Digital Equipment DECserver 300 Reference manual

DECserver 300
Introduction
Order No. AA-NE46A- TE

DECserver 300
Introduction
June 1989
This manual describes the DECserver 300 system, which
consistsofoECserver300 hardwareandsoftware. Information
is provided for using the server and for expanding or
reconfiguring the server.
.Supersession/Update Information: This is a new manual.
Software Version: DECserver 300 V1.0
This manual applies to Version 1.0 of DECserver 300 and all
subsequent maintenance releases upto the nextmajorproduct
release.
Order Number: AA-NE46A- TE

AA-NE46A- TE
June 1989
Theinformationinthisdocumentissubjecttochangewithoutnoticeand shouldnotbe construed
as a
commitmentbyDigital EquipmentCorporation. Digital EquipmentCorporation assumes
no respon-
sibility for any errors that may appear in this document.
Thesoftwaredescribedin thisdocumentisfurnishedunderalicenseandmayonlybe used orcopied
in accordance with the terms
of such license.
No responsibilityis assumedfortheuse orreliability ofsoftware on equipmentthatis notsupplied by
Digital or its affiliated companies.
Copyright © 1989by Digital Equipment Corporation
All Rights Reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.
The following are trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation:
DEBNA DESVA
DEBNET DEUNA
DEC
~DmDDmD""
DECconnect LAN Bridge
DECnet LA120
DECserver LN01
DECUS LN03
DELNI LQP02
DELUA MASSBUS
DELQA Micro/RSX
DEMPR MicroVAX
DEQNA PDP
DESOA Professional
Q-Bus
Rainbow
RSX
RSX-11
M-PLUS
ThinWire
ULTRIX-32
UNIBUS
VAX
VAXcluster
VAXmate
VAXstation
VMS
This manual was produced by Networks and Communications Publications.

Preface
1
Overview
1.1
1.2
1.2.1
1.2.2
1.3
1.3.1
1.3.2
1.3.3
1.3.4
1.3.5
1.4
1.5
1.5.1
1.5.2
1.5.2.1
1.5.2.2
1.5.2.3
1.5.3
1.6
1.7
Contents
What is the DECserver 300 System? .................. 1-1
Server Features .................................. 1-3
Models ...................................... 1-3
Operating Modes .............................. 1-4
Server Hardware ................................. 1-4
Main Logic Module ............................. 1-6
EIA-423-A Distribution Module .................... 1-7
Power Supply ................................. 1-8
Fans ........................................ 1-8
Controls, Indicators, and Connectors ............... 1-8
Server Firnlware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-11
Server Software ................................. 1-11
Down-Line Loading from Load Hosts .............. 1-12
DECserver 300 Databases ....................... 1-12
Operational Database . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Permanent Database. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-13
Resetting Characteristics to Factory Specifications .... 1-14
Software Requirements ......................... 1-14
Communications Standard ........................ 1-14
Server Specifications ............................. 1-15
iii

1.7.1
1.7.2
1.7.3
1.7.4
Physical ..................................... 1-15
Environmental
................................ 1-16
Power ...................................... 1-17
Cabling ..................................... 1-17
2 Configurations
2.1 Port Device Configurations ......................... 2-1
2.1.1 Port Devices Supported ......................... 2-2
2.1.2 Used as a Terminal Selver for Digital Tenninals ....... 2-4
2.1.3 Used to Offer Services to Renlote and Local Users ..... 2-4
2.2 Network Configurations ........................... 2-6
2.2.1 Networks with Terminal Servers ................... 2-6
2.2.2 Direct Standard Ethernet Connection ............... 2-8
2.2.3 Network Connection Through a DELNI Network
Concentrator
................................. 2-9
2.2.4 Connection to Broadband Ethernet Network ......... 2-10
2.2.5 Connection to a DELNI-Based Network ............ 2-11
2.2.6 Connection to a Stand-Alone ThinWire Network
..... 2-12
2.2.7 ThinWire Network Connection Through a DEMPR
Device ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2-13
3 Reconfiguration
3.1
3.2
3.3
3.4
Assessing Your
Needs ............................ 3-1
Connecting Additional Port Devices to an Existing Server .. 3-1
Reconfiguring an Existing Server ..................... 3-2
Adding Servers to the Network ...................... 3-2
4 How to Use the Documentation
4.1 Organization of the Documentation ................... 4-1
4.1.1 Reference Documentation
........................ 4-1
4.1.2 Procedural Documentation
....................... 4-2
4.1.3 Quick Reference Documentation ................... 4-2
iv

4.2 Documents Used to Perform Each Task ............... 4-3
4.3 Description of Server Documents .................... 4-8
4.3.1 DECserver 300 Software Document Set ............. 4-8
4.3.2 DECserver 300 Hardware Document Set ............. 4-9
4.3.3 User Documentation Set ........................ 4-10
4.3.4 On-Line Documentation ........................ 4-10
4.3.5 Terminal Server Manager Documents .............. 4-10
5 Ordering Information
5.1 Ordering Instructions ............................. 5-1
5.1.1 Hardware
and Software ......................... 5-1
5.1.2 Documentation
................................ 5-1
5.2 Software
Order Numbers .......................... 5-3
5.3 Hardware
Order Numbers ......................... 5-4
5.3.1 DECserver 300
Shipment ........................ 5-4
5.3.2 DECserver 300 Country Kits ...................... 5-4
5.3.3 DECserver 300 Accessories ....................... 5-6
5.3.4 Digital Office Cable (BC16E) and Adapters ........... 5-7
5.3.5 Standard Ethernet Transceiver Cables ............... 5-8
5.3.6 ThinWire Ethernet Cables ........................ 5-9
5.4 Documentation Order Numbers .................... 5-10
5.4.1 Software Documentation ........................ 5-10
5.4.2 Hardware DOCUlllentation ....................... 5-11
Index
Figures
1-1 DECserver 300 Hardware ............................ 1-5
1-2 MMJ Connector Pinout .............................. 1-7
1-3
Server Controls, Indicators, and Connectors ............. 1-9
2-1 Used as a Terminal Server for Digital Tenllinals .......... 2-4
2-2 Server Configured to Offer Services to Users . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-5
2-3 Example of a Network with Servers .................... 2-7
v

