syslogic IPC/NETIPCFW-1A Operator's manual

u s e r d o c u m e n t a t i o n
IPC/NETIPCFW-1A
Document Ordercode: DOC/NETIPCFW-E
Revision
Date
Author
Modification
1.0
15.06.1999
U. Müller
2.0a
16.08.1999
U. Müller
new BIOS configuration options
2.1
1.01.2000
U. Müller
new tools, NT Embedded support
2.2
04.08.2000
U. Müller
updated BIOS
2.
2 .02.2001
U. Müller
new Remote Console tools
2.4
25.07.2001
U. Müller
Support for NETIPC-2 added
2.5
28.09.2001
U. Müller
Corrections in BIOS Int14h reference
.0
01.12.2004
U. Müller
new BIOS release for NETIPC-5A

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Im ortant Notes
The products are intended for measurement, control and communications applications in
industrial environments. The products must be assembled and installed by specially trained
people. The strict observation of the assembly and installation guidelines is mandatory.
The use of the products in systems in which the life or health of persons is directly dependent
(e.g. life support systems, patient monitoring systems, etc.) is not allowed.
The use of the products in potentially explosive atmospheres requires additional external
protection circuitry which is not provided with the products.
In case of uncertainty or of believed errors in the documentation please immediately contact the
manufacturer (address see chapter 1 ). Do not use or install the products if you are in doubt. In
any case of misuse of the products, the user is solely liable for the consequences.
General Remarks
The content and presentation of this document has been carefully checked. No responsibility is
accepted for any errors or omissions in the documentation.
Note that the documentation for the products is constantly revised and improved. The right to
change this documentation at any time without notice is therefore reserved.
Syslogic is grateful for any help referring to errors or for suggestions for improvements.
The following registered trademarks are used:
–IBM-PC, PC, PC/AT Trademark of IBM Corporation USA
–FBCube Trademark of Syslogic Datentechnik AG
–MS-DOS, Windows .x/95/98/NT/XP/CE
Trademark of Microsoft Inc. USA
–Embedded-BIOS Trademark of General Software, Inc. USA
–Embedded DOS-ROM Trademark of General Software, Inc. USA
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Contents
1Introduction.................................................................................................................................... 6
1.1.Content of this Documentation and Additional Literature.......................................... 6
1.2.Items delivered............................................................................................................ 6
1. .System Requirements...................................................................................................6
1.4.Installation................................................................................................................... 6
1.5.Firmware Version/Revision Numbers......................................................................... 7
1.6.Safety Recommendations and Warnings..................................................................... 7
1.7.License Policy..............................................................................................................8
1.8.Additional Hard- and Software....................................................................................9
1.9.Additional Literature................................................................................................... 9
2Firmware Descri tion................................................................................................................ 10
2.1.General Firmware Structure.......................................................................................10
2.2.BIOS.......................................................................................................................... 10
2. .Operating Systems..................................................................................................... 11
2.4.Getting Started...........................................................................................................11
2.4.1.Standard Configuration from Factory......................................................... 11
3Boot Loader.................................................................................................................................. 12
.1.Boot Loader Program................................................................................................ 12
.2. Boot Loader Commands...........................................................................................12
. .Boot Loader Operation..............................................................................................1
4Embedded BIOS........................................................................................................................... 15
4.1.General Information...................................................................................................15
4.1.1.Introduction................................................................................................. 15
4.1.2.Console........................................................................................................15
4.1. .BIOS Console Redirection..........................................................................16
4.1.4.DOS Console Redirection........................................................................... 16
4.2.POST (Power-On Self-Test)......................................................................................16
4. .Diagnostic Mode........................................................................................................17
4.4.ROM Disk..................................................................................................................17
4.4.1.General Information.................................................................................... 17
4.4.2.Make a 704kB ROM-Disk Image............................................................... 17
4.4. .Make a 1.44MB ROM-Disk Image.............................................................17
4.4.4.Download the ROM-Disk Image.................................................................19
4.4.5.Enabling ROM-Drive..................................................................................19
4.5.Binary Configuration Program BCP/BCPX.............................................................. 20
4.5.1.Modifiable Options..................................................................................... 20
4.5.2.Changing the BIOS Image.......................................................................... 2
4.6.NETIPC board configuration differences..................................................................24
4.7.Embedded BIOS Reference.......................................................................................25
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5BIOS Extensions.......................................................................................................................... 31
5.1.General Information................................................................................................... 1
5.2.VGA BIOS Extension............................................................................................... 1
6Develo ment Tools.................................................................................................................... 33
6.1.Serial Remote Console/Disk......................................................................................
