
    
    
            where "file_server_name" is the name of the file server you want 
    
            NetPort to use.
    
    
    
       Note: To remove a specified server name, type: SERVERNAME=DEFAULT
    
    
    
         *  Use the MODE= option to set up one port as a print server, and keep
    
            the other AVAILABLE (this is useful if you want to use the
    
            available port as a virtual circuit).  You cannot set up one port
    
            as a print server and the other as a remote printer.  Prior to this
    
            update, you could not split a NetPort's ports  in this way.  If you
    
            don't want to split the ports, you can ignore this option.
    
    
    
            NP2CON NPxxxxxx-X MODE=SERVER
    
    
    
            where -X is -P for parallel port, or -S for serial
    
    
    
       Note: To take NetPort out of server mode, type: MODE=AVAILABLE
    
    
    
       Configuring NetPort as a remote printer
    
    
    
       Note:     You can use NPAdmin, NetPort II's menu-driven interface,  to
    
       configure an original NetPort with this update version 2.53, as long as
    
       the version of NPAdmin you are using is 1.55 or above.  If you have an
    
       earlier version of NPAdmin, see the end of this document which explains
    
    
    
       how to get the current NPAdmin fromIntel's online services.
    
    
    
       NetPort configuration has not changed with the exception of the
    
       following:
    
    
    
         *  You must assign NetPort to a specific Novell Pserver.  If you do
    
            not assign NetPort to a Pserver, NetPort goes into attaching mode
    
            and does not connect as a remote printer.
    
    
    
            NP2CON NPxxxxxx SERVERNAME="Novell_Pserver_name"
    
    
    
            where "Novell_Psever_name" is the name of the Pserver you want
    
       NetPort to use.
    
    
    
       Note: To remove a specified server name, type: SERVERNAME=DEFAULT
    
    
    
         *  Use the MODE= option to set up one port as a remote printer and
    
            keep the other as AVAILABLE (this is useful if you want to use the
    
            available port as a virtual circuit).  You cannot set up one port
    
            as a remote printer and the other as a print server.  Prior to this
    
            update you could not split the ports in this way.  If you don't
    
            want to split the ports, you can ignore this command.
    
    
    
            NP2CON NPxxxxxx-X MODE=SERVER
    
    
    
            where -X is -P for parallel port, or -S for serial
    
    
    
       Note: To take NetPort out of SERVER mode, type: NP2CON NPxxxxxx-X
    
       MODE=AVAILABLE
    
    
    
       NPadmin
    
       To get the latest version of NPAdmin, go to Intel's online services.
    
    
    
       The file is called NPADMN.EXE and is available through Intel's online
    
       services.
    
    

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