AST RESEARCH Rampage 286 User manual

Rampage@ 2816
Expanded Memory Gard
for the
IBM Personal Gonnputer
AT@ and XT* Model 2gG
User's Manual
000432-001 A
December 1 986
AST Research, lnc.
lrvine, California
(71 4) 863-1 333

First Edition (December 1986)
AST and Rampage are registered trademarks of AST Research, lnc' Premium-
Pak AT, Advantage Premium, SuperPak, SuperDrive, SuperSpool, fASTdisk,
Advantage! and RAMVantage! are trademarks of AST Research, lnc' IBM and
AT are registered trademarks of lnternational Business Machines Corporation.
DESQview is a trademark of Quarterdeck Office Systems. Ashton-Tate and
Framework ll are trademarks of Ashton-Tate Corporation. Lotus, 1-2-3, and
Symphony are trademarks of Lotus Development Corporation. XENIX is a
trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
AST Research periodically changes the information in this manual; changes are
incorporated into new editions. AST Research reserves the right to modify this
product's design.
ln view of demonstrated product reliability and comprehensive warranty policies,
AST Research, lnc. does not normally provide schematics or material lists. AST
recognizes that some customers with a large installed base of AST products
want supportive documentation for their own service organizations. ln such
cases, customers should contact AST Research corporate offices to consider an
appropriate nondisclosure agreement to obtain this documentation.
A Product Comment Form is provided at the back of this publication. ll this form
has been removed, please address your comments to: AST Research, lnc', Attn:
Product Marketing, 21 21 Alton Avenue, lrvine, CA 92714. AST Research may
use or distribute any of the information you supply in any way it deems
appropriate without incurring any obligations whatsoever.
Copyright O 1986 AST Research, lnc. All rights are reserved, including those to
reproduce this book or parts thereof in any form without permission in writing
from AST Besearch, lnc.
WARNING
This manual and software are both prptected by United
States Copyright law (Title 17 United States Code).
Unauthorized reproduction and/or sales may result in
imprisonment of up to one year and fines of up to
$10,000 (17 USC 506). Copyright inf ringers may be
subject to civil liability.
(,
CONTENTS
sEfiroN 1. INTRODUCTTON .......1-1
1.1 Features .....1-2
1.1.1 HardwareFeatures..... ......1_3
1.1.2 Software Features .....1-4
ExampleMemoryAllocation ........1-5
Getting Started ......1-B
Checklist ....1-10
System Requirements.... ..1-10
How To Use This Manual . . .1-11
1.6.1 FormatNotation ......1-11
l.6.2RelatedDocumentation. .....1-12
1.6.3 Manual Outline .......1-12
SECTION 2. CONFIGURING YOUR
RAMPAGE 286 BOARD . . ,...2-1
DefaultConfiguration.... ...2-1
Basic Configuration ........2-4
2.2.1What You Need to Know Before You Start . . . .2-4
2.2.25W1 Location and Default Settings . . .2-6
2.2.3 Conventional/Extended Memory Size
Setting (SW1-1 through SW1-4) .... ...2-7
2.2.4Base l/O Address Settings
(SW1-5 through SW1-8) . .. ...2-10
2.2.5Dual Page Mode (SW1-9) .....2-11
2.2.65W2 Location and Default Settings . . .2-11
2.2.7 Conv ention allExtended M emo ry I nstal led
1.2
1.3
1.4
1.5
1.6
2.1
2.2
(SW2-1 through SW2-7)
2.2.8 Parity Checking (SW2-8) 2-12
lil

CONTENTS
SECTION 3. INSTALLING RAMPAGE 286 IN
YOUR PC-AT ...3.1
3.1 OpeningYourPC-AT ........3-1
3.2 lnstalling RAMpage 286 in Your PC-AT . . ' . .3-5
SECTTON 4. RUNNING SETUP .. ..,4-1
4.1 SETUPExamples;.. ....4-5
SECTION 5. INSTALLING RAMPAGE 286 SOFTWARE. . . .5.1
5.1 Example SuperPak Configuration .... .....5'3
5.2 Starting the INSTALL Program . . . . .5-4
5.3 lnstallingOPtions ....5-8
5.4 Savethelnstallation ......."5-9
APPENDIX A. SWTTCH SETTING SUMMARY . . . . .A-1
A.1 Rampage 286 Conventional/Extended
Memory Size.. ......4-1
A.2 Base l/O Address . ...A-4
A.3 Dual Page Mode . . . .4-6
A.4 Conventional/Extended Memory
Already lnstalled ....-A-7
A.5 Parity Checking.. ...4-10
APPENDIX B. MEMORY ALLOCATION
WITHDESQVIEW. ........8.1
8.1 Best Rampage 286 Memory Allocation . . . . B-1
8.2 Allocating Add-on Board Memory . ' . B-5
8.3 RunningSETUP .....8-5
iv
CONTENTS
APPENDIX C. ADDING OR REMOVING MEMORY .......C-1
C.1 MemoryChipSpecification ........C-1
C.2 Rules for Adding or Removing Memory .. . .C-2
APPENDIX D. ADVANCED INSTALL PROCEDURES .....D-1
D.1 UsingINSTALL... ...D-g
D.2 Runningthe|NSTALLProgram .....D-5
D.3 lnstalling SuperPak Software for
Another PC-AT ............D-6
D.4 |NSTALLMainMenu .......D-B
D.5 lnstallingfASTdisk ...D-9
D.6 lnstallingSuperDrive ......D-12
D.7 lnstalling the AST Expanded
Memory Manager ...D-15
D.8 lnstallingSuperSpool .. ..D-16
D.9 Savingthelnstallation... ..D-18
D.10 Example of Completed lnstallation . . . . . I . . . . . . .D-20
APPENDIX E. HOW RAMPAGE 286 WORKS .. . .... . ...E.1
E.1 MemoryPaging .....E-1
E.2 Expanded Memory Manager- REMM.SYS .. ....E-4
E.3 Extended Memory Emulator - REX.SYS . . .E-4
E.4 ModifyingREMMandREX ........E-5
E.4.1 DEVICE = REMM.SYS Parameters. . . . . . . . .E-6
E.4.2DEV|CE = FIEX.SYS Parameters. . . . . . . . ., .E-g
E.4.3Modifying CONFIG.SYS for fASTdisk . . . . . . .E-12