6.2.TCP/IP Remote Console/Disk................................................................................... 4
6. .Using Standard PC Language Compilers.................................................................. 4
6.4.Remote Source-Level Debugging.............................................................................. 4
7MS-DOS Installation................................................................................................................... 35
8Windows NT Embedded Installation..................................................................................... 37
9Linux Installation........................................................................................................................ 39
10Non-DOS O erating System Installation........................................................................... 41
11BIOS Configuration for IPC-Modules.................................................................................. 43
11.1.NETIPC boards....................................................................................................... 4
12BIOS Configuration for FBCube-Modules.......................................................................... 44
12.1.NETIPC boards....................................................................................................... 44
12.2.CUB/SIC4-1A Serial Interface Module.................................................................. 44
12. .CUB/CARFBC-1R.................................................................................................. 44
13Manufacturer Information..................................................................................................... 45
1 .1.Contact.....................................................................................................................45
1 .2.Warranty.................................................................................................................. 45
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Tables
Tab. 1 BIOS Console Redirection.............................................................................................. 16
Tab. 2 Fatal Embedded BIOS POST error-code..................................................................... 27
Tab. 3 Embedded BIOS POST Progress Codes (in chronological order)........................ 30
Tab. 4 VGA BIOS Extension........................................................................................................ 32
Figures
Fig. 1 Firmware Structure........................................................................................................... 10
Fig. 2 Boot Loader O erating Modes...................................................................................... 14
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1 Introduction
1.1. Content of this Documentation and Additional Literature
This document describes the basic firmware available for the CUB/NETIPC and IPC/NETIPC
processor boards. The firmware is partly already loaded in the Flash-Memory of the NETIPC
board when delivered and partly contained in the firmware distribution file NETIPCFW.EXE.
Please not that IPC/NETIPCFW-1A is absolutely required before you can download or modify
firmware or applications program (Note: IPC/NETIPCFW-1A is not automatically delivered
with each NETIPC board, but must be downloaded from the internet (www.syslogic.ch).
The content is based on the following program versions:
Firmware package (IPC/NETIPCFW-1A) Version .0
Boot Loader program Version 2.5x
Embedded BIOS Version 4.1.4 and 5. .0
Embedded DOS-ROM Version 4.042
All the hardware information is contained in separate manuals for each NETIPC board.
Programming information and programming examples are contained in IPC/IOCOMSW-1A
and described in DOC/IPC_IOCOMSW. For CUB/NETIPC boards see CUB/IOCOMSW-1A
and DOC/IOCOMSW.
1.2. Items delivered
The order code IPC/NETIPCFW-1A includes the basic firmware and utilities for the
CUB/NETIPC and IPC/NETIPC boards in a Windows installation program
(NETIPCFW.EXE).
1.3. System Requirements
The NETIPC firmware requires a PC/AT compatible computer hardware with at least a 80486-
DX processor and a Windows 95/98/NT/2000 operating system with the latest service packs
installed. In the current release most development tools run on DOS or in a Windows DOS box
or have a DOS counterpart, but the installation requires a Windows operating system.
Syslogic recommends Windows NT 4.0 (service pack 6) or Windows 2000 with a FAT file
system partitioned drive C: as a stable development platform.
1.4. Installation
The installation program NETIPCFW.EXE contains a number of files, which must be installed
on your PC before you can work with the NETIPC board. For the installation please proceed as
follows:
1. Start up Windows on your host PC.
2. Deinstall any earlier version of NETIPCFW
. Start the installation program NETIPCFW.EXE with a double click.
4. Print and read the instructions and comments in the README.TXT file created
in the installation directory (e.g. C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW).
