Comtrol RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 Series User manual

User Guide

Trademark Notices
Comtrol and RocketPort are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation.
Windows and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
Second Edition (Rev B), September 12, 2011
Copyright © 2007 - 2011. Comtrol Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with regard to the contents of this document or
to the suitability of the Comtrol product for any particular purpose. Specifications subject to change without
notice. Some software or features may not be available at the time of publication. Contact your reseller for
current product information.
Document Number: 2000370 Rev. B

RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Table of Contents - 3
Table of Contents
Overview...................................................................................................................................5
Product Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Supported Models.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Before Installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422.................................................................................... 5
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation .................................................................................. 6
Card and Interface Installation ..........................................................................................7
Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices......................................................................................9
DTE Versus DCE ............................................................................................................................................ 9
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs ................................................................................................... 9
DB9 Signals (RS-422) ............................................................................................................................... 10
Straight-Through Cables (DCE) .............................................................................................................. 10
Null-Modem Cables (DTE) ....................................................................................................................... 10
DB9 Loopback Plugs................................................................................................................................. 11
Straight-Through Cables (DCE) .............................................................................................................. 11
Null-Modem Cables (DTE) ....................................................................................................................... 11
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................13
Before Calling Technical Support ........................................................................................................... 13
RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 Diagnostics .................................................................................................. 13
Bootable CD .............................................................................................................................................. 14
Running the Bootable Diagnostic CD ...................................................................................................... 14
Testing a Port or Ports ....................................................................................................................... 14
Stress Testing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 .................................................................................. 15
Exiting the Diagnostic ....................................................................................................................... 15
If the Diagnostic Fails ........................................................................................................................ 15
Troubleshooting Windows Systems......................................................................................................... 15
Comtrol Utility.......................................................................................................................................... 16
Using PortMon to Test the Driver Installation ................................................................................ 18
Using Test Terminal to Test a Port ................................................................................................... 21
Troubleshooting Linux Systems .............................................................................................................. 23
lcom(1) ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
File Transfer ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Changing Serial Port Settings (stty) ....................................................................................................... 23
Setting Up Terminals and Modems (mgetty, getty) ............................................................................... 23
Testing with minicom ............................................................................................................................... 23
Technical Support ....................................................................................................................................... 24
Index........................................................................................................................................25

4 - Table of Contents RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Table of Contents

RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Overview - 5
Overview
Product Overview
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 series multiport serial card fits into the PCI slot of
a personal computer, and uses a 43 MHz processor that is specifically designed to
process asynchronous serial communications.
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 supports RS-422 exclusively, in either DTE or DCE
mode. It supports 3.3 and 5.0 volt PCI bus architecture and is compatible with 32-
and 64-bit PCI slots. The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 card supports
communications speeds up to 921,600 baud.
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 series uses Comtrol Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) technology to replace most hardware functionality to minimize
components, including:
• The processor
• A serial controller
• Bus interface logic and other miscellaneous logic
You can install up to four RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 cards in one computer,
providing a maximum of 32 additional serial ports. The PC must comply with the
PCI 2.2 specification or greater.
Supported Models
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 family consists of the following models:
• Quadcable (fanout cable) with four DB9 male connectors
• Octacable (fanout cable) with eight DB9 male connectors
Before Installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422
If you are planning on installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 in a Windows
system make sure that you have placed the device driver assembly to a location
that is available to the host system before installing the card in the host.
You can use the Software and Documentation CD to locate the latest device drivers
and documentation. Optionally, you can use the links in the following subsection.
You may want to record the model and serial number of the RocketPort uPCI Plus
422 before installing the card in the event you need to call technical support.

6 - Overview RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Overview
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation
This table contains links the software and installation documentation.
Software or
Document Location
Device drivers ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_drivers.htm
Diagnostic and
Utilities ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_diag.htm
User Guides ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_docs.htm

RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Card and Interface Installation - 7
Card and Interface Installation
Use the following procedure to install a RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 card.
1. If this is a Windows installation, copy the latest driver to your system before
installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422. See Locating the Latest Drivers and
Documentation on Page 6 to locate the latest driver and installation
documentation.
2. Turn off the host computer.
Note: You may want to write down the model number and serial number of
the card before installation.
3. If necessary, set the DIP switches for the appropriate communications mode.
The default DIP switch setting is DTE.
•DCE mode, if necessary, set the DIP switch to ON on the corresponding
ports.
•DTE mode, if necessary, set the DIP switch to OFF on the corresponding
ports.
4. Remove the system cover from your computer.
5. Select a PCI expansion slot.
6. Remove the slot cover or release the clamp.
7. Insert the card into the slot and seat it securely.
8. Reinstall the expansion slot retaining screw or clamp.
Note: You may want to replace the system cover after the driver is installed
and running in the event that you need to change the DTE/DCE switch
setting.
Do not connect an interface to the card when the host system is
powered on, this can cause card failure.
DIP Switch
OFF
ON
DCE = On (Down)
DTE = Off (Up)
Factory Default Setting = DTE
Caution