CONTENTS
APPENDIX F. PRODUCT REPAIR PROCEDURE .........F-1
GLOSSARY ...G-1
Figures
Figure 1-1. Example Memory Map . ... .. .1-7
Figure 2-1. Rampage 286 Board Layout ....... .2-2
Figure 2-2. RamPage 286 Switch SW1
(Default Setting) .. '...2'7
Figure 2-3. Rampage 286 Switch SW2
(Default Setting) ......2'12
Figure 2-4. Setting for Conventional/Extended
Memory Already lnstalled for
Use with DESQview (256 KB) . . . . .2'13
Figure 3-1. Removing the Cover
(PC XT Model 286).. .. -.....3-2
Figure 3-2. Removing the Cover (PC AT) ........3-3
Figure 3-3. PC AT System Board Jumper - . . . . . .3-4
Figure 3-4. lnstalling the Rampage 286 Board . . .3-5
Figure4-1. lnitial|NSTALLScreen ........4-
Figure 4-2. Main INSTALL Menu ....4-
Figure5-1. lnitial|NSTALLScreen'......5-5
Figure 5-2. Main INSTALL Menu . . .5-7
Figure A-1. Rampage 286 Conventional/Extended
Memory Size.. .......4-3
Figure A-2. Rampage 286 Base l/O Address
Settings. . . . . . .A-5
Figure A-3. Dual Page Mode Configuration . . . . . .A-6
Figure A-4. Conventional/Extended Memory
Already lnstalled ......4-8
FigureA-5, ParityErrorChecking .......4-10
CONTENTS
Figure B-1.
Figure B-2.
Figure C-1.
Figure D-1.
Figure D-2.
Figure D-3.
Figure D-4.
Figure E-'1.
Table 2-1.
Table 2-2.
Table 2-3.
Switch Settings for Best DESQview
Performance (PC XT Model 286) . . . . B-S
Switch Setting for Best DESQview
Performance (PC AT) ........B-4
Rampage 286 Memory Banks ...... .C-3
Main INSTALL Menu ........D-8
INSTALL with fASTdisk Edit Box . . . . D-11
|NSIALLwith SuperDrive Edit Box ........3-14
INSTALL with SuperSpool Edit Box . . ......3-12
Paging Technique .....E-3
Tables
Rampage 286 Default Configuration ... . ....2-3
Rampage 286 Conventional/Extended
Memory Size.. .......2-g
Rampage 286 Base l/O Address ....2-10
vt vil

NOTES 1
INTRODUCT!ON
Rampage@ 286 is a flexible and powerful memory enhancemenl
board, which represents a new generation of products to expand
the available memory for your Personal Computer XT (PC
XT") Model 286 or PC AT@. Rampage 286 offers:
o Conventional memory. Computer memory from 0 to
640 kilobytes (KB) is called conventional memory.
Your computer's system board contains a certain
amountof conventional memory, and add-on boards
(such as Rampage 286) can provide additional
' conventional memory. No matter how much memory
you install in yourcomputer, you can never have more
than 640 KB of conventional memory. The IBM PC
Disk Operating System (DOS) can directly use all
the conventional memory installed in your computer.
o Extended memory. Memory in the 'l- to 16-megabyte
(MB) address range is called extended memory.
(Extended and conventional memory are also called
"linear" or "non paged" memory.)
Extended memory is used by the 80286 microprocessor
(the "brains" of the PC AT or PC XT Model 286)
when it operates in protected mode. (The Technical
Reference Manualfor your computer provides further
information on protected mode.) AST@'s SuperPak"
random access memory (RAM) drive and print
spooler software, IBM's VDISK, and the XENIX"
operating system use extended memory. However,
current versions of DOS and most application
programs cannot access extended memory directly.
viii 1-1