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Note: the installation program generates a sub-directory structure. Do not change or rename
elements of this structure, because other programs expect to find them as defined. The default
root directory created is named ‘FBCUBE’.
CAUTION: if you already have installed an older version of the NETIPC firmware and you
want to install the new version, you must first completely deinstall the old version using the
Windows sofware registry or the deinstall program UNWISE.EXE in the installation directory
(e.g. C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW).
1.5. Firmware Version/Revision Numbers
In some cases it may be important to read the installed firmware version/revision numbers.
These are available as follows:
Embedded BIOS: In the BIOS startup screen
Embedded DOS-ROM: Use DOS-Command VER
Boot Loader: Target-side: shown after establishing connection (INIT-command)
Host-PC side: shown during start-up
1.6. Safety Recommendations and Warnings
Note that some of the information in this manual is only applicable to the software releases
mentioned in paragraph 1.1 and not to former revisions !
The README.TXT-file on the NETIPC Firmware installation directory contains important
information not contained in this manual. Print and read the README-file before working
with the firmware
Please strictly observe all the warnings and safety recommendations described in the hardware
user manuals, especially in DOC/IPC_NETIPC, DOC/NETIPC and DOC/CUBINST. They will
not be repeated here.
The products require set-up procedures before they can be operated. Before being used in an
actual installation, they must be correctly configured. If the products are not or wrongly
configured, they may malfunction in the intended application.
If you already have installed an older version of the NETIPC firmware and you want to install
the new version, you must first completely deinstall the old files (see paragraph 1. ).
In order to use an already installed NETIPC system (also freshly delivered systems) with the
new firmware you must reconfigure/regenerate and download the BIOS, VGA-BIOS extension
and the ROM-Drive to the target. Otherwise the new firmware may fail due to version conflicts.
Keep the old firmware in a separate directory if you must be able to work with older systems
without downloading the new firmware.
The binary BIOS image file delivered with the NETIPCFW installation is preconfigured with
the factory defaults for the CUB/NETIPC-1A board (BIOS V4) and IPC/NETIPC-5A (BIOS
V5). Some BIOS options must be changed if you want to download the BIOS image to a
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different NETIPC board type (see chapter 12 of this manual). Be very careful when changing
BIOS parameters. Make sure that you understand each parameter you change and do not
change in case of doubt. A wrongly configured BIOS may result in malfunction or inoperability
of the NETIPC or an input-/output-module !
1.7. License Policy
The firmware delivered in the memory of the NETIPC board and the firmware/software
delivered with the IPC/NETIPCFW-1A installation file are proprietary firmware/software and
their rights belong to the companies as follows:
Syslogic Datentechnik AG, Switzerland:
Boot Loader
Various Utilities and Programming Examples
License Agreement:
The purchase of the NETIPC board includes the right to use this firmware/software without
further payments exclusively on the respective NETIPC board and/or on PC’s connected to
NETIPC boards. Firmware/software delivered in source code form by Syslogic may be
changed, adapted or modified by the user without notifying Syslogic. The changed, adapted or
modified firmware/software may again only be exclusively used on the NETIPC boards and/or
on PC’s connected to NETIPC boards. Note that Syslogic cannot support any modified
firmware or software.
Technosoftware AG, Switzerland:
TELNET/FTP-Server TNFTP
License Agreement:
The purchase of the NETIPC board includes the right to use this software without further
payments exclusively on the respective NETIPC board.
General Software, Inc. USA:
Embedded BIOS
Embedded DOS-ROM
Binary Configuration Program BCP for Embedded BIOS
Embedded DOS-ROM Utilities (Remote Console/Disk, Disk Image Program)
License Agreement:
The purchase of the NETIPC board includes the right to use this firmware/software without
further payments exclusively on the respective NETIPC board and to use the Configuration
Program for Embedded BIOS and the Embedded DOS-ROM Utilities on development PC’s
connected to NETIPC boards. Any other use is a violation of the copyright law and may be
prosecuted by General Software Inc.
