222 lines
9.2 KiB
Plaintext
222 lines
9.2 KiB
Plaintext
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AST RESEARCH, INC. TECHNICAL BULLETIN #TB-0342 11/19/8
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AST-5251/12 TROUBLESHOOTING
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This technical bulletin is written as a guide for trouble-
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shooting the AST-5251/12 software versions 4.0 and up.
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I. THINGS TO CHECK BEFORE RUNNING EMULATION
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A. Computer Checks
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1. DOS 3.20 has been known to cause problems, try to
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stay away from using it. DOS 2.1-3.1 and 3.3 works
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well.
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2. What kind of PC?
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a. IBM PC, XT and compatibles (using 8088 or 8086
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processors) - If a hard disk exists, IRQ5 and I/O
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address range 320-32F cannot be used.
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b. AT and AT compatibles (using 80286 processors) -
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IRQ5 is used by second parallel port (LPT2), if
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existent.
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c. Some clone computers might not work with AST's
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emulation board. Try changing IRQ's and I/O
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addresses.
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3. How much memory does the computer have?
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a. Need 256K minimum for emulation.
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b. Need 512K minimum for emulation with file
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transfer.
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c. Need over 256K to run CFG5251.EXE for DOS
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versions 3.0 and up.
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4. What does the computer have?
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a. If the computer has a serial port utilizing COM1,
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IRQ4 cannot be used.
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b. If the computer has a serial port utilizing COM2,
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IRQ3 cannot be used.
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c. Some real time clocks may use IRQ2.
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d. If the computer has a hard disk, I/O address
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range 320-32F and IRQ5 cannot be used (does not
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apply to AT or AT compatibles).
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B. AST-5251/12 Emulation Board Check
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1. Ensure no other board or device is using the IRQ and
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I/O address of the 5251/12 board. Change these
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switches and corresponding software configurations if
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a conflict is encountered.
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2. DTE mode: (going through a modem)
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a. Ensure the shunts on the top-right corner of the
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board are on positions U25 and U27.
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b. Make sure the "shorting plugs" (jumpers) on the
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board are on pins 1 and 3 (8 is not necessary).
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c. If an IBM, UDS or AT&T modem is used, some hardware
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modifications must be made. Remove the shunt from
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position U25 and bend pins (legs) 3 and 6 on the
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top row so that they will not make contact with the
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board when put back.
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d. The baud speed jumper is not used and does not have
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to be set.
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3. DCE mode: (no modem used)
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a. Ensure the shunts on the top-right corner of the
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board are on positions U26 and U28.
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b. Make sure the "shorting plugs" on the board are on
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pins 2 and 4 (8 is not necessary).
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c. Select the baud speed with the baud rate jumper.
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C. CFG5251 Configuration Program Check
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1. If PC Support or PC FSU is being used, make sure IBM-
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API is ON.
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2. Ensure the hardware configurations in CFG5251
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HARDWARE, corresponds to the actual hardware settings.
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3. Ensure the NRZI and SDLC settings match the host's
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configurations.
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4. Select the correct BPS (baud per second) speed for the
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specific modem being used.
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5. If using a color monitor change DSP_ADAPTER type to
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COLOR, NOSNOW.
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6. Ensure correct station address(s) is set in the
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STATION option. Address 0 must be a 5251/12 on both
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the PC and host (cannot be defined as a 5294
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controller). If other sessions are being used, the
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device type must match the device type configured on
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the host.
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7. If using a printer other than an EPSON, IBM, NEC, or
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DIABLO, the correct hex codes must be entered in the
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OPTIMIZATION option. These codes can be found in the
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manual for the specific printer.
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D. Miscellaneous Check
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1. DTE and DCE mode
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a. Make sure modems being used are synchronous.
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b. Ensure RS-232C is a 25 pin straight through cable
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(must have at least 11 conductors: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5,
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6, 7, 8, 15, 17, 20).
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II. THINGS TO CHECK WHILE TRYING TO BRING UP EMULATION
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A. Computer Locks Up As KERNEL Or APS Is Running
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1. IRQ conflict. Resolve conflict by changing IRQ on
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CC-432 or removing device that is conflicting with the
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emulation board. Could also be an I/O address
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conflict.
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2. Delete AST5251.CFG file and create a new one.
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3. Run emulation from floppy if currently using hard
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disk; copied files might be corrupted.
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B. Goes Through KERNEL and APS But No SA (System Available)
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1. Check cable and connections between modem (DTE mode)
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or host (DCE mode) and PC. Make sure all necessary
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pins exist. Use a cable that has been verified to be
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good. If no other cable is accessible, use a
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continuity test to check connections.
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2. Check that the session(s) defined in the CFG5251
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program matches host configurations. The host must be
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IPL'ed after changing configuration to make changes
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valid.
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3. Ensure the modems are good by having them tested or
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use a modem that has been verified as working.
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C. Gets SA (System Available) But No Sign On Screen.
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1. Ensure all error messages on the system console have
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been responded to.
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2. Ensure device type of PC matches host. Cannot be
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configured as a 5294 controller nor address 0 as a
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printer.
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3. Press <Shift><F1>-<Caps Lock> for regular keyboards
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(83/84 keys), or <Shift><Esc>-<Bottom Right Ctrl> for
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enhanced keyboards (101/102 keys).
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III. HINTS FOR ISOLATING PROBLEMS
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A. Have only the AST-5251/12 board and the boards absolutely
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necessary (monitor and disk controller) in the PC. This
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will give a good indication of whether the board is good
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or not, and whether the board is compatible with the
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specific computer.
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B. Have the customer dial into AST's System/36 to see if the
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computer and modems are configured properly and working.
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If able to sign on to our system, the computer, modem,
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cable and emulation card is good and the problem lies in
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the customers host system. If customer was not able to
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sign on, there is a problem on the customers site, either
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with configurations, modem, cable, a bad board, or a bad
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computer.
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C. Swapping devices: PC's, boards, modems, cables and any
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other device that may affect the workability of the
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emulation board is very useful for finding the source of
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a problem.
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IV. PROBLEMS WHILE EMULATION IS RUNNING
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A. "Error Reset" key does not function. Keep Error Reset
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key down for 3 seconds.
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B. Transferring enhanced keyboard file.
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1. Put copy of diskette 2 of 2 into drive A.
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2. Run ASTKBD from drive A.
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3. Select desired path.
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4. Select keyboard file UNITED_S.ENH.
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C. Printer prints but not in correct format (i.e., extra
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line-feeds, compressed mode ...)
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1. Enter correct printer hex codes for LINES/INCH,
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CHAR/INCH, RESET and VMI (vertical motion index) under
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the OPTIMIZATION option in CFG5251. These codes are
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found in the printer manual for the specific printer.
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D. Snow on color monitor screen. Change DSP_ADAPTER type to
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COLOR, NOSNOW.
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E. Sign on screen is very dim.
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1. Change DSP_ADAPTER type to COLOR COMPOSITE, NOSNOW.
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2. If computer is an AT&T 6300 or PS/2 model 30 change
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DSP_ADAPTER to COLOR COMPOSITE, NOSNOW and give
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display ATTRIBUTE fix (attached). This fix could also
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correct dim display problems for other computer types.
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F. Other sessions defined in the CFG5251 do not come up.
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Check Host's configurations to make sure the specified
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sessions are configured as display stations.
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Session 00, port 0 is work station address 0 in CFG5251
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Session 00, port 1 is work station address 2 in CFG5251
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Session 00, port 2 is work station address 3 in CFG5251
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Session 00, port 3 is 4 ... etc.
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