lntroduction
Expanded memory. Memory on your Rampage 286
board other than conventional or extended memory.
Rampage 2S6expanded memory supports expanded
memory specification (EMS) software, including
Lotus 1-2-3 Release 2" and Symphony 1.1". These
applications use expanded memory by interfacing
with AST's expanded memory manager software,
which is supplied with your Rampage 286 board.
Rampage 286 also supports the enhanced expanded
memory specification (EEMS), providing superior
performance with software written to su§port it,
including the DESQview'- multitasking/windowing
environment.
AST expanded memory software allows your computer
to access up to B MB of memory (using four 2-MB
AST expanded memory boards, including Rampage
286 and Advantage Premium"), while maintaining
DOS compatibility.
NOTE
To ensure compatibility, use only AST
expanded memory products (such as
Advantage Premium) in addition to
Rampage 286.
Full compatibility with the Lotus/lntel/Microsoft (LlM)
version 3.2 Expanded Memory Specification (EMS). ln
addition, AST's EEMS offers a more flexible paging
scheme that maximizes software performance and
exceeds the capabilities of the LIM EMS.
1.1 Features
Rampage 286 hardware and software features are described
in this section.
lntroduction
1.1.1 Hardware Features
The following hardware features are available:
Up to 2 MB of expanded mernory beyond the normal
conventional memory limit of 640 KB. You can install
as many as four Rampage 286 boards in a single
PC XT Model 286 or PC AT, thus increasing the
available memory by 8 MB. A typical maximum
configuration might be 3 Rampage 286 boards (which
provide 6 MB of memory) and an Advantage Premium
with a Premium-Pak AT* installed (which provides 2
MB of memory and l/O capabilities).
Supports conventional memory, expanded memory,
and extended memory. You can use up to 640 KB
of Rampage 286 memory to round out conventional
memory to its 640-KB limit, and allocate any part of
Rampage 286 memory as extended memory -
remaining memory is used as expanded (paged)
memory.
Rampage 286 can start at any memory address on
a 128-KB boundary, from 0 to 16 MB (excluding the
640-KB to 1 MB range).
Memory that is user-upgradeable in 512-KB
increments, using 256-KB RAM chips.
NOTE
The RAM chips used with the Rampage
286 board must be 12O-nanosecond access
time or faster (such as 100-nanosecond).
These upgrade options are available for your Rampage 286:
. Memory expansion is avallable in 512-KB increments
up to 2048 KB (2 MB) on the Rampage 286 board.
You can upgrade Rampage 286 mernory with an AST
upgrade kit (part number MPAD-512/120).
1-2 1-3

lntroduction
1.1.2 Software Features
Rampage 286 software offers the following features:
o Full compatibility with the Lotus/lntel/Microsoft (LlM)
version 3.2 Expanded Memory Specification (EMS). (
Rampage 286 is fully compatible with LIM EMS
software.
lntroduction
t
- SuperSpoof*, an intelligent print spooler that allows
you to output files to a printer while freeing your
compuler for other tasks.
- INSTALL, a software installation utility that allows
easy installation of the fASTdisk, SuperDrive,
SuperSpool, and Rampage programs.
NOTE
. AST'§ enhanced EMS (EEMS) exceeds the LlN4
EMS and is a superset ot that standard. EEIVS'S You mu§t use a version O1O (or lat64
more flexible paging scheme allows maximum SuporPak diskett€ wilh Rampage 286
soltware pedormance, including fast access to / in ordor lo have the correct RElvlM and
multiple programs and multitasking under DESOview. ' INSTALL programs All your SuperPak
(Appendix E describes EEMS'S paging schemo.) §oftware is fully downward-compatible,
and can be used in place of any earlier
. The Rampage expanded memory manager (REN4M) SuperPak software you are now using
software driver, which works with EEI,S soltware with other AST products.
such a6 the DESQview oporating environmenl lo
provide expanded memory lor data and programs.
REMM also works with Elvls software such as Lotus 1.2 Example Memory Allocation
1-2-3 Release 2 to provide €xpanded memory for ( t
data. A typical example of how Rampage 286 memory can
be allocated is presontod in this section. Suppose your
. The Bampage extended memory emulator (REX) computer has 512 KB of conventional memory installed
module, which allows Rampage 286 expanded and your Rampage 286 providos 2 IVB of RAI\4. You would
memory to emulate extended memory This allows llke lo use Bampage 288 to accomplish the following:
you to dynamically reconfigure Rampage 286
expanded memory as extended memory wilhout . Flll out conventional memory lo 640 KB.
having to remove the board and reset its switches. . Allocate extended memory to create a 384-KB
. SuperPak RAM disk and prinl spooler software, ,, I fAsfdisk.
including the following programs: . Use all remaining Rampage 286 memory as expanded
- fAsldisk , a program lhat simulales lixed disks memory for use with application programs running
in RAIV. A fAsTdisk can b6 as large as total under DESQview multitasking^dindowing software.
computer memory, and allows you to store and (See Appendix B lor best memory allocation with
relriove data and programs at RA[,] spo€ds. , DESQview.)
(t
- Suporoive", a floppy disk emulation program
lhat allows you lo use pari of your memory as
a superfast "electronic disk drive".
1-4 1-5