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1.8. Additional Hard- and Software
The following additional hardware may be useful for working with the NETIPC processor
boards:
SDCFBxxx: SanDisk CompactFlash Memory Card
The following additional software is required for working with the NETIPC processor boards:
IPC/IOCOMSW-1A: Sample program code and utilities for IPC modules
CUB/IOCOMSW-1A: Sample program code and utilities for FBCube modules
1.9. Additional Literature
The following additional documents are required for correct operation and installation of the
products described in this document:
DOC/EBIOS: Embedded BIOS Reference
DOC/EDOS: Embedded DOS-ROM Reference
DOC/IPC_NETIPC: User Documentation for IPC/NETIPC boards
DOC/IPC_IOCOMSW: User Documentation for IPC Programming Examples and Utilities
DOC/NETIPC: User Documentation for CUB/NETIPC boards
DOC/IOCOMSW: User Documentation for FBCube Programming Examples and Utilities
DOC/CUBINST: User-Documentation for FBCube Installation
DOC/CUBINST also contains the necessary information related to the „ce -certification of the
products.
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2 Firmware Descri tion
2.1. General Firmware Structure
The structure of the firmware is shown in the fig. 1.1. As can be seen, some operating system
rely on the BIOS (some may, however, access the hardware directly).
The standard Embedded BIOS configuration may require some changes, if additional boards
are used.
Fig. 1 Firmware Structure
2.2. BIOS
The BIOS (= Basic Input/Output System) is the firmware layer, which handles the hardware
and offers their functions to the applications software in a standardized mode. On the NETIPC
the powerful Embedded BIOS (General Software, USA) is implemented. Embedded BIOS not
only offers PC-compatibility, but in addition ROM-drive management as well as WindowsCE
direct booting.
© Syslogic Datentechnik AG, CH-5400 Baden, Switzerland, http://www.syslogic.ch 10/45
Remote Console,
Remote Disk
Error
Diagnostics
COM1
NETIPC Processor Board
Application-Programs
Em edded-BIOS
TM
Boot Loader
Em edded
DOS-ROM
Third Party
Operating Systems
POST
Remote
Driver

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2.3. O erating Systems
Operating Systems (especially real-time, multitasking operating systems) are an important part
of today’s control systems. The NETIPC allows the user to select and load his own operating
system (Note: many well-known operating systems - e.g. VxWorks, QNX, Embedded OS-9,
Linux, Windows NT/XP Embedded, WindowsCE, RTKernel, RTXDOS-16/ 2, etc. - are
supported by its respective manufacturer or distributor). The NETIPC basic firmware (BIOS,
boot loader) are operating-system independent and allow booting of any operating system
suited for the NETIPC processor board. Refer to chapter 8 for specific information on
downloading non-DOS operating systems to the NETIPC boards.
For less demanding applications the well-known PC operating system DOS (Disk Operating
System) may be sufficient. One version of DOS - the Embedded DOS-ROM (from General
Software, USA) - is included in the delivery and may be used on the NETIPC boards without
additional license fees. The user may also load his own copy of MS-DOS (Microsoft). Refer to
chapter 7 for specific information on downloading MS-DOS to the NETIPC boards.
The detailled information for the port of a new operating system to the NETIPC is not
contained in this manual but can be obtained separately (please ask Syslogic for more
information).
2.4. Getting Started
2.4.1. Standard Configuration from Factory
The NETIPC boards delivered from the factory are configured for the DOS-compatible mode
and are pre-loaded and configured as follows:
–Boot loader target program loaded;
–Embedded BIOS loaded and supporting ROM-drive A: and no console
redirection;
Note 1: the console is redirected to ‘remote console’ in the Embedded DOS-
ROM (see chapter 6.1) or can be redirected by BIOS reconfiguration
Note 2: the full BIOS-configuration may be viewed using the ‘BIOS Binary
Configuration Program’ (BCP) with the BIOS image file available in the
directory C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\EBIOS (see chapter 4.5 for details)
–VGA BIOS Extension loaded (for onboard VGA controller);
–Embedded DOS-ROM Boot-Drive A: (ROM-Drive) loaded (see chapter 4.4 for
details);
–Embedded DOS-ROM remote console/disk driver loaded in CONFIG.SYS (see
chapter 6.1 for details).
