Netport(R) Print Server(Original Token Ring Version): Update Information

   Notes for Update v3.45



   Note: This is a maintenance release which fixes some problems in Flash

   update version 3.43.  There are NO feature additions.



   NP2CON and NP2UPDAT replace NPCON and NPUPDATE

   Because this update is based on the Netport(R) II code,  the same

   utilities work for NetPort II and this update.  Therefore, NP2CON.EXE

   and NP2UPDAT.EXE replace NPCON.EXE and NPUPDATE.EXE if you are updating

   from version 3.08. 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.



   Form feed problem

   With Flash memory update v3.40, some printers produced an extra form

   feed at the end of print jobs. This update corrects the problem.



   Connection problem

   The previous versions of NetPort update software (v3.43) had a problem

   where NetPort would lose its connection with the file server which

   required a reset to continue printing.  This condition was aggravated if

   the printer was offline for a period of time.  This problem has been

   fixed.



   Broadcast messages

   NetPort, configured as a print server, no longer gets interrupted by a

   25th line broadcast messages causing all jobs in the queue to go ACTIVE

   at the same time.  It was necessary to reset NetPort for printing to

   continue.



   Don't give our 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 (new if updating from 3.08)

   This new 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 utility.



   Document 6015, NetPort and NetPort II Attaching Mode Information is

   available through Intel's online services.



   Updating your NetPort to the new version software

   The upgrade is available on the 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 and Intel's online services

   information, see 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.



     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 4 below.  To do

        this, type: NPLIST VER



     3. Log into the network as a Supervisor.



     4. Updating the NetPort:



   Note: To help ensure a successful update, check that the following

   conditions are true:



       *   Update utility will be run under DOS and not a Windows shell.



       *   Network traffic is at a normal level.



       *   The workstation and the NetPort II you want to update are not

          separated by a wide area link.



       *   NetPort is not printing during the update.



     A. To update your NetPort across the network, complete one of the

        following update procedures from the directory to which you copied

        the new software.  The NetPort must show up on the network under

        NPLIST before you can proceed with the update.



       *   If you want to update from v3.08 to the new version, (3.45),

          type the following command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx

          TCONVERT.UPD NETWORK



       *   If you want to update from v3.40 or 3.43, to the new version

          (3.45), type the following command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT

          NPxxxxxx NP345.UPD NETWORK



   Note: If you want to go back to v3.43 from v3.45, type the following

   command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP343.UPD NETWORK



     B. You can also update across the network using NPAdmin, NetPort II's 

        menu driven interface if you are updating from v3.40 or 3.43.  To

        update copy the file NP345.UPD to the same directory NPAdmin

        resides in.  From the NPAdmin's main menu, chose UPDATE.  You will



        now have to choose; Update or Re-Flash.  Update restores your

        configuration where Reflash puts NetPort back at factory default.



     C. To update your NetPort across a serial cable, connecte a special

        NULL modem type cable (see note below) from com1 of your PC, to the

        serial port of the NetPort, complete one of the following update

        procedures from the directory to which you copied the new software.



   Note: You will need a special null modem type serial cable.  For more

   general information about serial updates and the pin out of the special

   serial cable, obtain document 6012, through Intel's online services.



       *   If you want to go from v3.08 to the new version, (3.45), type

          the following command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx

          NP345.UPD SERIAL



       *   If you want to go from v3.40, or above, to the new version

          (3.45), type the following command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT

          NPxxxxxx NP345.UPD SERIAL



   Note: If you want to go back to v3.43 from v3.45, type the following

   command at the DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP343.UPD SERIAL.  If you

   want to go back to v3.08 from v 3.43, type the following command at the

   DOS prompt: NP2UPDAT NPxxxxxx NP308.UPD SERIAL. You must use the serial

   port to go back to v3.08.



     5. 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) or an new name (alias).



   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).