8 - Card and Interface Installation RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Card and Interface Installation
9. Attach the DB78 end of the quadcable or octacable to the card.
Make sure that the connectors are properly
aligned and forcefully push the connector of
the Octacable with a rocking motion into the
card connector. Make sure that the connector
is seated tightly before tightening the
retaining screws on the connector.
10. Tighten the retaining screws on the connector.
11. Power on the host system.
12. Click Cancel if a Found New Hardware message
appears on a Windows operating system.
Execute the device driver file to start the driver installation.
For other operating system device drivers, see Locating the Latest Drivers and
Documentation on Page 6.
13. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning
properly and then connect your serial devices.
You can use the Troubleshooting section on Page 13 for port testing procedures
for your operating system.
Refer to Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices on Page 9 for information about
connecting serial devices.
Caution
Octacable
DB9

RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices - 9
Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices
This section provides information about the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 connectors,
in the event that you need to build cables or loopback plugs.
A loopback plug is a serial port plug with pins wired together that you can use
with application (for example, the diagnostic, Test Terminal, or minicom) to test
serial ports. See Before Calling Technical Support on Page 13 for information
about using the test application shipped with the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422.
DTE Versus DCE
The DIP switch for the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 ports are set to DTE at the
factory.
Most serial devices, except modems, are Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) devices.
Modems are Data Communication Equipment (DCE) devices.
How you build a cable depends on which device your are connecting to (DTE or
DCE). For example, you need a null-modem cable to connect the COM ports
(COM1 or COM2) on the computer or the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 ports to
printers, terminals, bar code readers or DNC equipment. If you are connecting a
DTE device to a DCE device you need a straight-through modem cable.
• Straight-through cable (DTE to DCE) - connects TxD to TxD and RxD to RxD.
• Null-modem cable (DTE to DTE) - connects TxD to RxD and RxD to TxD.
Note: DTE and DCE modes are controlled with the DIP switch on the RocketPort
uPCI Plus 422 (see Card and Interface Installation on Page 7 for
information).
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs
The following figures and table illustrate the signals present on DB9 connectors if
you need to build your own null-modem or straight-through DB9 serial cables.
Quadcables and octacables use DB9 male connectors.
•DB9 Signals (RS-422) on Page 10
•Straight-Through Cables (DCE) on Page 10
•Null-Modem Cables (DTE) on Page 10
•DB9 Loopback Plugs on Page 11

10 - Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices
DB9 Signals (RS-
422)
This subsection provides DB9 signal information. Refer to the
manufacturer’s installation documentation if you need help
with the connector pinouts or cabling for the serial device.
Note: DTE and DCE mode are controlled with the DIP switch on the RocketPort
uPCI Plus 422. See Card and Interface Installation on Page 7 for
information. The factory default is set to DTE.
Straight-Through
Cables (DCE)
Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-422 straight-through cable for
DCE devices.
Null-Modem Cables
(DTE)
Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-422 null-modem cable for DTE
devices.
Note: RS-422 signals are not standardized and each serial manufacturer uses
different pinouts. Refer to the serial device documentation to determine the
pinouts for the signals above.
RS-422 DB9 Male Connector
Pins DCE Mode DTE Mode
1Not used Not used
2RxD- TxD-
3TxD+ RxD+
4-6 Not used Not used
7RxD+ TxD+
8TxD- RxD-
9Chassis Ground Chassis Ground
Pin 1 Pin 5
Pin 6 Pin 9
Male
TxD+
TxD-
RxD+
Signal
3
8
7
Pins
RxD-
RocketPort Sony DB9ConnectorDCE Mode
2
3
8
7
Pins
2
TxD+
TxD-
RxD+
Signal
RxD-
TxD+
TxD-
RxD+
Signal
7
2
3
Pins RxD+
RxD-
Signal
TxD+
TxD-
RxD- 8
DTE Serial DeviceRocketPort DTE Mode