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3 Boot Loader
The boot loader target program is pre-loaded in the NETIPC board and has the following main
functions:
–Download of an operating system (first use of the NETIPC);
–Download of a ROM-Drive into the Flash-Memory of NETIPC;
–Upgrade BIOS, BIOS-Extensions (VGA-BIOS) and boot loader firmware in case
of new releases.
The NETIPC has three operating modes, which are selected via the configuration of pins on the
keyboard connector of the NETIPC board (see the manual DOC/IPC_NETIPC for detailled
information). A specially configured dummy keyboard connector may be used for a convenient
selection of the operating mode (see NETIPC manual for detailled information). The operating
modes of the boot loader are:
RUN Mode: Starts Up BIOS, operating system and the applications software
(see Fig. 1);
Boot-Load Mode: enters the boot-load dialog with the Boot Loader host-program
running on the PC connected to COM1 (RS-2 2);
Diagnostic Mode: special factory configuration mode with diagnostic output to a
terminal via COM1 (RS-2 2 at 9’600 bit/s with n/8/1 character
format).
3.1. Boot Loader Program
The host-computer part of the Boot Loader program winld.exe is installed on the PC (see
chapter 1. ) and maintains a dialog with the NETIPC board (i.e. with the target part of the Boot
Loader program) via the serial RS-2 2 Line COM1 of the target. The Boot Loader program can
be initialized to use the COM1 or the COM2-port of the PC. The COM-port of the PC will be
correctly initialized by executing the INIT-command.
winld.exe is a WIN 2 application program running on Windows NT/2000/XP. For host
computers running a MSDOS compatible operating system (not a DOS-Box !) the DOS Boot
Loader program dosld.exe is available in the same directory. The DOS Boot Loader uses the
same command syntax and command files as the current Windows version.
3.2. Boot Loader Commands
You can display the available commands of the Boot Loader program by entering „?“ after the
prompt: a list of commands is displayed. Additional details (parameters) are displayed in the
next window.
The most important commands are:
init Initializes the host-computer COM-port with the inputted parameters
Note: requires e.g. the following parameters: init com1 baud=57600
init1 Initializes the host-computer COM1-port with the following parameters:
COM-port 1, baud-rate 57600 bit/s (Note: init1 is not a built-in command, but
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init2 Initializes the host-computer COM2-port with the following parameters:
COM-port 2, baud-rate 57600 bit/s (Note: init2 is not a built-in command, but
executes the command file init2.flc)
dir displays boot block flash drive directory
del deletes program name from flash-directory
program path\filename.ext format=bin addr=xxxxxxx:
writes the binary file ‘filename.ext’ to the start address xxxxxxx into the flash-
memory (see DOC/IPC_NETIPC for memory layout and address mapping of the
NETIPC board)
filename executes the commands found in the command file ‘filename.flc’. Command
files are simple ASCII character files containing valid boot loader commands (one
per line). Examples of such command files are init1.flc, init2.flc, ebios.flc,
stpcvga.flc, edos.flc, edrive_a.flc (all in directory
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\BOOT>)
quit updates, saves the flash-drive tables and quits the program
WARNING: whenever leaving the Boot Loader program, always use quit. Do not switch
power off or disconnect the target while the quit-command is in operation. Failing to do so may
corrupt the flash-tables and make the FBCube un-bootable !
3.3. Boot Loader O eration
The boot loader for the NETIPC board supports the download of binary and of Intel-HEX file
formats into the boot-block flash-memory on the NETIPC. The resident part in the flash-
memory has already been downloaded in the factory. After the installation the host PC-part of
the boot loader is located in the directory C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\BOOT>. To work with the
Boot Loader proceed as follows:
1. Connect the COM1 of the NETIPC to a COM-port of your host-PC using a Null-
Modem Cable;
2. Switch the NETIPC to boot load-mode (see DOC/IPC_NETIPC for detailled
information);
. start the Boot Loader host program winld.exe with START -> PROGRAMS ->
FBCUBE -> NETIPC Boot Loader;
4. Input: init1 (for COM1 on your PC, init2 for COM2 on your PC);
5. The target now responds with „target system on-line“
6. Input: ?
7. The Boot Loader program dipslays valid commands and options.
CAUTION: executing commands of the Boot Loader program may overwrite the flash-
memory or change options which make operation of the data link impossible. For all the
necessary operations with respect to the NETIPC command-files (extension *.FLC) are
provided. Do only work with these command files.
