Altos 486 User manual

___ ALTOS _
486
SETTiNq Up
I

Altos 486
Setting Up Guide

FEDERAL ODBMUNICATIONS
COMMISSION NOTICE
WARNING
This equipment can radiate radio frequency and energy and, if not
installed and used in accordance with the instructions manual, may
cause interference to radio communications. It.has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for a Class A computing device
pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15 of FCC Rules, which are designed to
provide reasonable protection against such interference when operated
in a commercial environment. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause interference in which case the
user, at his own expense, will be required to take whatever measures
may be required to correct the interference.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ALTOS is a registered trademark and WorkNet is a trademark of Altos
Computer Systems.
XENIX is a trademark of Microsoft.
Concurrent CP/M is a trademark of Digital Research.
CAIft'ION
If you have to send your system for repair, part of the test procedure
erases the data on the hard disk. Therefore, copy a1l the contents of
the hard disk, as Altos does not guarantee data integrity upon return
of your unit.
SAFETY WARNDIG
Disconnect the AC power cord before installing any option boards and
before replacing the fuse.
Do not attempt to service any parts of the 486 system.

IftRODUCTION
1-1 1.
CHOOSIM.; A LOCATION
2-1 2. SETTIII2 UP YOUR SYSTEM
2-2 CONNECTING THE KEYBOARD TO THE MONITOR
2-2 CONNECTING THE TERMINAL POWER CORD
2-3 CONNECTING THE TERMINAL TO THE SYSTEM
2-4 CONNECTING THE SYSTEM POWER CORD
3 -1 3 • STARTUC YOUR SYSTEM
3-2 BEFORE YOU BEGIN
3-2 TURNING THE TERMINAL ON
3-2 TURNING THE SYSTEM ON
4-1 4. PROBLEM CHECKLIST
5-1 5. WHERE DO YOU GO NEXT?
5-2 OPERATING SYSTEMS
5-2 ALTOS FAMILY OF RELATED MANUALS
5-2 486 DIAGNOSTIC MANUAL
5-2 486 SYSTEM REFERENCE MANUAL
5-3 486 MAINTENANCE MANUAL
6-1 6. BANDLIM; DISKETTES
6-2 HANDLING DISKETTES
6-3 PROTECTING YOUR DATA
6-3 INSERTING A DISKETTE
6-3 SAVING ORIGINAL DISKETTES
Contents
7-1 7. CONNECTIIIG A PRIBTER AlID ADDITIONAL
TERMINALS
7-2 CONNECTING A PRINTER
7-3 CONNECTING ADDITIONAL TERMINALS
A-I APPENDIX A: ALTOS 486 SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX
Warranty Information
Reader Comment For.

ILLUSTRATIONS
Al tos 486 System
1-1 Choosing a Location
2-2 486 Backpanel
2-2 Altos III Terminal Backpanel
2-3 Connecting the Keyboard to the Monitor
2-3 Connecting the Terminal Power Cord
2-4 Connecting the Terminal to the System
2-4 Connecting the System Power Cord
2-5 Rear Viewof the 486Systemwiththe
Cables Connected
3-2 Power Switches For System and Terminal
6-2 Diskette Handling
6-3 Inserting a Diskette
7-2 Wiring Diagram -486 to Epson RX-80
(Serial)
7-3 Wiring Diagram -486 to Epson MX-80 FIT
(Serial)
7-3 Wiring Diagram -486 to TI-810 (Serial)

Introduction
This guide introduces you to the Altos 486 computer
system. It shows you how to connect the various parts
of your system and start it up. Should you experience
any difficul ty with the installation, a checkl ist hel ps
you locate the source of the problem and suggests pos-
sible remedies. After you have finished setting up
your system, this guide directs you where to go next.
A complete 486 system is shown below.
Figure 1. Altos 486 System

Choosing A Location 1
CONTENTS
1-2 CHOOSING A LOCATION
1-1

1-2
After unpacking your 486 and terminal, decide where
you want to use your system. When choosing a location,
consider these suggestions:
1. Choose a stable surface to hold your system and
terminal. Make sure that the surface is large
enough to provide 12" of distance between the
system and the terminal.
2. Place your system and terminal near a 3 way
power
outlet.
3. Orient your terminal away from direct sunlight
or strong room lights.
4. Provide enough space to route the cables and
power cor ds.
5. Be sure the cooling vents for the terminal
and sy stem are not blocked.

