LSI M-Three User manual

SVSTem m=~REE
OPEAATOR~S mANUAL

The M-THREE
Operator's Manual
This manual describes the operation of and available features on the
M-THREE range of micro -computers. For additional information or
technical assistance contact:
LSI Computers Limited, Copse Road, St Johns, Woking, Surrey. GU21 1SX
Telephone: Woking (04862) 23411 Telex: 859592

CONTENTS
SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL .................................................................... 1-1
1.2 THE MAIN CONTROL UNIT ....................................... 1-1
1.2.1 Disk Drive Control............................................. 1-1
1.2.2 Visual Display Control....................................... 1-2
1.2.3 Peripheral Control............................................. 1-2
1.3 THE KEYBOARD ......................................................... 1-2
SECTION 2 INITIAL OPERATION
2.1 GENERAL .................................................................... 2-1
2.2 SWITCHING ON THE M-THREE ................................. 2-1
2.3 THE CONTRAST CONTROL ....................................... 2-1
2.4 VISUAL DISPLAY PROMPT ....................................... 2-2
2.5 THE DISKETTE ........................................................... 2-2
2.6 DISKETTE HANDLING ............................................... 2-3
2.7 DISKETTE VENDORS ................................................. 2-3
2.8 DISK DRiVES................................................................ 2-4
2.9 LOADING THE M-THREE/100 SERIES ...................... 2-4
2.10 LOADING THE M-THREE/200-300 SERIES ............... 2-4
SECTION 3 KEYBOARD OPERATION
3.1 GENERAL .................................................................... 3-1
3.2 THE 'QWERTY' CLUSTER .......................................... 3-1

3.2.1 Control ................" ..............................."......... 3~ 1
3.2.2
Esc .................................................................. 3-1
3.2.3 Caps Lock .......................................................' 3-1
3.2.4 Del.................................................................. 3-1
3.2.5 Line Feed ........................................................ 3-1
3.2.6 Break ............................................................... 3-2
3.3 THE NUMERIC PAD .................................................. 3-2
3.4 THE SPECIAL FUNCTION KEYS .............................. 3-2
SECTION 4
VISUAL DISPLAY: SOFTWARE CONTROL
4.1 G EN E RAL .................................................................. 4-1
4.2 ESCAPE SEQUENCES ................................................ 4-1
4.2.1 Erase Screen .................................................... 4-1
4.2.2 Erase End-Of-Screen ........................................ 4-1
4.2.3 Erase Line ....................................................... 4-1
4.2.4 Erase End-Of-Line ........................................... 4-1
4.2.5 Cursor Up ........................................................ 4-1
4.2.6 Cursor Down ................................................... 4-1
4.2.7 Cursor Right .................................................... 4-1
4.2.8 Cursor left ...................................................... 4-'
4.2.9 Cursor Home ................................................... 4-2
4.2.10 Cursor Address ................................................ 4-2
4.2.11 Graphics Mode ................................................ 4-2
4.2.12 ASCII Mode .................................................... 4-2
4.2.13 Inverse Video Character .................................. 4-2
SECTION 5 THE OPERATING SYSTEM
5.1 GENERAL .................................................................. 5-1
5.2 PROGRAM MODULES ............................................... 5-1
5.3 TRANSIENT PROGRAM AREA (TPA) ..................... 5-2
5.4 DISK DRIVE SELECTION ......................................... 5-2
5.5 DATA STORAGE FILES ............................................ 5-3
ii

SECTION 6 UTILITY PROGRAMS
6.1 GENERAL .................................................................. 6-1
6.2 FORMAT .................................................................... 6-1
6.3 VERIFy...................................................................... 6-2
6.4 COPYDISC .................................................................. 6-3
6.5 BACKUP ..................................................................... 6-4
6.6 PROG (Program) ......................................................... 6-6
6.7 INIT (Initialise) ........................................................... 6-8
SECTION 7 M-THREE/NET
7.1 GENERAL .................................................................. 7-1
SECTION 8 INTERFACES
8.1 GENERAL .................................................................. 8-1
8.2 RS232 INTERFACE ................................................... 8-1
8.2.1 Rear Panel Connections ................................... 8-1
8.3 RS232 HANDSHAKE PROTOCOLS .......................... 8-2
8.3.1 Request To Send [RTS] ................................. 8-2
8.3.2 Clear To Send [CTS] ...................................... 8-2
8.3.3 Data Set Ready [DSR] ................................... 8-2
8.3.4 Data Terminal Ready [DTR] .......................... 8-2
8.4 PARRALLEL PRINTER PORT INTERFACE ............ 8-3
8.4.1 Rear Panel Connections .. ................................. 8-3
8.5 THE GENERAL PURPOSE INTERFACE BUS .......... 8-4
8.5.1 Rear Panel Connections .. ................................. 8-5
iii

