Boundless Ethernet Interface Adapter User manual

Ethernet Interface
Adapter
User’s Guide

WARNING
THISPRODUCTCONTAINSELECTRICALPOWERANDOTHERSENSITIVE
COMPONENTSWITHINITSCASE,ANDISNOTDESIGNEDFORCONSUMERACCESSOR
REPLACEMENTOFCOMPONENTS.IFYOURBOUNDLESSTECHNOLOGIESPRODUCT
REQUIRESREPAIRORYOUWISHTOADDANYCOMPONENTTHATREQUIRES
OPENINGTHEPRODUCTCASE,YOUSHOULDCONTACTYOURNEARESTAUTHORIZED
SERVICEPROVIDERFORASSISTANCE.ANYATTEMPTTOREPAIRYOURPRODUCTOR
ANYEFFORTSTOINSTALLORREPLACECOMPONENTSWITHINTHEPRODUCTCASE
BYANUNAUTHORIZEDPERSONCOULDEXPOSETHATPERSONTORISKOF
ELECTRICALSHOCKANDWILLCAUSEYOURPRODUCTWARRANTYTOBEVOID.
It is the policy of Boundless Technologies, Inc. to improve products as
new technology, components, software, and firmware become available.
Boundless Technologies, therefore, reserves the right to change
specifications without prior notice.
All features, functions, and operations described herein may not be
marketed by Boundless Technologies in all parts of the world. In some
instances, photographs are of equipment prototypes. Therefore, before
using this document, consult your Boundless Technologies
representative or Boundless Technologies office for information that is
applicable and current.
Note that Boundless Technologies appreciates receiving suggestions
and comments on its publications. After reading this guide, please
comment and return the comment sheet that has been provided.
Copyright © 1999 Boundless Technologies, Inc.
Hauppauge, New York

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All rights reserved.
Printed in USA

Contents
Introducing the Ethernet Interface..........................................1
Configuring The Terminal........................................................2
Startup Sequence...................................................................3
Displaying the Ethernet Interface Main Menu.........................4
Configuring the Ethernet Interface..........................................5
Edit Host IP Address........................................................6
Edit Local IP Address........................................................7
Edit Subnet Mask.............................................................8
Edit Default Gateway........................................................8
Poweron Connect .............................................................8
Comm Protocol.................................................................9
Recall Saved Setting.........................................................9
Save Settings for Powerup ................................................9
Exit Setup Menu ..............................................................9
Connect to Host.....................................................................9
Ping.....................................................................................10
Hardware Information...........................................................11
Exit Main Menu....................................................................12

1
chapter
1
EthernetInterface
AdapterUser’sGuide
The Ethernet Terminal consists of a standard Boundless
Technologies text terminal with an adapter installed. The
terminal’s EIA port is re-configured as a 10BaseT (Twisted-Pair)
Ethernet port replacing the terminal’s EIA RS-232
communications port. The adapter provides the text terminal
with a single Telnet session. (Telnet is an application providing
terminal emulation connectivity for logging on to a remote
system.)
TCP/IP
NT SERVER
TCP/IP
UNIX SERVER
PICK on UNIX
SERVER
TCP/IP
ETHERNET
TERMINAL
Single Session
Telnet
10baseT Ethernet WAN 10BaseT Ethernet
TCP/IP
ETHERNET
TERMINAL
Single Session
Telnet
TCP/IP
ETHERNET
TERMINAL
Single Session
Telnet
TCP/IP
ETHERNET
TERMINAL
Single Session
Telnet
TCP/IP
ETHERNET
TERMINAL
Single Session
Telnet
LOCALPRINTER

2EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
The adapter provides 802.3 Ethernet connectivity, TCP/IP host
connectivity, and Telnet application connectivity.
ConfiguringTheTerminal
In order for the adapter to function successfully, the terminal
should be configured as follows:
Data Format
8 data bits
1 stop bit
No parity
EIA Baud Rate
38400
EIA Communication Protocol
None
Xon/Xoff
DTR/DSR
Both
This setting should match the CommProtocol setting of the adapter (see page 9). If the adapter’s CommProtocol is set to
None, the terminal could lose data.
Emulation
This adapter works with all the standard terminal
emulations. However, the host emulation should match the
terminal emulation.
For example, a user logs on to a UNIX system, and selects
the host emulation to be AT386 (using the command
TERM=AT386 <CR> followed by set TERM<CR>). At this point,
the user must make sure that the terminal emulation is also
set to AT386 (by entering the terminal setup and checking
the emulation parameter).
A terminal in PC-Term emulation with Scan Code mode on, can not navigate the adapter setup menu. Change the key mode to
ASCII or change the terminal emulation to other than PC-