ORIENT TERMINAL AWAY
FROM WINDOWS OR
BRIGHT LIGHTS
PLACE TERMINAL AND
SYSTEM AT LEAST 12"
APART
PROVIDE ENOUGH SPACE TO ROUTE
CABLES
AND POWER CORDS
Figure 2. Choosing a Location
1-3
PLACE YOUR
SYSTEM
AND
TERMINAL NEAR A
3-WA Y OUTLET

COftEftS
2-1
Setting Up Your System 2
2-2 CONNECTING THE KEYBOARD TO THE MONITOR
2-2 CONNECTING THE TERMINAL POWER CORD
2-3 CONNECTING THE TERMINAL TO THE SYSTEM
2-4 CONNECTING THE SYSTEM POWER CORD

CONNEC!'DIG '!BE
KEYBOARD TO
THE ImNITOR
CONNEcrIM; 'DIE
TERMINAL P(MER
CORD
2-2
Read this chapter to find out how to connect the
various parts of your system.
1. Make sure that you can easily reach the back-
panels on both the System and the Terminal.
o ~Itl. IJ\, tD EXPANSIDN
FUSE AC INPUT I I
O D
PORT 5
RESET ~I L- ___ --'
PORT 1 PORT 2 PORT 3 PORT 4 WORKNET
~\ }~~\ }~~( )~a\ )~ ~
Figure 3. 486 Backpanel
,( ............. ).
®t······...... J@
,( ....•••..•... ), '~.",
® \ ••••••••• ••• J® @ : :::: @ ®
Aux. Ke" "~ard
Modem
Figure 4. Altos III Terminal Backpanel
To connect the keyboard to the monitor:
Plug the Keyboard Cord into the connector labeled
Keyboard.
Plug the Power Cord into the AC BDW£R
CONNECTOR at the rear of the Terminal.

CONNECl'Ia; mE
TBRIlllIAL TO
SYSTEM
Figure 5. Connecting the Keyboard to the Monitor
Figure 6. Connecting the Terminal Power Cord
NOTE
DO not pI ug the power cord into the wall outlet.
2-3
1. Plug one end of the interconnect cable into the
connector labeled Mode. at the rear of the
monitor.
2. Tighten the screws to lock the cable in place.

CONNEC'.rDiIG TIlE
SYSTEM POWER
CORD
2-4
3. Plug the other end of the cable into the port
labeled PORT 1 on the rear of the system.
4. Tighten the screws to lock the cable in place.
Figure 7. Connecting the Terminal to the System
Plug the power cord into the AC IM~ receptacle at
the rear of your system.
ACINPUT
Figure 8. Connecting the System Power Cord
Do not plug the power cord into the wall outlet.

The drawing below shows how the cables
are connected when you are finished.
POWER CORDS
Figure 9. Rear View of 486 Syste. with the
Cables Connected
2-5

CONrEftS
3-1
Starting Your System 3
3-2 BEFORE YOU BEGIN
3-2 TURNING THE TERMINAL ON
3-3 TURNING THE SYSTEM ON

BEFORE YOU BEGIR
TURNIR; mE
TERIIIIIAL ON
TORNIIIS mE
SYSTEM ON
3-2
1. Make sure that the power switches for both the
system and the terminal are in the OFF position.
Figure l~.
~
POWER SWITCH
PANEL
BRIGHTNESS
CONTROL
Power Switches For Systea and Terminal
2. PI ug the power cor ds f or the sy stem and the
terminal into the wall outlets.
1. Turn the terminal on by pushing the top half of
the ON/OFF switch. Listen for a short beep.
2. Watch for the cursor (small rectangular block)
to appear in the upper left-hand corner of the
screen. After about 30 seconds, if the cursor
does not appear, turn the thumbwheel (located on
the lower right corner of the screen) downward.
To turn the system on, set the Power Switch on the
system to ON. The following message appears on
the screen in approximately 15 seconds:

3-3
486 MONITOR VERSION Vl.0
> Power-up test ••• passed
> System configuration:
Memory size (KB) 768kb
Hard disk(s)=2
Floppy Drive(s): 1
PRESS ANY KEY TO INTERRUPT AUTO-BOOT
>Booting from hard disk failed
>Select: [1] to boot from hard disk
[2] to boot from floppy disk
[3] to boot from WorkNet
[4] to boot from Debugger
Enter option:
The system autoBatically verifies that the system
is working properly.
If the system does not pass the power-up test the
following message appears on the screen:
486 MONITOR VERSION Vl.0
> Power-up test ••• failed
< >
> System configuration:
Memory size (KB) = 768kb
Hard disk(s)=2
Floppy Drive(s): 1
>
Select: [1] to boot from hard disk
[2] to boot from floppy disk
[3] to boot from WorkNet
[4]
to boot from Debugger
>Enter option:
Try running the power up test again by pressing the
RESET BUTTON (see Figure 4). If the system still fails
one of the tests then proceed to the problem checklist
on the next page.