SECTION 9 PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE
9.1 GENERAL .................................................................. 9-1
9.2 DISK DRIVE MAINTENANCE .................................. 9-1
9.3 AIR-FILTER MAINTENANCE ................................... 9-1
9.1.1 Removal.......................................................... 9-1
9.1.2 Cleaning .......................................................... 9-1
SECTION 10 FUNCTIONAL SPECIFICATION
10.1 GENERAL ..................................................................
10-1
10.2 PROCESSOR .............................................................. 10-1
10.3 MEMORY ................................................................... 10-1
10.4 INTEGRAL DISPLAY MONITOR ............................... 10-1
10.5 KEYBOARD ............................................................... 10-1
10.6 INTERFACES ............................................................. 10-1
10.7 DISKETTES ................................................................ 10-2
10.7.1 M-THREE/100
series ...................................... 10-2
10.7.2 M-THREE/200-300
series ............................... 10-3
10.8 MASS STORAGE ........................................................ 10-3
10.8.1 M-THREE/100
series ...................................... 10-3
10.8.2 M-THREE/200
series ...................................... 10-4
10.8.3 M-THREE/300
series ...................................... 10-4
10.9 PHYSICAL SPECIFICATIONS ................................... 10-5
10.9.1 Environmental Limits ..................................... 10-5
10.9.2 A.C. Requirements ......................................... 10-5
10.9.3 Power Consumption ........................................ 10-5
10.9.4 Mechanical Dimensions ................................... 10-6
10.9.5 Weight ............................................................ 10-6
iv

SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION
1.1 GENERAL
The LSI SYSTEM M-THREE is a compact and versatile desk-top
micro-computer system which
has the capability to undertake
complex tasks in
differing fields, e.g. stock control, accounting,
instrumentation
control, etc.
Several
different M-THREE models are available, enabling the user
to match the system's intended function or functions with an
effecient mass-memory configuration (see 10.8). These models
all support CP/M, rendering them compatible
with a wide range of
software packages.
N.B. The complete functional specification of all M-THREE systems
can be found in Section 10.
Physically all M-THREE systems separate
into two parts:
1) The Main Control Unit.
2) The Keyboard.
1.2
THE MAIN CONTROL UNIT
Apart from the internal processing of data, the Main Control Unit
performs some important functions which are more obvious to the
operator:
a) Disk Drive control.
b) Visual Display control.
c) Peripheral control.
1.2.1 Drsk Drive
Control
In order for the M-THREE system to function as a micro-
computer, the Main Control
Unit must have rapid access to
quantities of data (which will exceed its internal memory
capacity) and the necessary processing instructions (soft-
ware) which
will cause that data to be manipulated in a
predetermined manner. The relevant data and software
is stored on magnetic Disks/Diskettes (see 2.5) which can
be 'read' from, or 'written' to, by the Main Control Unit.
This 'reading' and 'writing' is achieved by controlling the
1-1

Disk Drives into which the Disks/Diskettes are placed or
permanently held.
1.2.2 Visual Display control
The Visual Display
is the most important operator aid in
the system.
It is the means by which the Main Control
Unit communicates with the operator; a software control-
led 'window' into the computer. The Visual Display,
coupled
with system familiarity (keyboard and software
protocols etc.), will enable two-way communication
between the operator and the M-THREE system.
The display
area of the screen can contain a maximum of
24 I ines, each one having up to 80 characters in it (1,920
characters in all).
Each of these characters can be any
one
of the symbols shown in appendices A and B.
Any Further explanation as to the behaviour of the
Visual Display at this
point would be fruitless as it is
entirely software dependant.
1.2.3 Peripheral Control
The M-THREE
has the ability to control devices external
to its own immediate system. These devices, whatever
they
may actually be, come under the heading 'Peripherals'.
The most common peripheral
is a printer, which will be
needed if the system is being used for anything that
requires a printed
output (hard-copy).
1.3 THE KEYBOARD
The Keyboard enables the operator to load data and instructions into
the Main Control Unit. The actrual 'language' used for this is entirely
dependant on the system control software (Operating System) in
use
at the time, but most software interacts with the operator by using the
Visual Display
for 'prompt-messages' and thereby enhances the
necessary two-way communication.
1-2