StartupSequence 3
Term during the setup navigation. Once the adapter is setup
and running, you can change the terminal’s and host’s
emulation back to PC-Term.
StartupSequence
When the terminal is turned on, it performs an initial adapter
diagnostic test and displays a message indicating the result of
that test.
◊Ethernetpass indicates that the test was successful and the
card is functioning properly.
◊Ethernetcheckxxh means that the diagnostic test has failed
(see table labeled Diagnostic Results below).
◊The Ethernet check may also be followed by the message
FATALERROR.MACaddressfailure,contacttechnicalsupport.This
message indicates that the card’s MAC address has been
corrupted beyond software recovery. Record all error
information and contact your Technical Support
Department for assistance (see the inside of the back cover
for details).
The adapter will continue to operate after these error messages, however there is no guarantee that the unit will be
able to connect to a host.
If the EEPROM checksum fails, all IP addresses are set to
0.0.0.0, PoweronConnecttoNo, and CommProtocol to Both.
DiagnosticResults
Check 01h
RAM problem Check 09h MAC and RAM problem
Check 02h
ROM problem Check 0Ah MAC and ROM problem
Check 03h
RAM and ROM problem Check 0Bh MAC, RAM and ROM problem
Check 04h
NVRAM problem Check 0Ch MAC and NVRAM problem

4EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
Check 05h
NVRAM and RAM problem Check 0Dh MAC,NVRAM and RAM problem
Check 06h
NVRAM and ROM problem Check 0Eh MAC, NVRAM and ROM problem
Check 07h
NVRAM, RAM and ROM
problem
Check 0Fh
MAC, NVRAM, ROM and RAM
Check 08h
MAC problem
DisplayingtheEthernetInterfaceMainMenu
If the PoweronConnect mode is Off (see page 8) at the conclusion
of the startup diagnostics, you can press any key to enter the
setup menu.
Note that the Main Menu is accessible only when the terminal is disconnected from the host.
If the PoweronConnect mode is On, the card will automatically try
to connect to the host.
-MAINMENU-
Status>DisconnectedfromHost
HostIPAddress>XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
1. SetupMenu
2. ConnecttoHost
3. Ping
4. HardwareInformation
--------------------------
9. ExitMainMenu
As shown in the illustration above, the Main Menu provides
the following functions:
◊Selection 1(Setup Menu) allows you to configure the
Ethernet interface.

ConfiguringtheEthernetInterface 5
◊Selection 2(Connect to Host) allows you initiate or
terminate the Telnet connection to the host.
◊Selection 3(Ping) allows you to test the host connection by
sending and receiving predefined test messages.
◊Selection 4(Hardware Information) allows you display the
results of the initialization diagnostics as well as hardware
information about the adapter.
◊Selection 9allows you exit the Main Menu and clear the
Setup Menu. The Ethernet interface will wait for the next
key (any key) to activate the Main Menu.
ConfiguringtheEthernetInterface
The procedures detailed in the following sections require some
site-specific configuration information that must be supplied by
your local network administrator. Before attempting to
configure the Ethernet interface, make sure you have access to
the following communication parameters:
◊IP address of the terminal
◊IP address of the host
◊IP address of the default gateway (if any)
◊value for the subnet mask
To configure the terminal’s Ethernet interface, you must first
select option number 1(Setup Menu) from the Main Menu. The
terminal displays the following Setup Menu. Initially,
selections 1 through 4 are shown with their default values
(0.0.0.0).

6EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
-SETUPMENU-
. EditHostIPaddr 0.0.0.0
2. EditLocalIPaddr 0.0.0.0
3. EditSubnetMask 0.0.0.0
4. EditDefault Gateway 0.0.0.0
5. PoweronConnect (Toggle)=No
6. CommProtocol(Toggle)=Both
------------------------
7. RecallSavedSettings
8. SaveSettingsforPowerup
9. ReturntoMainMenu
EditHostIPAddress
To define your host IP address, select option number 1. When
prompted, enter the host’s IP address in dotted-decimal format
as shown in the following example:
EnterHostIPaddress>175.55.172.90 ↵↵
In this document, all user entries are displayed in italics with the Enter key represented by a ↵↵ symbol as shown in the
previous example.
If a valid address is entered, the terminal stores the
information in its working memory and returns to the Setup
Menu with the EditHostIPaddr field updated.