lntroduction
You would set Rampage 286 for 512 KB of conventional/extended
memory already installed in your computer, and allocate 512
KB of Rampage 286 memory as conventional/extended
memory, - 128 KB are used to round out conventional
memory, and 384 KB as extended memory. The remaining
1536 KB (1.5 MB) of Rampage 286 memory would then be
used as expanded memory. Figure 1-1 shows the memory
map for this example application.
lntroduction
1408 KB
+
Extended
Memorv
t ',oro *,
t
I
High Memory
I
Expanded
Memory
I
I
Conventional
Memory
I
I OKB
1536 KB ol Rampage 286
memory to be swapped into
areas within the 0.1024 KB
computer's address space.
384 KB ol Rampage 286
memory
1.536 KB ol Rampage 286
expanded memory paged in
and out of this area.
128 KB ol Rampage 286
memory (additional paging
area).
System board
memory
2MB
I
I
I
I
total
aqe 286
640 KB
512 KB
(r
1-6
Figure 1-1. Example Memory Map.
1-7

lntroduction
NOTE
lf you will be using DESQview with
Rampage 286, you can change the
default configuration of the board for
optimum operation with that program.
Appendix B of this manual tells you
how to set up Rampage 286 for best
use with DESQview.
1.3 Getting Started
This section tells you how to get started with your Rampage 286.
STEP 1
Check the contents of your Rampage 2BO package. Section 1.4
provides a checklist of what should be included with your
package.
STEP 2
Review the system requirements for Rampage 286. Read
Section 1.5 to make sure your system meets the requirements
for using Rampage 286.
STEP 3
Decide on the configuration you need. How you configure
Rampage 286 depends on:
. How much memory is already installed in your
computer.
r Whether you will use DESQview.
. How much Rampage 286 memory you want to
allocate as expanded memory.
. Whether you have an ASTAdvantagef', RAMvantage!'* ,
Advantage Premium, or another Rampage 286 board
installed in your PC.
lntroduction
Section 2 provides lurther help in determining how to
configure your Rampage 286 board.
STEP 4
Configure Rampage 286. Based on the requirements you
determined in STEP 3, set the switches on your Rampage 286
board. You can use the configuration set at the factory (the
defau lt config u ration) il:
. You are installing Rampage 286 in a PC XT Model
286 or PC AT that already has exactty 512 kitobytes
(KB) of conventional memory installed.
. No other expanded memory board is installed in your
system.
lf the default configuration doesn't meet your needs, you must
reconfigure the board. The Rampage 286 has two switch blocks
on it, SW1 and SW2. Each switch block has several switches
on it that can be set to either ON or OFF. Section 2 provides
further details on configuring SW1 and SW2.
STEP 5
Configure the PC AT system board. lf you are installing
Rampage 286 in a PC AT, check the position of a jumper on
the system board. This jumper determines how much system
board memory the PC AT will recognize. Section 3.1 tells you
how to check the position of the PC AT system board jumper.
A jumper block is a set of bare pins. You can connect two
adjacent pins by installing a jumper across them. A jumper
is just a little piece of metal that connects two pins, and is
usually encased in plastic.
STEP 6
lnstall Rampage 286. Once the Rampage 286 board is
configured, you musl install it in your PC. Follow the
instructions in Section 3.
1-8 1-9

lntroduction
STEP 7
Run the SETIJP program. Whenever you change your memory
configuration, and you plan to add a SuperDrive RAM diskette
drivelyou need to run the IBM SETUP program provided with
your computer. Section 4 gives examples of what parameters
you should supply while you are running SETUP'
STEP 8
tnstatl the software that comes with Rampage 286' Section 5
tells you how to use AST's INSTALL program to configure and
ihstall the RamPage 286 software.
STEP 9
Start your application software package. Choose EEMS- or
EMS-compatible application software. See the instructions that
came with your software.
1.4 Checklist
Before you get started, check that your Rampage 286
package includes the following items:
. Rampage 286 full-size expanded memory board.
. SuperPak diskette (version 6.'10 or later).
. Rampage 286 User's Manual(000432-001)'
o SuperPak User's Manual (000300-001).
1.5 System Requirements
The minimum hardware requirements using Rampage 286 are
an IBM PC XT Model 286 or PC AT (or compatible) with one
floppy diskette drive and an unused two-connector expansion
slot.
Rampage 286 software is compatible with DOS 2.0 or later or
an MS-DOS equivalent. (The PC AT uses DOS 3.0 or later,
and the PC XT Model 286 uses DOS 3.2 or later.)
1-10
(,
lntroduction
1.6 How To Use This Manual
This section provides an outline of the format notation used
throughout the manual, a list of related documentation, and
an outline of the manual.
1.6.1 Format Notation
The following format notation is used in this manual:
. Boldface is used to indicate keyboard entries the
user must make.
. Uppercase characters indicate items (such as
commands) that you enter exactly as shown.
However, you can enter those items in any
combination of upper- or lowercase letters.
o Lowercase /effers represent parameters that are
defined by the user. While the user defines the
parameters, they must satisfy the conditions of
the command description.
. Angle brackets (< >) tell you to press a key. For
example, <Esc> instructs you to press the ,,Esc,,
key. You do not have to press <Enter> unless you
are specifically instructed to do so.
. Square brackets ([ /) indicate an optional term which
is included or omitted at your discretion. The brackets
are not entered.
r System prompts and messages are indicated in color.
o Hexadecimal numbers are indicated with a leading
zero (0) and a trailing lowercase "h" (for example,
0208h).
1-11