WARNING: the Boot Loader program must always be correctly terminated by the command
„QUIT“. You must wait before switching off or disconnecting until the program has finished
updating all its internal tables, otherwise the operation will not be terminated correctly.
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The use of the boot loader for different functions (e.g. downloading the operating system,
downloading a ROM-drive, etc.) is explained later in this manual.
Fig. 2 Boot Loader Operating Modes
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Power-On/Reset
Check
Start-Up
Mode
Pins
Keyboard Connector
P3/6
P3/2
Boot-Load Mode
RUN Mode
Boot Load-
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4 Embedded BIOS
4.1. General Information
4.1.1. Introduction
The Basic Input/Output System (BIOS) is a standard application programmers interface (API)
that hides the details of the hardware on a PC-AT compatible processor system behind a well
defined software interface. The NETIPC boards are delivered with Embedded BIOS (General
Software, Inc. USA) a BIOS implementation that is specially designed for embedded target
platforms, such as the NETIPC. Embedded BIOS comes with an easy to use configuration tool
(Binary Configuration Program „BCP“) that allows the system integrator to fine tune the BIOS
to his application. In addition to the standard BIOS functions (Power On Self Test,
console/keyboard control, COM port control, etc.) it provides support for WindowsCE booting,
for a ROM disk (as boot drive A:) accessible from any operating system through the standard
BIOS int1 calls, and it allows to redirect the standard console/keyboard output/input over one
of the four serial COM ports replacing the expensive video output by a simple serial
connection. The full description of the standard BIOS API calls is not repeated here but may be
found in standard PC-AT literature.
4.1.2. Console
The „console“ is the system device, through which the operating system and the BIOS (and also
the applications programs) handle input/output. The „console device“ is the physical device
displaying and accepting information, e.g. the VGA-screen/keyboard or a terminal connected
via the serial port.
The console can be assigned to the console device according to the user’s need. The linking of
the console to the desired console device is called „console redirection“ or „redirection“. The
console can be redirected in the BIOS and in the DOS and care must be taken, not to mix or to
select contradictory settings.
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4.1.3. BIOS Console Redirection
In the Embedded BIOS the console function is separated into a „console I/O“ and a „set up
I/O“. The I/O’s can be redirected independently and also depend from the start up mode of the
NETIPC board. The relationsship is as follows:
Start-U Mode Console I/O to: Set-U I/O to: Remarks
RUN 0: Video (factory set)
1: COM1
2: COM2
: COM
4: COM4
0: Video (factory set)
1: COM1
2: COM2
: COM
4: COM4
0 (= Video) requires
connection of
video/keyboard
devices or a redirection
in DOS
Boot Loader - COM1 (factory set) cannot be redirected
Boot Loader
Diagnostics
-COM1 (factory set) cannot be redirected
BIOS Diagnostics 0: Video (factory set)
1: COM1
2: COM2
: COM
4: COM4
0: Video (factory set)
1: COM1
2: COM2
: COM
4: COM4
0 (= Video) requires
connection of
video/keyboard
devices or a redirection
in DOS
Tab. 1 BIOS Console Redirection
4.1.4. DOS Console Redirection
In the operating system (e.g. DOS) the console can additionally be redirected (e.g. to a „remote
console“ service via serial link or via Ethernet-TCP/IP). Warning: whenever a DOS-console
redirection is enabled, the Embedded BIOS redirection should be 0.
4.2. POST (Power-On Self-Test)
The POST (= Power-On Self-Test) is a resident firmware (part of the BIOS) which is executed
each time the NETIPC board is powered on or is RESET. The POST executes a number of
hardware tests (memory check, interrupt structure, etc.). If the POST does not find any errors or
malfunctions, the operating system and applications programs are started. If, however, the
POST finds errors or malfunctions, it communicates via two mechanisms with the user:
Fatal Errors: the RED LED on the front flashes ON-OFF
Notes:
a) the number of OFF-pulses after the pause indicates the POST error-code (see Tab. 2);
b) the target will not continue. i.e. it will not boot the BIOS and/or the operating system !