ConfiguringtheEthernetInterface 7
-SETUPMENU-
1. EditHostIPaddr 175.55.172.90
2. EditLocalIPaddr 0.0.0.0
3. EditSubnetMask 0.0.0.0
4. EditDefault Gateway 0.0.0.0
5. PoweronConnect (Toggle)=No
6. CommProtocol(Toggle)=Both
------------------------
7. RecallSavedSettings
8. SaveSettingsforPowerup
9. ReturntoMainMenu
If an invalid address is entered, the terminal responds with an
error message and prompts the user for the address again. For
example:
EnterHostIPaddress>175.55. ↵↵
Invalidentry:Format###.###.###.###
EnterYourChoice:HostIPaddress>
EditLocalIPAddress
To define your terminal IP address, select option number 2.
When prompted, enter the terminal’s IP address in dotted-
decimal format as shown in the example below:
EnterHostIPaddress>204.172.55.121 ↵↵
If a valid address is entered, the terminal stores it in its
working memory and returns to the Setup Menu with the Edit
LocalIPAddr field updated.
If an invalid address is entered, the terminal responds with an
error message and prompts the user for the address again.

8EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
EditSubnetMask
The subnet mask is a specific sequence of numbers that
determines which part of an IP address is the network portion
and which is the host portion.
To set the subnet mask for your terminal, select option number
3. When prompted, enter the subnet mask in dotted-decimal
format as in the example below:
EnterSubnetMask>255.255.255.0 ↵↵
If a valid address is entered, the terminal stores it in its
working memory and redisplays the Setup Menu with the Edit
SubnetMask field updated.
EditDefaultGateway
In a multi-network environment, a gateway is a host that
forwards or exchanges packets of information between two or
more networks. All traffic whose destination address cannot be
found on the local network is sent to the IP address of the
default gateway for routing to other networks.
To set the default gateway address for your terminal, select
option number 4. When prompted, enter the IP address in
dotted-decimal format as in the following example:
EnterDefaultgateway>204.172.55.1 ↵↵
If a valid address is entered, the terminal stores it in its
working memory and redisplays the Setup Menu with the Edit
DefaultGateway field updated.
PoweronConnect
The Poweron Connect feature allows the terminal to immediately
request a host connection whenever it is turned on. Select
option number 5from the Setup Menu to toggle the state of the
Poweron Connect mode. The selection should be set to Yes if
immediate connection to the host is desired at poweron. The
terminal will use the NVRAM values (see Save Settings for
Powerup) to establish the connection.

ConnecttoHost 9
CommProtocol
The adapter’s communication protocol could be set to None,
Xon/Xoff, DTR/DSR, or Both. This setting should match the
terminal’s communication protocol setting for the EIA port or
else the terminal could lose data. If the communication
protocol is set to None, the terminal could lose data.
RecallSavedSetting
Selecting option number 7from the Setup Menu sets the values
of options 1 through 5 to that currently stored in NVRAM.
Message Recallcomplete indicates a successful recall.
SaveSettingsforPowerup
When all of the terminal’s Ethernet settings are acceptable,
select option number 8from the Setup Menu to save the
displayed values in NVRAM.
ExitSetupMenu
When satisfied with all of the terminal’s Ethernet settings,
press 9to return to the Main Menu.
-MAINMENU-
Status>DisconnectedfromHost
HostIPAddress>XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX
1. SetupMenu
2. ConnecttoHost
3. Ping
4. HardwareInformation
--------------------------
9. ExitMainMenu
ConnecttoHost
Once all the necessary addresses have been established, the
terminal is ready to initiate a Telnet connection to the selected

