Network Support Encyclopedia 96-1/novell-nsepro-1996-1-cd2.iso/download/netware/drvkit.exe/LANDRV/RACAL/NP600/NP600.TXT

Text File | 1990-10-11 | 8KB | 155 lines

    NP600 Installation and Configuration Readme File

    The new NP600 server drivers version 3.04EC for Netware 286 are included
    on the enclosed diskette.  The files should match the following for
    size, time, and date.

                   ANP600.OBJ     7971   7-16-90   5:07p
                   BNP600.OBJ     7971   7-16-90   5:07p
                   CNP600.OBJ     7971   7-16-90   5:07p
                   DNP600.OBJ     7971   7-16-90   5:08p
                   NP600.LAN       606   7-16-90   5:08p


       i.   Copy the Operating System driver description file "NP600.LAN"
       to the AUXGEN diskette for "floppy disk" method or to the AUXGEN
       sub-directory if you are using "harddisk" or "network"
       method. For generating an External Bridge, the "NP600.LAN" file
       should be copied to the BRGEN-1 diskette or the BRGEN-1
       sub-directory.

       ii.  For the "floppy disk" method a blank disk needs to be formatted
       and labeled.  Use the DOS LABEL command to label the diskette as
       "LAN_DRV_003".  If the "harddisk" or "network"
       method is being used a subdirectory under a NetWare generation or work
       directory must be created.  Under this generation directory use the DOS
       MKDIR command to create the "LAN_DRV_.003"  subdirectory .  Copy
       the *.OBJ files to either the labeled diskette or subdirectory
       depending on which method is being used.

       iii.   Run NETGEN and select the correct driver from the list of driver
       options to generate the file server operating system.

       iv.   Run BRGEN and select the correct driver from the list of LAN
       adapter options to generate the external bridge software.

            Before installing your NP600 boards in your server, you need to
    pick a configuration for each of the NP600s.  The following is the
    configuration table for the NP600 drivers.

                0 : I/O Address = 300h,  IRQ =  9,  DMA = 7
                1 : I/O Address = 308h,  IRQ = 11,  DMA = 5
                2 : I/O Address = 310h,  IRQ = 15,  DMA = 3
                3 : I/O Address = 318h,  IRQ =  5,  DMA = 7
                4 : I/O Address = 320h,  IRQ =  9,  DMA = 7
                5 : I/O Address = 318h,  IRQ =  5,  DMA = 1
                6 : I/O Address = 340h,  IRQ =  5,  DMA = 7
                7 : I/O Address = 350h,  IRQ = 11,  DMA = 5
                8 : I/O Address = 360h,  IRQ =  3,  DMA = 1

            The IRQ selection jumper and the DMA selection jumpers are along
    the bottom edge of the PCB and should be clearly marked.  Allowable IRQ
    selections are 3, 5, 9, 11, and 15 from left to right.  There is a
    single jumper to select this.  The DMA jumpers are a pair of jumpers
    that must be matched, and moved as a set.  The DMA pins are groups of 4,
    two groups to the left of the IRQ pins, and two to the right.   They are
    numbered 7, 5, 1, and 3, reading left to right.  All jumpers, including
    the IRQ and the pair of DMA jumpers, should be installed in a vertical
    orientation.  That is, positioned so that the jumper connects pins in a
    line from the top edge of the board to the bottom or card connector
    edge.

            The I/O address jumpers are in the middle/top of the PCB.
    Depending on your silkscreen, they may be easily readable, but for the
    table below, the jumpers are listed as reading LEFT TO RIGHT, and an "A"
    means the jumper installed from the middle pin to the pin towards the
    bottom or card edge connector, a "B" means the jumper installed between
    the middle pin and the pin towards the top or the 80186 chip.  The
    jumpers represent address lines A9 through A3, reading from left to
    right, and "A" matches a binary 0 and "B" matches a binary 1.

                        300     B B A A A A A
                        308     B B A A A A B
                        310     B B A A A B A
                        318     B B A A A B B
                        320     B B A A B A A
                        340     B B A B A A A
                        350     B B A B A B A
                        360     B B A B B A A

            Finally, before installation in your server, select the
    interface type.  This is the jumper that looks like a chip in the 4-row
    socket setup near top of the back panel. If you want to use the onboard
    thin-net interface with the BNC connector, the jumper-chip (also called
    a DIP-SHUNT) should be installed between the top and 3rd row of holes.
    If you want to use the DB-15 interface for thick-net or to external
    interfaces, then the chip should be installed between the 2nd and
    bottom row of holes.

            When you install the NP600 into a server, make sure you pick a
    slot with the extra connector for 16 bit operations.  The NP600 cannot
    operate in an 8-bit slot.

            Once the 600 is installed and operational, there are a couple
    things that should be brought to the attention of the individual
    responsible for the system.  There is a lot of discussion of routing
    buffers and percentages used in various documents and on various BBS
    systems.  With the NP600 (and any other card that prefetches buffers)
    you first get a buffer for receive, then it hangs around assigned to the
    card until a packet is actually received from the wire. With most cards,
    you receive a packet, then go get a buffer and put it there.  The
    problem is that when you run multiple LANs with cards that need buffers
    'prefetched' you tie up a buffer for each LAN, when FSPs might be at a
    premium.  They are just sitting there assigned to the cards doing
    nothing tying up resources and system performance suffers.

            Fortunately, Novell has an option, called 'turbo' buffers.
    These are the communication buffers you specify when you 'gen' your
    server.  These are referenced as 'routing' buffers in the statistics.
    There is a caveat here that if routing buffers are used they will show
    up as 100% routing when you look at the statistics.  This is not a
    problem except when trying to interpret the statistics and you do
    not realize how the NP600 operates.  Just keep in mind that the results
    will not be as described in the Novell document "The Final Word".
    Using routing buffers directly means that you can have 4 NP600s in a
    server, and NOT tie up all the FSPs by assigning buffers to cards that
    just sit there waiting for received packets.

       Finally, previous users of NP600s have always been told that the
    red LED on the back is an error condition.  With the current NP600
    driver, the red LED indicates transmit activity, and the green LED
    indicates received activity.  Received packets 'toggle' the green LED
    and turn the red LED off.  Transmit packets 'toggle' the red LED.  The
    timer tick also 'toggles' the green LED.  This way the RED appears
    mostly off, but shows transmit activity.  If it locks on, it is an error
    condition.  The green LED shows receive activity, and in the absence of
    activity, flashes to show the NP600 is alive and well.


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