lntroduction
1.6.2 Related Documentation
This manual assumes some familiarity with the PC-DOS
operating system and the IBM PC AT or PC XT Model 286
hardware. You may find it useful to have available the
following documents for reference:
. Guide to Operations.
. Technical Reference Manual.
. Disk Operating Sysfem (DOS) Manual.
. lnstallation and Setup (for the PC AT).
. SuperPak User's Manual.
Specification for an Expanded Memory Device
lnbrtace Product, Copyright O 1985 AST Research,
2121 Alton Avenue, lrvine, CA 92714.
Enhanced Expanded Memory Specification (Enhanced
EMS) Software lnterface, Copyright O 1986 AST
Research, 2121 Alton Avenue, lrvine, CA 92714.
. The Latus@ /lntel@ /Microsoft@ Expanded Memory
Specification for Hardware Vendors, Copyright O
. 1985 Lotus Development Corporation, 55 Cambridge
Avenue Cambridge, MA 02142.
'1.6.3 Manual Outline
SECflON 1: INTRODUCTION
Describes the features of the Rampage 286 product, and
provides an overview on getting started, information on
system requirements, format notation, and related
documentation.
SECI/ON 2: CONflGUflNG YOTJR RAMPAGE 286 BOARD
Provides a quick reference guide to the most common
settings for Rampage 286 and (for the PC AT) the
system board. lncludes a step-by-step guide through
every suritch setting.
1-12
(r
lntroduction
SECTOA/ 3: INSTALLING RAMPAäE 286 lN YOUR PC-AT
Tells you how to install your Rampage 286 board in your
computer.
SECI/ON 4: RUNNING SETUP
Gives several examples of how to run the SETUP program
when you install Rampage 286 in your computer.
SECI/ON 5: INSTALLTNG SUPERPAK SOFTWARE
Gives a basic procedure for installing a typical software
configuration on your boot disk that allows proErams to
use expanded memory.
APPENDIX A: SWITCH SETI/NG SUMMARY
A detailed summary of all Rampage 286 switch settings.
Unless you have a particular reason to change the board
configuration, you should not need the information in this
appendix.
APPENDIX B: MEMORY ALLOCATION WITH DESQVIEW
Gives suggestions on how to allocate your Rampage 286
memory to provide the best DESQview performance.
APPENDIX C: ADDING OR REMOVING MEMORY
Tells you how to add or remove Rampage 286 memory.
You don't need to read this section unless you are
changing the amount of memory installed on Rampage 286.
APPENDIX D: ADVANCED INSTALL PROCEDURES
Provides further detail6 about using the INSTALL program
to place SuperPak and expanded memory software on
your boot disk. Describes how to modify the parameters
for each program.
APPENDIX E: HOW RAMPAGE 286 WORKS
Gives a brief overview of how Rampage 286 works,
including the concept of memory paging, descriptions
of the REMM and REX software modules, and how to
modify them.
1-13

lntroduction
APPENDIX F: PRODUCT REPAIR PROCEDURE
Provides instructions for obtaining repair service on your
AST Research product.
GLOSSABY
Defines several technical terms that appear in this
manual. (i
(r
CONFIGURING YOUR
RAMPAGE 286 BOARD
This section gives a step-by-step procedure for configuring
the Rampage 286 board. lt provides the information you need
to configure your board in most circumstances. Appendix B
suggests appropriate switch settings for use with DESQview
m ultitasking/windowing software.
Section 2.1 shows the Rampage 286 default configuration
(how the board is configured at the factory). lf the default
configuration meets your needs, you can skip directly to
Section 3.
lf you need to change any of the settings, Section 2.2 leads
you step-by-step through each switch and jumper setting.
2.1 Default Gonfiguration
This section provides a quick reference guide to the default
settings for the Rampage 286 board (shown in Figure 2-'l).
lf the default settings are appropriate for your system, you can
skip directly to Section 3, with no further configuration. The
default settings are approp"riate if:
r You are installing Rampage 286 in a PC AT or PC
XT Model 286 that already has exactly 512 kilobytes
(KB) of convenlional memory installed.
. You install Rampage 286 in its default configuration
(summarized in Table 2-1).
. You will not be using DESQview.
For a step-by-step guide to changing any of the parameters
shown in Table 2-1, see Section 2.2.
1-14 2-1

Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
Rampage 286 conventional/extended
memory size 128 KB (SW1-1 through
SW1-4). Base l/O address 0218h
(SW1-5 through SW1-B). Dual Page
Mode (SW1-9 ON). SW1-10 not used.
Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
Table 2-1. Rampage 286 Detault Contiguration.
512 KB conventional/extended
memory installed in PC (SW2-1
through SW2-7). Parity checking
enabled (SW2-B ON).
Figure 2-1. Rampage 286 Board Layout.
0t68L99neZt
ll!ilIEiti 8 L I9 ' t Z t
III!ITEE
oi-]d-tT or l.or--r '
ln ,r ] -r----l -of r^
_:!n'tr ]ipT-----,"
Parameter Default Comments
Expanded Memory Parameters
Rampage 286 128 KB The amount of Rampage 286 memory
conventionali (SW1-1 ON that can be allocated as conventional
extended SW1-2 ON or extended memory. Remaining
memory size SW1-3 ON Rampage 286 memory is used as
SW1-4 ON) expanded memory.
Base l/O 0218h Rampage 286 uses the l/O address to
address (SW1-5 ON communicate with the computer,
SW1-6 ON allowing it to use expanded memory.
SW1-7 ON Do not change thls parameter unless
SWI-B OFF) you are installing more than one
Rampage 286 board in your system, or
another device (such as an Advantage
Premium) in your PC uses the same
l/O address range.
Dual Page Enabled Ensures proper multitasking operation
mode (SW1-9 ON) (allows two sets of Mapping registers to
be.used). DESQview requires Dual
Page mode enabled.
Conve ntion al/E xten de d M e m ory Co nfig u ratio n
Conventional/ 512 KB Change this setting if your computer
extended (SW2-1 ON has other than 512 KB of conventional
memory SW2-2 ON memory already installed or if you
already SW2-3 ON want to address additional Rampage
installed SW2-4 ON 286 memory below 640 KB to enhance
SW2-5 OFF multitasking with DESQview.
SW2-6 ON (See NOTE).
sw2-7 oN)
NOTE
Appendix B tells you how to set up your Rampage 286
and PC for use with DESQview.
Parity Enabied Parity checking enables memory
checking (SW2-8 ON) error checking. To ensure reliability, do
not disable.
2-2 2-3

Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
2.2 Basic Configuration
This section tells you what you need to know before you configure
Rampage 286, then guides you step-by-step through each '
switch setting on the board.
2.2.1 Whal You Need to Know Before You Start
Before you change the configuration of your Rampage 286
board, you need to answer the following questions.
A. Are there any other expanded memory boards installed in
your computer?
lf your computer includes any other AST expanded
memory boards (for example, AST's Advantage Premium
board), you will need to make sure that Rampage 286
and the other board(s) are configured to avoid base l/O
address and memory address conflicts with each other.
Use only AST expanded memory boards together with
Rampage 286 in the same machine.
B..Do you want to use DESQview?
lf so, you will want to set up your computer and
Rampage 286 board memory for best performance
with DESQview. See Appendix B for information on
using DESQview.
C. How much conventional/extended memory is already
installed in your computer?
One of the Rampage 286 switch settings is the total
amount of conventional and extended memory already
installed in your computer. Memory between 0 and
640 KB is called conventional memory. Memory in the
range from 1 megabyte (MB) to 16 tVlB is called extended
memory. (The range from 640 KB to 1 MB is called high
memory. Portions of memory in this range are reserved
for video display buffer memory and other DOS
housekeeping f unctions.)
(i
Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
lf you are not sure how much conventional/extended memory
is installed in your computer, you can quickly check it by
rebooting the PC and watching the memory total in the upper
lefthand corner of the screen. As the computer checks its
memory, the total increases. The final amount shown is your
total conventional and extended (linear) memory. The total
shown includes any add-on memory (such as Advantage!
memory) that has been added to your system.
You will need to separate total linear memory out into total
conventional and total extended memory when you run the
SETUP program after your Rampage 286 is installed. To
do this, you should subtract 640 KB from your total linear
memory. Any remainder is extended memory. lf your total
linear memory is less than 640 KB, then it is all conventional
memory. This is because you must have a full 640 KB of
conventional memory (the maximum possible conventional
memory) installed before you can allocate any memory as
extended memory.
NOTE
lf you will be using DESQview, you may need
to change your current memory configuration.
See Appendix B for further information.
D. How much Rampage 286 memory do you want to atlocate
as conventional memory?
lf your compuler has less than 640 KB of conventional
memory installed, you will probably want to allocate
enough Rampage 286 memory to round out your
conventional memory to 640 KB.
To determine how much Rampage 286 memory to allocate
as conventional memory, note the amount of memory
displayed at boot-up time (see question C). lf more than
640 KB is displayed, then you already have a full 640 KB
of conventional memory.)
lf you plan to use DESQview, you should allocate as much
Rampage 286 memory as possible as conventional
memory (see Appendix B).
2-4
(r
2-5

