Multitech ISI608PC User manual

Intelligent Serial Interface
Model ISI608PC Card
Owner’s Manual

Owner's Manual
P/N 82033203, Revision D
Model #ISI608
This publication may not be reproduced, in whole or in part, without prior
expressed written permission from Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. All rights
reserved.
Copyright © 1996 by Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., makes no representation or warranties with
respect to the contents hereof and specifically disclaims any implied
warranties of merchantability or fitness for any particular purpose.
Furthermore, Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., reserves the right to revise this
publication and to make changes from time to time in the content hereof
without obligation of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc., to notify any person or
organization of such revisions or changes.
Record of Revision
Revision Description
D Manual revised to include Windows NT Driver installation
(2/12/96) procedure; and overall technical, editorial and format
changes.
TRADEMARKS
Trademarks of Multi-Tech Systems, Inc. are as follows:
Multi-Tech, MultiExpress, and the Multi-Tech logo: Multi-Tech Systems,
Inc.
UNIX: X/Open Co. Ltd.
MS-DOS and Windows NT: Microsoft Corporation
SCO: The Santa Cruz Operation, Inc.
Pentium: Intel Corporation
PC-DOS: International Business Machines Corporation
Novell, NetWare, NetWare Connect and UNIXWare: Novell Corporation
Xenix:Xerox Corporation Multi-Tech Systems, Inc.
2205 Woodale Drive
Mounds View, Minnesota 55112 U.S.A.
[phone] or [phone]
U. S. FAX [phone]
Fax-Back Service 612-717-5888
Technical Support [phone]
BBS [phone] or [phone]
Internet Address: http://www.multitech.com
Technical Writer: [email protected]

Contents
Chapter 1 - Introduction and Description
Introduction to the IntelligentSerialInterface .................................. 6
Product Description....................................................................... 7
How to Use This Manual ............................................................... 8
ISI608Applications........................................................................ 8
Technical Specifications ................................................................ 9
Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation
Safety Warnings .......................................................................... 12
ISI608 Installation........................................................................ 12
Determining Current System Settings ......................................... 13
Hardware Installation Procedure ................................................. 14
Chapter 3 - ISI608 Driver Installation
Introduction ................................................................................. 20
Novell NetWare Connect AIO Driver Installation ......................... 21
Configuring Ports for NetWare Connect ............................... 23
Removing the Driver (Novell)................................................ 23
Installing the ISI608 in Windows NT............................................ 24
Configuring Ports for Windows NT .............................................. 25
Removing the Driver (Windows NT)............................................ 26
Installation in SCO UNIX ............................................................. 26
Activating Ports in SCO UNIX ..................................................... 28
Removing the Driver (SCO UNIX)............................................... 30
Installation in SCO XENIX........................................................... 30
Activating Ports in SCO XENIX................................................... 32
Removing the Driver (SCO XENIX) ............................................ 34
Installing the ISI608 Driver on a UNIXWare Computer ............... 34
Activating ISI608 Ports on a UNIXWare System......................... 36
Removing the Driver (UNIXWare) ............................................... 36
The Multi-Tech Installation Script ................................................ 37

Multi_Setup Utility........................................................................ 41
Multi_View Utility Installation ....................................................... 43
Description File Format......................................................... 45
Hot Key Entries..................................................................... 45
Terminal Escape Sequences ................................................ 46
Timing Specification .............................................................. 47
Administration Utility.................................................................... 49
Chapter 4 - Warranty, Service and Tech Support
Software User LicenseAgreement.............................................. 52
Limited Warranty ......................................................................... 54
On-line Warranty Registration ..................................................... 54
Tech Support ............................................................................... 55
Recording ISI608 Information ............................................... 55
Service ........................................................................................ 56
About the Multi-Tech BBS ........................................................... 57
How to Use the Multi-Tech BBS............................................ 57
About CompuServe/Internet........................................................ 59
About the Multi-Tech Fax-Back Service ...................................... 59
Appendices
AppendixA- Determining Current System Settings.................... 62
Appendix B - Base I/O Address Switch Settings ......................... 65
Appendix C - ISI608 Testing Utilities ........................................... 69
Appendix D - Crossover Cable Wiring Diagrams ........................ 74
Index

