150 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
150 lines
5.0 KiB
Plaintext
AST RESEARCH TECHNICAL BULLETIN TB-0279 05/29/87
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AST PCNET/PCNET II QUICK REFERENCE MATERIAL
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Due to the discontinuance of AST PCnet and PCnet II Local
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Area Network (LAN) products, effective April 15, 1987, (the
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generic term "AST-PCnet" refers to both AST-PCnet and PCnet
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II) only limited support will be available for these
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products. Users who are having problems or wish to expand
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their AST PCnet systems will be directed to upgrade to AST-
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ADVANCED NETWARE or the AST-NETBIOS OPTION for network
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software needs. Existing AST-PCnet hardware users who wish
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to expand may do so via the bridging capabilities provided
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with AST-Advanced Netware. The following information was
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gathered from AST Technical Support, Marketing, and
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Engineering documentation, or PCnet manuals in reference to
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PCnet hardware exclusively.
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HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY
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PCnet hardware compatibility is dependent on the hardware
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configuration. Providing there are no I/O address range,
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IRQ line, DMA channel or network ID conflicts and the cables
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are properly terminated, the cards should function in IBM
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PC, XT AT and compatibile computers. The boards have been
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tested successfully in machines operating at 4.77, 6, 8, and
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10 megahertz. Most incompatibility problems are the result
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of a non-IBM ROM BIOS or non-IBM MS-DOS. Recently, it has
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been discovered that PCnet adapter cards are adversely
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affected by the AST-3G and all other EGA boards. Current
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EGA users should be guided towards the AST-RSN to avoid any
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problems.
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AST-PCNET I HARDWARE OVERVIEW
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The AST-PCnet I Local Area Network (LAN) adapter board
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includes an interface to the network and runs at 800k bits
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per second over 75 ohm CATV coaxial cable using CSMA/CD
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access method. The maximum cable length is 2,000 feet using
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RG 59 B/U cable, or 5,000 feet using RG 11/U cable.
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AST PCNET I HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
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The AST PCnet I board came factory configured as follows:
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1. I/O address range 380-38f hex (not alterable)
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2. IRQ line 2
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3. DMA channel 1 (not alterable)
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Each node (PC) on the network must have a unique network ID
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number. The ID numbers are hexadecimal numbers ranging from
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11 to EF. To ensure future compatibility, assign network
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IDs in order.
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DIP switch SW-2 on the AST-PCnet I board sets the ID number.
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(see table 1-1 on page 6 for Network ID select.)
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The two PCs at the extreme ends of the network cable must be
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terminated with 75-ohm terminators.
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Refer to page 3 for cabling diagram, and pages 4 and 5 for
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hardware layout.
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NOTE: As a portion of the data is in pictorial form, it is not
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included here. To obtain a complete copy of this
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technical bulletin, contact:
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AST RESEARCH, INC.
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2121 Alton Avenue
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Irvine, California 92714-4992
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Attention: Product Support
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(Technical Bulletin)
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AST-PCNET II HARDWARE OVERVIEW
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The AST-PCnet II Local Area Network (LAN) adapter board
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includes an interface to the network and runs at 800k bits
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per second over Twisted Wire Pair (TWP) cable using CSMA/CA
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access method. The maximum cable length is 500 feet (150
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meters) of Belden type 8442 TWP cable (or equivalent cable
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rated 120 ohm). Up to 32 PCs can be connected to each 500-
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foot segment of TWP cable.
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In addition to the standard model, the AST PCnet II board
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was also available with the repeater board circuitry that
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allows the extension of the length of the network past the
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500 foot limit. The distinguishing features of the repeater
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board are two RJ-11 connectors (J1 and J2), where as the
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standard board has only one connector (J1). It was possible
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to connect up to four repeater boards to extend the network
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to a maximum 2,500 feet.
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AST-PCNET II HARDWARE CONFIGURATION
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The AST-PCnet II board came factory configured as follows:
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1. I/O address range 380-38F hex
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2. IRQ line 2
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3. DMA channel 1 (not alterable)
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4. Terminated (jumpered at T2)
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Each node (PC) on the network must have a unique network ID
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number. The ID numbers are hexadecimal numbers ranging from
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11 to EF. To insure future compatibility, assign network
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IDs in order.
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Dip switch SW-1 on the AST PCnet II board sets the ID
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number. (See table 1-1 on page 6 for Network ID select.)
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The two PCs at the extreme ends of the network cables must
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be terminated by placing a jumper in the T-2 position.
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Refer to page 8 for cabling diagram, pages 9 and 10 for
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hardware layout, and 11 and 12 for address and terminator
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selection.
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NOTE: As a portion of the data is in pictorial form, it is not
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included here. To obtain a complete copy of this
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technical bulletin, contact:
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AST RESEARCH, INC.
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2121 Alton Avenue
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Irvine, California 92714-4992
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Attention: Product Support
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(Technical Bulletin)
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