Conliguring Your Bampage 286 Board
E. How much Rampage 2BO memory do you want to allocate
as extended memory
Extended memory is a special type of memory available
only on the PC XT Model 286 and the PC AT. Most
application programs are not able to use extended
memory. Unless you will be running the IBM VDISK
program or the XENIX operating system, you probably
do not want to add extended memory to your system
by setting Rampage 286 hardware switches.
lf you want to use extended memory only for RAM disks
(AST's SuperDrive and fASTdisk) or AST's SuperSpool
print spooler program, the SuperPak INSTALL program
will automatically allocate Rampage 286 expanded
memory as emulated extended memory. That way,
you need not worry about setting your Rampage 286
hardware switches to allocate Rampage 286 memory
as extended memory.
F. How much Rampage 286 memory do you want to allocate
as convention al/extended memory?
Add your totals from D and E together to get the total
Rampage 286 memory that you want to allocate as
conventional and extended memory. One of your
Rampage 286 switch settings is set according to this
total. (See Appendix B for best settings with DESQview.)
The following sections take you step-by-step through the
configuration of the two switches on your Rampage 286
board.
2.2.2 SW1 Location and Default Settings
Figure 2-2 shows the location and default setting for SW1.
Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
Figure 2-2. Rampage 286 Switch Süü1
(Default Setting).
2.2.3 Gonventional/Extended Memory Size Setting
(SW1-1 through SW1-4)
The amount of Rampage 286 memory used as
conventional/extended memory is determined by switches
SW1-1 through SW1-4. The default position for these switches
sets Rampage 286 conventional/extended memory size to
128 KB. Leave switches SW1-1 through SW1-4 in their default
settings if your computer has 512 KB of system memory
installed and you want to fill out conventional memory to
640 KB.
lf you do not want to use the default setting, then set switches
SW1-1 through SW1-4 as shown in fabb 2-2.
!!!!!!!I
12345678
2-6 2-7
This switch block is
shown in the wrong
orientation. Has been
corrected in the
replacement page 2-7,
located in the
addendum at the rear.

]
*
Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
To use all of Ramoaoe 286 memorv as exDanded memorv. set
SW2-1 through SW2-7 to OFF. SW1-1 lhfguoh SW1-4 Utill.thB{
be ionored.
-
lf you plan to use Rampage 286 extended memory only
for AST RAM disks and print spooler (or IBM's VDISK),
the simplest option is to set these switches only for the
conventional memory amount needed to round out system
memory to 640 KB. The SuperPak INSTALL program
automatically causes Rampage 286 expanded memory
to emulate the required amount of extended memory by
placing a software program (REX.SYS) on your boot disk.
This eliminates the need to set Rampage 286 switches for
extended memory and makes reconfiguration easy.
Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
Table 2-2. Rampage 286 ConventionallExtended
Memory Size.
SW1
Rampage 286
Conventional/Extended
Mernory Size * SWl-l SW1.2 SWl.3 SW1-4
ON ON ON
ON ON OFF
ON OFF ON
ON OFF OFF
OFF ON ON
OFF ON OFF
OFF OFF ON
OFF OFF OFF
ON ON ON
ON ON OFF
ON OFF ON
ON OFF OFF
OFF ON ON
OFF ON OFF
OFF OFF ON
OFF OFF OFF
.* 129 KB
256 KB
384 KB
512 KB
640 KB
768 KB
896 KB
1024 KB
1152 KB
1280 KB
1408 KB
1536 KB
1664 KB
1792 KB
1920 KB
2O4B KB
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
* These settings are ignored if all Rampage 286 memory
is to be used as expanded memory (SW2-1 through
sw2-7 oFF).
* * Defaull setting.
2-8 2-9
This switch block is shown in the
wrong orientation. Has been
corrected in the replacement page
2-9, located in the addendum at
the rear.

Configuring Your Rampage 286 Board
2.2.4 Base l/O Address Settings (SW1-5 through SW1-8)
The base l/O address is determined by switches SW1-5
through SW1-8. The default position for these switches sets
the Rampage 286 base l/O address to 0218h. Leave SW1-5
through SW1-8 in the default positions unless you have
another expanded memory board in your computer with base
l/O address 0218h, or another device that uses the base l/O
address 0218h or any address that belongs to the same group
with base l/O address 0218h. (The group of addresses is
provided in the note given below.)
lf you have another expanded memory board in your
computer (such as another RampaEe 286 or an Advantage
Premium), or another device with a conflicting l/O address,
configure Rampage 286 to use a different base l/O address
(Table 2-3 summarizes the possible base l/O addresses).
Table 2-3. Rampage 286 Base l/O Address.
Conliguring Your Rampage 296 Board
NOTE
When you select base l/O address 02xgh,
Rampage 286 uses these addresses:
02x8h, 42x3h, 82x8h, C2x8h,
02x9h, 42xgh, 82x9h, C2x9h
For example, selecting base l/O address
0208h causes the Rampage 286 board to
use l/O addresses 0208h, 420Bh, B20gh,
C208h, 0209h, 42}gh, B209h, and C209h.
2.2.5 Dual Page Mode (SW1-9)
Switch position SW1-g enables or disables dual page mode.
Dual Page mode is enabled by default on your Rampage 2g6.
Dual Page mode allows Rampage 286 to handle multitasking
- handling several jobs at once - efficiently, as when you
use the DESQview program. Dual Page mode should be left
enabled.
r'rdre
Switch SW1-10 is not used. lt can be left
ON or OFF.
2.2.6 SW2 Location and Default Settings
Figure 2-4 shows the location and default setting for SW2.
Rampage 286 Switch Settings
Base lrO
Address SW1-5
0208h oN
. 0218h ON
0258h ON
0268h ON
02A8h OFF
0288h OFF
02E8h OFF
. Default setting
sw1-6
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
sw1-7
ON
ON
ON
OFF
OFF
OFF
OFF
SW1-8
ON
OFF
OFF
ON
ON
OFF
ON
2-10 2-11
This switch block is shown in the
wrong orientation. Has been
corrected in the replacement
page 2-10, located in the
addendum at the rear.

