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NetPort(R) I & II Print Servers: Flash Memory Update via the Serial Port
UPDATING THE NETPORT(R) THROUGH THE SERIAL PORT
To complete the Netport(R) upgrade, you will update the NetPort's Flash
memory (the non-volatile, read-only memory that stores the NetPort's
internal operating instructions). Usually this is done by uploading the
software to the NetPort over the network, however, there are some
situations where uploading through the serial port is preferred. You'll
need three things before you can upload through the serial port:
1. The new .UPD files and the update utilities. Get the most current
utilities from Intel's online services. The files you would need
depending on the version of Netport server that you have are:
Netport II Ethernet server NPE434.EXE
Netport II Token Ring server NPT534.EXE
Original Ethernet Netport server NP1EUP.EXE
Original Token Ring Netport server NP1TUP.EXE
2. A DOS workstation with a serial port (you must use COM1).
3. A custom null modem type serial cable to connect the workstation's
COM1 port to the NetPort. The instructions for building your serial
cable are found at the end of this document.
About the workstation
The workstation can be any PC running DOS and having a COM1 port. It
can be running Ethernet Type II, or IEEE 802.3. After you identified
the workstation you want to use for the uploading, make sure its COM1
port matches the connector on your serial cable. (Refer to the figures
at the end of this document.) If it doesn't, you'll need a different
workstation or a different serial cable.
Uploading the firmware
Read all the following steps before starting the procedure. (Pay
special attention to the speed needed in step 8.) After you've read
them, follow these steps carefully:
1. Disconnect the NetPort first from the power cord, the printer(s)
and the network cable.
2. Turn off the power on the workstation. Then attach the serial
cable to the workstation's COM1 port and to the NetPort's serial
port.
3. Turn on the workstation, and go to the DOS prompt.
4. Login as supervisor. (You must be Supervisor or equivalent.)
5. Plug the NetPort power supply into the wall first and then into
NetPort.
6. Go to the directory where the latest NetPort utilities reside.
Note: Don't run the update utilities from a floppy disk or from a
Windows shell. The update utilities must be run in DOS from either a
network or local hard disk.
7. Execute the appropriate command to update your NetPort's Flash
memory:
ORIGINAL ETHERNET NETPORT
* Update NetPort from v2.10 or below, to v2.57:
CONVERT NPxxxxxx ECONVERT.UPD SERIAL
CONVERT NPxxxxxx ECNVRTEN.UPD SERIAL (Ethernet Type II)
* Update from v2.53 to v2.57 or above:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP257.UPD SERIAL
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP257EN2.UPD SERIAL (Ethernet Type II)
* Update back to v2.10 from v2.53 or above:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP210.UPD SERIAL
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP210EN2.UPD SERIAL (Ethernet Type II)
ORIGINAL TOKEN RING NETPORT
* Update from v3.08 to v3.45 or above:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx TCONVERT.UPD SERIAL
* Update from v3.40 or 3.43 to v3.45 or above:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP345.UPD SERIAL
* Update back tov3.08 from d3.40 or above:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP308.UPD SERIAL
NETPORT II ETHERNET AND TOKEN RING
* The following syntax works for all NetPort II whether going up
to a new version or back down to an existing version:
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP4xx.UPD SERIAL (Ethernet)
NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP5xx.UPD SERIAL (Token Ring)
8. When the screen asks you to reboot the NetPort, move quickly.
Unplug the power cord from the NetPort for no more than 5 seconds
and then plug it in again. If you leave it unplugged for too long,
or if you don't unplug it soon enough, your screen will display a
time-out message. If this happens, just go back to step 7. Keep
an eye on the screen. The update utility will tell you what it's
doing as it uploads the firmware. When it says the update is
successful, it's ready to install.
9. Re-install the NetPort on your network as described in the NetPort
Installation Guide. NPLIST VER, NPSTAT or NPAdmin will display the
new version number of the Flash firmware.
Making your own null-moden type serial update cable
If you have the means to make your own serial cable, below are the
pin-out diagrams and specifications for an AT cable (Figure 1) and a
PS/2 cable (Figure 2).
NetPort IBM AT or compatible
serial serial
port port
----------- -----------
| o o o o o | | o o o o o |
| o o o o | | o o o o |
--------- ---------
RXD 2 ----------------------------- 3 TXD
TXD 3 ----------------------------- 2 RXD
GND 5 ----------------------------- 5 GND
RTS 7 ----------------------------- 8 CTS
CTS 8 ----------------------------- 7 RTS
Figure 1 - Serial cable pin-out for IBM AT and compatible computers.
NetPort IBM PS/2 or compatible
serial serial
port port
----------- ---------------------------
| o o o o o | | o o o o o o o o o o o o o |
| o o o o | | o o o o o o o o o o o o |
--------- -------------------------
RXD 2 ----------------------------- 2 TXD
TXD 3 ----------------------------- 3 RXD
GND 5 ----------------------------- 7 GND
RTS 7 ----------------------------- 5 CTS
CTS 8 ----------------------------- 4 RTS
Figure 2 - Serial cable pin-out for IBM PS/2 and compatible computers.
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