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

Chapter 2 - Hardware Installation

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
12
Safety Warnings
1.Never install telephone wiring during a lightning storm.
2.Never install telephone jacks in wet locations unless the jack is
specifically designed for wet locations.
3.This product is to be used with UL and CUL listed computers.
4.Never touch uninsulated telephone wires or terminals unless the
telephone line has been disconnected at the network interface.
5.Use caution when installing or modifying telephone lines.
6.Avoid using a telephone (other than a cordless type) during an
electrical storm. There may be a remote risk of electrical shock
from lightning.
7.Do not use the telephone to report a gas leak in the vicinity of
the leak.
ISI608 Installation
This chapter provides you with the procedures to install the
Multi-Tech ISI608 card(s) in your ISA or EISA bus personal
computer (or compatible with 16 bit ISA slot).
Hardware installation involves:
1) Opening your PC.
2) Setting card configuration (determining I/O address DIP-
Switch setting and IRQ jumper setting).
3) Installing the card into the PC.

2 - Hardware Installation
13
Determining Current System Settings
When you install a device into your computer, the processor
must have a means of routing information to and from the
device and the device must have a means of gaining the
processor's attention. These are called Input/Output ( I/O )
addresses and Interrupt Requests (IRQs ), respectively. The
ISI608 card requires 16 I/O addresses and one IRQ value
which are not used by any other device in your system. When
selecting a unique base I/O address, be sure that the next
address is also unused. To determine your ISI's current
settings, refer to Appendix A and B.
If you are certain that these settings are not already in use,
continue with the hardware configuration and installation. You
can install up to four ISI608 cards into your system. Each card
is shipped with its IRQ set at level 3 and a base I/O address of
200 hex. Check your system’s device settings to see if these
values can be used. If the defaults are already in use, select a
unique IRQ and I/O address and record those values for the
hardware and software installation sections that follow.
Table 2-1.
Recommended Base I/O Address and IRQ Values
ISI608 Card Base I/OAddress IRQ
Initial 8 port board 200h 3
First 8 port upgrade 210h 4
Second 8 port upgrade 220h 5
Third 8 port upgrade 230h 7
Note: If you choose IRQ 3 or 4, you may have to disable a
COM device from your BIOS setup. Also, most 386 or higher
compatible computers will not be able to assign IRQ2 to the
ISI card because IRQ2 is used for slave interrupt control.

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
14
Hardware Installation Procedure
Perform the procedures in Table 2-2 to install the ISI608
card(s) into your PC-ISA bus computer. The installation
procedures include setting the I/O address switch block and
the IRQ jumper. This section may be skipped if the defaults: I/
O Address 200 Hex and IRQ 3 are the values you have
selected. However, if you are installing multiple cards, step 4a
of Table 2-2 describes how to configure your card(s).
Table 2-2
ISI608 Installation Procedure
Step Procedure
1 Make sure your computer and any peripheral
equipment connected to it are turned off. Failure to do
so may damage both your ISI card(s) and your PC.
The ISI608 may be installed in a PC-AT, 386, 486, or
Pentium equivalent ISA or EISA bus computer.
2 Remove the cover of your computer as instructed in
your computer’s documentation.
3 Locate the unused slot(s) which you will be using for
your ISI608 card(s), and remove the slot cover(s) per
the instructions in your computer’s documentation.
4 Check the settings of the I/O address switch and the
IRQ jumper to ensure that they are set properly for
your installation.
Figure 2-1. ISI608 Board Components

2 - Hardware Installation
15
Table 2-2 (cont’d)
Step Procedure
4a The default setting for the ISI608’s base I/O address is
200 hex. The default value for the IRQ jumper is IRQ
3. Choose the IRQ value by covering the appropriate
pins with the shorting plug (supplied). Reference the
diagram shown below, if needed. If your system
requires a different setting or if you are installing
multiple cards, refer to Appendix B for a table of valid
address settings.
200 hex/IRQ 3
Figure 2-2. I/O Address/IRQ Default Setting
Note: If you are installing the ISI608 as a second card in a
MultiComRN Gateway (remote node gateway) the suggested
I/O address is 210 hex/IRQ4.
210 hex/IRQ 4
Figure 2-3. I/O Address /IRQ Alternate Setting
Record any changes you make to these settings and keep
them handy for the software installation section in
Chapter 3.

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
16
Table 2-2 (cont’d)
Step Procedure
5 Install the ISI608 card(s) into the selected expansion
slot(s) in the same manner as any other add-on card,
as instructed in your computer’s documentation.
6 Fasten the retaining bracket to the computer chassis
and replace the cover.
7 Attach the octopus cable to the DB78S female
connector on the ISI608 card at the back of your
computer. The RS232 ports provided by the octopus
cable are for connection to modems, multiplexers or
other devices. If the other device is a local terminal
port, then a crossover cable is required (not included)
between the octopus cable and the terminal port. See
Appendix D for schematic of a crossover cable.
NOTE
Any cables connected to the computer must be
shielded to reduce interference.
Figure 2-4. Octopus Cable

2 - Hardware Installation
17
Table 2-2 (cont’d)
Step Procedure
8 Turn power on to the computer and refer to the
manual that was provided with the software you will be
using with the ISI608 in order to perform software
installationprocedures.
NOTE
If the ISI608 card is being used as an expansion card (Remote
Node--model #RNI08) for the MultiComRN Gateway , then you
must reconfigure the gateway software, using the
RNSERCON.EXE program. You will need to add the card's
settings to the Board Information entry and assign access
rights to each user under the User Information entry. See
Chapter Three of the MultiComRN Gateway Owners manual
for server configuration.

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
18

Chapter 3 - ISI608 Driver Installation

ISI608PC Owner’s Manual
20
Introduction
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®, SCO XenixTM, and SCO
UNIXWare®. This chapter will guide you through the
installation of these drivers. Section 3.9 details the Multi-Tech
Installation Script, which is executed by a UNIX operating
system.
As with all software, you should make a backup copy of the
diskette you received and use the copy for the installation. If
you received a 3½" diskette, the capacity is 720KB. Consult
your system manual for instructions on disk copying. Also, if
you have a numeric keypad, and you intend to use it for the
installation process, make sure you have "Num Lock" on.
The process of installing a device driver consists of a
modification to your system. For this reason, only the " super
user " (system administrator) is allowed to perform the
installation. If you cannot login as the root, you must find the
person in your organization who has this authorization (i.e.,
password). To begin the driver installation, login asroot. Then
proceed with the appropriate section.