10 EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
host. This can be done by selecting option number 2from the
Main Menu. The terminal responds with a prompt similar to
the following:
EnterIPConnection:175.55.172.90
Simply press the Enter key if the host IP address is correct, or
change the host IP address by typing the desired address.
Connecting to a host system automatically creates a Telnet
session and then exits from the Ethernet Main Menu.
If the connection is successful, the host takes over and
instructs the user for further action.
If the host is not responding, the Ethernet interface will try to
resend the connect command in intervals of 5, 10, 20, 40, 80
and 160 seconds. If still unsuccessful, the Ethernet interface
will stop trying and display the message ConnectionFailedto
followed by the host IP address.
The menu system for the adapter is not available during a Telnet session.
After a Telnet session ends, the first keystroke will bring up
the Ethernet Main Menu.
Ping
Once all the necessary addresses have been entered, the
terminal is ready to Ping the selected host. This can be done by
selecting option number 3from the main menu.
EnterYourChoice:3
The terminal responds with the following:
EnterPingIPAddress:175.55.172.90
The displayed address is the same address as the Host IP
Address. Simply press the Enter key if the host IP address is
correct, or change the host IP address by typing the desired
address.

HardwareInformation 11
While waiting for the host to return, the terminal displays the
message Tryingtoping followed by the IP address.
If the Host responds, the Ethernet interface displays the
message SuccessfulPingto followed by the host IP address.
If the Host does not respond within 10 sec, the Ethernet
interface displays the message Noresponsefrom followed by the
host IP address.
HardwareInformation
Select option number 4from the Main Menu to display specific
hardware information pertaining to the adapter.
-HARDWAREINFORMATION-
PhysicalAddress XX:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX
CodeRevision X.XX
PartNumber 589-XXXXXXX
CodeChecksum XXXXXX
DiagnosticResults Pass/CheckXX
LinkIntegrity OK/NoLink
EthernetStatistics:
DeferredTransmits XX
ExcessdeferredTransmits XX
SingleCollisionCount XX
MultipleCollisionCount XX
◊PhysicalAddress or MAC (Media Access Control) address is a
unique address for each network card. This address is
assigned during the manufacturing and is not modifiable by
the users.
◊CodeRevision is the revision of the software that is running
on the Ethernet interface.
◊CodeChecksum is the checksum for the software running on
the Ethernet interface.

12 EthernetInterfaceAdapterUser’sGuide
◊PartNumber is the 10-diogit number of the Ethernet
interface.
◊DiagnosticsResults reports the status of the Ethernet
interface on the last powerup.
◊LinkIntegrity reports the status of the link to the network. OK
indicates that the Ethernet interface is connected to a live
network; NoLnk indicates the Ethernet interface is not
connected to a live network.
◊EthernetStatistics can be used to view the most recent
Ethernet statistics. The Ethernet statistics will be
refreshed every time the menu is re-displayed or entered.
Upon powerup these values will start from 0. These
counters will role over to 0 if they reach 15.
•DeferredTransmits: Incremented by one for each collision
retry or after multiple transmit deferrals.
•ExcessdeferredTransmits: Incremented by one if a single
Ethernet packet is deferred transmitted multiple times.
•SingleCollisionCount:Incremented by one if the packet is
successfully re-transmitted after 1 collision.
•MultipleCollisionCount: Incremented by one if the packet is
successfully re-transmitted after 1 to 16 collisions.
Enter 9to exit the Hardware Information screen and return to
the Main Menu.
ExitMainMenu
With the Main Menu displayed, press 9to exit from the
Ethernet menu system. This will put you at the terminal
screen and the next key (any key) will bring up the Main Menu.

TechnicalSupport
Questions about this product should be directed to the
Technical Support Department of the distributor from which
you obtained your Boundless Technologies equipment. When
requesting assistance, please have all pertinent information
available including any error messages that may have appeared
either on the terminal or the host.
If your distributor fails to provide adequate support for your
needs, please contact the Boundless Technologies Technical
Support Department directly. You will be required to provide
the name of your distributor, and a description of the problem
as described above.
Please refer to the Boundless Technologies Guide to Support
Services which was packaged with the terminal.
Boundless Technologies can be reached at:
Boundless Technologies, Inc.
Technical Support Department
100 Marcus Blvd.
Hauppauge, NY 11788
[phone] ext. 7259 (voice)
[phone] (fax)
Email: [email protected]om
BBS: 407-333-8326 1200/14400 baud
8 data bits, 1 stop bit, no parity
ftp: ftp.boundless.com
Web site: http://www.boundless.com

100 Marcus Boulevard *598-00112716*