Chapter 1 - Introduction and Description

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
6
Introduction to the IntelligentSerialInterface
The new IntelligentSerialInterface card, model ISI608, is a
hardware solution for adding fast serial ports to communication
servers and async hosts that have 16-bit ISA-bus architecture.
Serial ports are essential to communication servers, which
pool modems and other communication devices for users on a
LAN, and to asynchronous hosts that provide user access
through serial ports.
The ISI608 ships with a NetWare®Loadable Module
(aioisix.nlm) for NetWare Connect communication servers,
and drivers for each of the following multiusers operating
systems: Windows®NT, SCO®UNIX®, XenixTM, and SCO
UNIXWare®.
The IntelligentSerialInterface card(s) can be combined to
support asynchronous serial devices (local or dial-up). The
ports can be used to connect basic terminals with or without
multiple pages of memory to multiplexer channels and
asynchronous modems. When multiple page terminals are
used in an UNIX environment, a utility called "Multi_View"
allows you to have multiple sessions. Each ISI608 port can
support as many screens as there are physical pages of
memory on the terminal. If you have SCO UNIX System V/386
Version 4.0 or later, there is an extended feature supplement
( EFS ) "rolled into" the operating system which now officially
supports data rates up to 33,600 bps; also included is a text-
driven configuration facility so the system administrator can
create the appropriate modem dialer without having to
purchase a "C-Language" programming environment or
knowing how to write a dialer program in "C". In an Windows
NT environment, there is an built-in "autodetect" utility that
enables detection of Multi-Tech modems; this utility sets the
proper initilization strings.
This manual contains product specification, installation
instructions, and technical support information which will assist
you in the installation process. It is assumed that you have
basic PC skills at the very least. Therefore, we have not
included step-by-step instructions for such basic operations as
logging in and file editing, etc.

1 - Introduction and Description
7
Product Description
The ISI608 is a multiport serial port expansion card which
adds data buffering on each port for enhanced serial port
performance. The ISI608 features an on-board microprocessor
to coordinate the communications activity of your local and
remote terminals. Using an ISI608 to provide additional serial
connections enables your system's processor to perform more
efficiently. This is because the ISI608 handles all of the byte-
by-byte interrupts generated by asynchronous terminals and
stores the data in buffers. The processor, along with 256K
bytes of RAM work together to dynamically allocate resources
to the most active port. The ISI then generates one interrupt
for an entire block of information and transfers the block to the
system's microprocessor.
The ISI608 has one 78 - pin (DB78S) connector which
interfaces with an eight - port fan - out, or “ octopus ”, cable
(supplied with the card), providing eight additional serial ports.
It is a "3/4 size" add-on card which supports a high-speed
interface up to 115.2K bps. The ISI608 features one bank of 8
DIP-Switches for I/O address selection and one jumper block
for IRQ selection.

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
8
How to Use This Manual
This manual contains both hardware and operating system(s)
driver installation procedures, technical support, warranty and
BBS information and a number of appendices for additional
information on selected topics. Hardware configuration and
installation procedures are described in Chapter 2. The
installation of the ISI608 card also involves linking a driver to
the operating system, this information is provided in Chapter 3.
An explanation of the Multi_View utility, used in the UNIX
environment is available in Chapter 3 as well.
Most of the steps listed in the driver installation section
instructs you to "press Enter". This is a reference to the key
commonly known as the "Enter", "carriage-return", or simply
"Return" key. Also, please take the time to notice the
difference between the letter O and the number 0. Both the
letter and the number may be used within this manual.
ISI608 Applications
The most common application, is when a powerful
microcomputer is being used as a server or host, but lacks
enough connectivity to accommodate the desired number of
users. For this application, the ISI608 is the solution. The
ISI608 provides eight additional serial ports with every card
installed, with potentially four additional cards installed per
system -- for a total of thirty-two serial ports per system.

1 - Introduction and Description
9
Technical Specifications
Computer Requirements
* 386, 486, or Pentium®- based PC or compatible with ISA
Bus Architecture
* Microsoft Windows NT 3.5x, SCO's UNIX System V/386
(Version 3.2, Release 2.0 or later), SCO's XENIX System
V/386 (Version 2.3.2C or later), or UNIXWare (Release
1.1 or later), Novell's Netware
* At least one floppy drive
* 800 blocks of hard disk space for UNIX; 100 K bytes for
Windows NT; 50 K bytes for Novell
Physical/Electrical/Environmental
* Dimensions: 9.17" x 4.2" x .06"
23.3 cm x 10.67 cm x .15 cm
* Baud Rates: 300 to 115.2K bps per port
* Bus Type: ISA or EISA
* Connectors: DB78S
* Cabling: Eight port fan-out cable. DB78M (male)
interface to card, eight DB25 (male)
connectors for serial devices
* Serial Interface:Eight RS232C or RS232D ports
* Temperature: 32° to 120°F (0° to 50°C)
* Power: 1.5 amps @ +5v DC
* Base I/O One 16-byte address space per card.
* Address: Valid options range from 100h to 3F0h
(DIP-switch setting)
* Interrupt One IRQ per card. Valid options
* Request: include 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 10, 11, 12, & 15
(Jumper setting)
* Warranty: Two years
Manufactured in Mounds View, MN, U.S.A.

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
10