2-4 Direct Connection to a Network 00000000000000000000000 2-8
2-5 Network Connection Through a DELNI Network Concentrator2-9
2-6 Connection to a Broadband Ethernet Network 000000000002-10
2-7 Connection to a DELNI-Based Network 00000000000000002-11
2-8 Connection to a ThinWire Ethernet Stand-Alone Segn1ent 002-12
2-9 ThinWire Network Connection Through a DEMPR Device 002-13
4-1 Hardware Installation 0000000000000000000000000000000
4-3
4-2
Server Use .. 00000 .. 0 ...... 0. 0 .. 0 ..... 0 ..... 0. 00 .. 4-4
4-3 Software Installation 000 ... 0. 00. 0. 000 ...•... 000 ...... 4-5
4-4 Server Management 00 .. 0000000 .. 0000 .. 0. 0. 000 0 000. 0 4-6
4-5 Problem Solving ...... 000 .. 0000. 0 .. 00000 ... 00 00000. 4-7
Tables
1-1 MMJ Connector Pin description 0 00 .... 00 .... 000 ....... 1-7
1-2 Server Controls 000 .. 000 .. 000000000. 0 .. 0000 ...... 01-10
1-3 Server Indicators 00000000000000000. 0000000000 • 00001-10
1-4 Server Connectors 000. 000. 00000. 0000000000000000. 01-11
1-5 Server Size and Weight o. 000000. 00000 ..... 0. 00 00 0 001-15
1-6 Environmental Requirelnents 0 ..... 0. 00 .... 0. 000 00 0001-16
1-7 Power Requiren1ents 0. 0. 000000000000. 0 .. 000000 00000 1-17
1-8 Maxin1um Network and Power Cabling Distances 000. 00001-17
1-9 . Maximun1 Device Cabling Distances 0000. 0000. 00. 000 00 1-18
4-1 Tasks and Supportive Documentation 00000000. 000000000 4-2
5-1 How To Order By Phone .. 000' 00 0. 0000000 .. 000.000005-2
5-2 How To Order By Mail 0000000000. 0000 .. 0000000. 000005-2
5-3 DECserver 300 Software Order Codes 000000000000000000 5-3
5-4 DECserver 300 Country Kit Order Codes 00000. 00. 0000000 5-5
5-5 DECserver 300 Accessory Order Codes 00. 00000000000000 5-6
5-6 Digital Office Cable and Adapter Order Code 00. 000000000 5-7
5-7 ThinWire Coaxial Cable Order Codes 0000000. 00000000 .. 5-9
vi

Preface
This manual contains an overview of the DECserver 300 terminal server sys-
tem; both hardware and software.
Intended Audience
The DECserver 300 Introduction manual is intended for the following audi-
ences:
• Terminal user -Uses an interactive terminal attached to a server port.
Tenninal users have access to nonprivileged server cOllullands.
• Server manager -Manages a server. The server manager has access to
privileged server
commands.
• Software installer -Installs the server software on a load host. The in-
staller also configures new servers in the load host node database.
• Network manager -Manages the local area network of the server.
• Field service engineer -Services the server hardware if it should fail.
vii

Structure of This Manual
The DEeserver 300 Introduction contains the following chapters:
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Provides
an overview of the features and functions of the DECserver
300 system. Chapter 1 also provides the DECserver 300 specifica-
tions.
Describes
the various server configurations, including connections
to
the network and port devices. This includes identifying the de-
vices
that are compatible with the DECserver 300 system.
Provides guidelines for
planning and implementing server reconfig-
uration.
Provides an overview to the DECserver 300 documentation set.
Provides
information about ordering terminal server hardware and
software, related hardware products, and documentation.
Conventions Used in This Manual
Convention
lowercase italics
bold
viii
Meaning
Italics in command syntax or examples indicate variables
for
which eithel' the user or the system supplies a value.
In text, words appearing in bold type introduce new
terms or concepts and can also be found in the glossary.

1
Overview
The DECserver 300 terminal server system enables a variety of datapleads-
only devices (for example, printers and terminals) to access and use COln-
puter resources on an Ethernet local area network (LAN).
The DECserver 300 terminal server system comprises three basic cOinpo-
nents: hardware, firmware,
and software. This chapter provides a definition
of
the DECserver 300 system, a description of the server's features, and an
overview of the hardware, firmware, and software. Also, the EIA-423-A com-
Dlunication
standard and the site requirements for the server are discussed.
1.1 What is the DECserver 300 System?
A server is a computer system, or node, where resources shared by the net-
work are located. A server offers these resources to the other
nodes. The
DECserver 300 system is a type of cODlmunications server called a terminal
server. It provides
an efficient way to connect terminals and other devices to
the Ethernet local area network (LAN).
NOTE
In this manual, the terms "Ethernet" and
"LAN" are used interchangeably.
The DECserver 300 system consists of
the following:
• DECserver 300 hardware and the devices attached to the server ports
• DECserver 300 firmware operating on the hardware unit
1-1