Soft Errors: If a soft error is found, it will be displayed at the end of the POST on the standard
system console.
Note: during its execution, the POST writes its progress to the output port 0x80. The sequence
of result codes written into this port is listed in the Tab. . By using a special hardware
listening and logging the arriving progress codes on the port 0x80, the progress can be
monitored.
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4.3. Diagnostic Mode
The diagnostic mode of the NETIPC can be entered by setting the start-up pins of the keyboard
connector to the „diagnostic mode“ (see NETIPC manual) and resetting. In diagnostic mode
special code may be executed for factory diagnostics.
4.4. ROM Disk
4.4.1. General Information
The ROM disk is a binary image (sector by sector) of a real floppy disk that is located
anywhere in the protected mode address space of the NETIPC processor. If the BIOS is
configured to support the ROM disk, it treats it like a floppy drive A:, allowing booting of the
operating system out of the ROM disk.
4.4.2. Make a 704kB ROM-Disk Image
On delivery the BIOS is configured to support a ROM disk located at address f00000h with a
maximum size of 704 kbyte. The binary image is generated using a DOS batch file
'MAKEDRVX.BAT' located in directory C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\EDOSROM (for
Embedded DOS-ROM), C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\MSDOS (for MS-DOS) and
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\NONDOSOS (for non-DOS operating systems). These batch files
contain the following steps:
1. First an empty diskette image is created with the maximum allowable size (e.g.
704 kbytes).
2. Secondly the system files, utilities and predefined application programs are
copied into the disk image using a disk imaging tool located in directory
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\UTIL
To make the ROM-Disk image, please proceed as follows:
1. Edit the command file MAKEDRVX.BAT to include your applications programs.
Note: in the command file delivered, the monitor program CUBMON.EXE is
included. CUBMON is part of the CUB/IOCOMSW-1A software package which
must be installed before using MAKEDRVX.BAT in order to use the program.
CUBMON.EXE may be deleted from the MAKEDRVX.BAT if not required.
WARNING: do not delete the DOS.SYS, IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS,
COMMAND.COM, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT entries from
MAKEDRVX.BAT!
2. Save MAKEDRVX.BAT
. Start MAKEDRVX.BAT (Enter
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\EDOSROM>MAKEDRVX
4. Note that no error messages are allowed during the process of ROM-drive image
generation (please observe the running output on your screen carefully).
4.4.3. Make a 1.44MB ROM-Disk Image
On delivery the BIOS is configured to support a ROM disk located at address f00000h with a
maximum size of 704 kbyte. Some NETIPC boards (e.g. IPC/NETIPC-2A,- A,-5A) support a
full 1.44 MByte ROM-Disk Image.
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Note: this image must be located at address e00000h in the target and the BIOS must be
configured for a 1.44 MByte ROM-Drive.
The binary image is generated using a DOS batch file 'MAKEDRV2.BAT' located in directory
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\EDOSROM (for Embedded DOS-ROM),
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\MSDOS (for MS-DOS) and C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\NONDOSOS
(for non-DOS operating systems).
These batch files contain the following steps:
. First an empty diskette image is created with the maximum allowable size (e.g.
1.44 MBytes).
4. Secondly the system files, utilities and predefined application programs are
copied into the disk image using a disk imaging tool located in directory
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\UTIL
To make the ROM-Disk image, please proceed as follows:
5. Edit the command file MAKEDRV2.BAT to include your applications programs.
Note: in the command file delivered, the monitor program CUBMON.EXE is
included. CUBMON is part of the CUB/IOCOMSW-1A software package which
must be installed before using MAKEDRV2.BAT in order to use the program.
CUBMON.EXE may be deleted from the MAKEDRV2.BAT if not required.
WARNING: do not delete the DOS.SYS, IO.SYS, MSDOS.SYS,
COMMAND.COM, CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT entries from
MAKEDRV2.BAT!