. OFF
!ill!rll!
12 3 4 5 6 7I
Conliguring Your Rampage 286 Board
sw2
Figure 2-3. Rampage 286 Switch SWZ (Detault Setting).
2.2.7 Conv entio nal/Extended Memory I nstal led
(SW2-1 through SW2-7)
The amount of conventional/extended memory already installed
in your computer before adding Rampage 286 determines
how you should set switch positions SW2-1 through SW2-7.
Leave switches SW2-1 through SW2-7 in their default setting if
your PC-AT has 512 KB already installed and you do not plan
to use DESQview
To use all of Rampage 286 memory as expanded memory, set
SW2-1 through SW2-7 to OFF.
Configuring your Rampage 296 Board
lf you plan to use DESQview, and your Rampage 286 board
has enough memory installed, it is a good idea to change the
switch setting as shown in Figure 2-5. The more Rampage
286 memory that is allocated in the area from 0-640 KB, the
greater the enhancement of DESeview,s performance. See
Appendix B for more information on memory allocation with
DESQview.
Appendix A gives all the switch settings for this parameter.
Figure 2-4. Setting tor Conventional/Extended Memory
Already lnstalled lor tJse with DESeview
(256 KB).
2.2.8 Parity Checking (SW2-B)
Switch position SW2-8 enables or disables parity checking. By
default, SW2-8 is ON, enabting parity checking. Leave SW2-A-
ON unless you have a special reason to disable parity
checking. Only under rare circumstances would you change
this setting.
o OFF
!!!!!t!!
123 4 5 6 7I
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ll! !d
2-12 2-13
This switch
block is
shown is in
the wrong
orientation.
This switch block is shown in the
wrong orientation. Has been
corrected in the replacement page
2-12, located in the addendum at
the rear.

Conliguring Your Rampage 286 Board
Notes
INSTALLING RAMPAGE 286
IN YOUR COMPUTER
(r
This section provides installation instructions, including:
o Preparing your computer for installing Rampage 286
(Section 3.1).
o lnstalling the board in your computer (Section 3.2).
3.1 Opening Your Computer
This section tells you how to set up your computer before
installing Flampage 286.
CAUTION
Be sure that the power switch is off and the
power cord is removed from the wall outlet.
Turn off any other equipment connected to
the computer. lnstalling any component
while the power is on can permanently
damage your computer and its components.
You will need a flathead screwdriver or nut driver to perform
the following procedure.
( ,TEP 1
Remove the cover.
For the PC XT Model286: Use a flathead screwdriver or nut
driver to remove the cover mounting screws from the rear
t / panel of the computer. Once you have remove the cover
\ 1, mounting screws, pull the cover off as shown in Figure 3-1.
(
2-14 3-1

lnstalling Your Rämpage 286 in Your Computer
Figure 3-1. Removing the Cover (PC XT Model 286).
For the PC AT Unlock the key lock at the front of the PC AT
by turning the key counterclockwise. Remove the back panel
(which is attached with plastic fastener strips) from the rear of
the computer. Use a flathead screwdriver or nut driver to
remove the cover mounting screws. Slide the cover toward
the front until it comes off, as shown in Figure 3-2.
lnstalling Your Rampage 286 in Your Computer
Figure 3-2. Removing the Cover (PC AT).
STEP 2
Check sysfern board configuration.
For the PC XT Model286; You need only note how much
memory is installed on the system board (either 512 or 640
kilobytes - KB). lf you are unsure how much system board
memory is in your computer, ask your dealer.
For the PC AT The system board jumper J18 (shown in
Figure 3-3) determines the maximum amount of system board
memory the PC AT will recognize (regardless of how much
system board memory is actually installed). ln the 256-KB
position, the system board recognizes a maximum of 256 KB.
ln the 512-KB position, the system board recognizes a
maximum of 512 KB. Do nof set the jumper in the S12-KB
position when only 256 KB of memofy is installed on the
system board. ..:'
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3-2 3-3