6. Save MAKEDRV2.BAT
7. Start MAKEDRV2.BAT (Enter
C:\FBCUBE\NETIPCFW\EDOSROM>MAKEDRV2
8. Note that no error messages are allowed during the process of ROM-drive image
generation (please observe the running output on your screen carefully).
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4.4.4. Download the ROM-Disk Image
The binary image generated by MAKEDRVX.BAT or MAKEDRV2.BAT must be downloaded
to the boot block flash memory using the Boot Loader program (see chapter of this manual).
A command file is available, please proceed as follows:
1. Start boot loader program
2. Enter: EDRIVE_X or EDRIVE_2 (command file for download of Embedded
DOS-ROM), MDRIVE_X or MDRIVE_2 (command file for download of MS-
DOS), NDRIVE_X or NDRIVE_2 (command for download of non-DOS
operating system)
. Quit boot loader program.
Note: xDRIVE_X downloads the ROM-Disk image to address f00000h, xDRIVE_2 to
address e00000h in the target. With xDRIVE_X the maximum allowable image size is 704
kBytes, with xDRIVE_2 it is 1.44 MBytes. Downloading an image with a bigger size may
overwrite the BIOS and BIOS extensions and result in unpredictiple behaviour of the target
system. Check the NETIPC hardware documentation to verify if your target supports only 704
kByte or also 1.44 MByte ROM-Disk images. Both MAKEDRVX.BAT and
MAKEDRV2.BAT generate the same output file DRIVE_X.BIN, so be shure to regenerate it
when changing from one size to the other before downloading the image.
4.4.5. Enabling ROM-Drive
Enabling the support of the ROM disk is done using the Binary Configuration Program. The
ROM-disk is already correctly enabled and defined for a 704 kByte ROM-Drive when the
NETIPC is delivered !
When changing to another image size, the BIOS must be adjusted in the ‘Drive Assignment’
menu of the Binary Configuration Program and downloaded to the target. ‘ROM Drive 704 k’
selects image start address at f00000h (max. size 704 kbytes), ‘ROM Drive 1.44 M’ selects
image start address at e00000h (max. size 1.44 MBytes).
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4.5. Binary Configuration Program BCP/BCPX
The Binary Configuration Program „BCP“ is an interactive DOS program that allows to read,
modify and write back the binary BIOS image file on the host PC. The modified BIOS image
must be downloaded to the NETIPC board using the Boot Loader program. Currently two
versions of this program are available:
•BCP.EXE: binary configuration program for Embedded BIOS 4.x.
•BCPX.EXE: binary configuration program for Embedded BIOS 5.x.
BCP patches the binary BIOS file BIOS.BIN while BCPX patches the binary BIOS file
BIOSF.BIN.
WARNING: be very careful when changing BIOS parameters. Make sure that you understand
each parameter you change and do not change in case of doubt. A wrongly configured BIOS
may result in malfunction or inoperability of the NETIPC or an Input-/Output-module !
4.5.1. Modifiable O tions
The following options may be modified using BCP(X):
Menu Target Board
Allows setting of the target board type. This has effects on the setting of some board type
dependent options, e.g. maximum memory size.
Note: Always set the Target Board before modifying other parameters.
Menu COM orts
For each of the four COM ports the I/O base address, the BIOS int14 initialization byte,
automatic RTS assertion and clock scaling in BIOS int14 initialization routine may be defined.
The init byte is set to 9600 baud, no parity, 8 data bits, one stop bit by default. Automatic RTS
and DTR assertion is enabled by default and may be disabled in case the COM port is used with
half duplex RS485 driver circuit where the transmitter enable is controlled by the RTS line.
Clock scaling is used to scale the baud rate divisor in case of a non standard clock frequency
attached to the COM ports UART device. It is set to 0 by default for the standard 1.84 2 MHz
clock. Select 1 for .6864 MHz and 2 for 7. 728 MHz clocks.
Note: When defining the COM1..4 I/O ports, no gap (e.g. COM = I/O port 0) must be
configured.
Menu LPT orts
Allows setting of the I/O base address for each of the three LPT ports supported by the BIOS.
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