The go-to place for all IBM PS/2 and Micro Channel enthusiasts
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Configuring the Ports
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Configuring the Parallel
Ports
Parallel-Port
Compatibility Mode
Assigning
Parallel Ports
Viewing
Parallel-Port Assignments
Changing
Parallel-Port Assignments
Configuring the Serial
Ports
Assigning
Serial Ports
Viewing
Serial-Port Assignments
Changing
Serial-Port Assignments
Configuring
the Parallel Ports
The system programs allow you to view and change parallel
port assignments. Go to Viewing Parallel-Port Assignments for the procedures
to view and change parallel port assignments.
The parallel ports are most often used to communicate
with parallel printers; however, parallel communications is an effective
method of communicating with a variety of parallel devices.
The parallel ports can send and receive data. Although
the parallel ports have 25 pins, only eight of them are used to transfer
data; the rest are used for status and control functions.
Your system is equipped with two parallel ports; one standard
port (port B), and one ExpressPrint(*), port (port A). If you
are going to use a local printer dedicated to one system only, connect
the printer to the standard parallel port. If you are going to share
the printer with other computers connected to a network, using the standard
parallel port can greatly reduce the speed that the information is sent
to your local printer. However, if you attach the shared printer to the
ExpressPrint port, the speed won't be affected.
Notes:
1. Additional software device drivers are required to enable
the high-speed function. Refer to your operating system documentation,
or contact your IBM authorized reseller or IBM marketing representative.
2. If you experience a problem with a non-IBM device when attaching
it to the parallel port, you might need to set the parallel port DMA (direct
memory access) arbitration level to "Disabled". See Changing the Configuration.
Subtopics:
o Parallel-Port Compatibility
Mode
o Assigning Parallel Ports
o Viewing Parallel-Port
Assignments
o Changing Parallel-Port
Assignments
Parallel-Port
Compatibility Mode
The sending and receiving of data is called bidirectional communications.
You can disable bidirectional parallel communications by using the Change
Configuration program. When bidirectional parallel communications are disabled,
the parallel port is in the compatibility mode. The term "compatibility"
is a bit misleading because it has very little to do with the parallel
port being compatible with hardware or software. As used here and
in the system-program help messages, it means only that the parallel port
operates like the one used in earlier personal computer models.
Assigning
Parallel Ports
Software recognizes parallel ports by their parallel port
assignments. No two parallel ports can have the same parallel-port
assignment. This is normally handled by the Automatic Configuration
program, but you might have special hardware or software that requires
you to change these assignments.
You can set the parallel ports as Parallel 1, 2, 3, or
4, through the system programs. At the time of shipment, the high-speed
parallel port is set as parallel 1, and the standard parallel port is set
as parallel 2.
Many operating systems and application programs have a
setup program that defines the location of the printer and the type of
printer attached. Many use LPT (for line printer) to refer to parallel
1. If you are not sure of your parallel-port assignments, you can
use the system programs to view them.
Viewing
Parallel-Port Assignments
To view a parallel-port assignment:
1. Turn on the system. When the F1 prompt appears, press F1.
The system programs Main Menu appears.
Note:
For disk-array models, insert the Reference Diskette into the primary diskette
drive, then turn on the system. Or, if the system is turned on already,
insert the Reference Diskette and press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. Select Set configuration from the Main Menu.
3. Select View configuration.
The standard parallel port is listed on the screen
under "Built In Features." You cannot change the parallel-port assignment
from this menu.
Changing
Parallel-Port Assignments
To change a parallel-port assignment:
1. Turn on the system. When the F1 prompt appears, press F1.
The system programs Main Menu appears.
Note: For disk-array models, insert the Reference
Diskette into the primary diskette drive, then turn on the system.
Or, if the system is turned on already, insert the Reference Diskette and
press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. Select Set configuration from the Main Menu.
3. Select Change configuration.
4. Use the Up Arrow key or the Down Arrow key to highlight the
parallel-port assignment. Use F5 and F6 to scroll through the list
of available choices and make a selection. If the parallel-port assignment
conflicts with another assignment, an asterisk appears next to the conflicting
setting. You must change one of the conflicting settings to a nonconflicting
value.
5. Press F10 to save the new assignment.
6. If your server is a non-array model, back up the System Partition.
See Backing Up and Restoring the System Partition.
If your server is a disk-array model, it does not
have a System Partition. The changes made in this procedure were
saved when you pressed F10 in a previous step.
Note:
The Automatic Configuration program resets any customized parallel-port
settings.
Configuring
the Serial Ports
The system programs allow you to view and change serial
port assignments. Go to Viewing Serial-Port Assignments for the procedures
to view and change the serial port assignments.
Serial ports provide an effective way of communicating
with a variety of serial devices, such as serial plotters and printers.
You also can use them to set up communications between two computers, using
a null modem, or over telephone lines, using a modem.
The serial port sends and receives data 1 bit at a time,
as opposed to the parallel port, which sends and receives 8 bits at a time.
The serial port can transmit data at speeds ranging from 300 to 345600
bits per second. The bits-per-second measurement is commonly referred
to as the baud rate.
Your system comes with two 9-pin serial ports. Additional
serial ports can be added by installing a serial adapter in one of the
expansion slots.
Note: If you experience a
problem with a non-IBM device when attaching it to the serial port, you
might need to set the serial port DMA (direct memory access) arbitration
level to "Disabled". See Changing the Configuration.
Subtopics:
o Assigning Serial Ports
o Viewing Serial-Port Assignments
o Changing Serial-Port Assignments
Assigning
Serial Ports
Software recognizes serial ports from their serial-port
assignments. No two serial ports can be set the same. This
normally is handled by the Automatic Configuration program, but you might
have special hardware or software that requires you to change these assignments.
You can set either serial port as Serial 1 through Serial
16 by using the system programs.
Many operating systems and application programs have a
setup program that defines the location and speed (baud rate) of a modem,
or the location and type of serial printer. Many use "COM" (short
for "Communications") to refer to the serial ports. For example,
COM1 is the equivalent of Serial 1. If you are not sure of your serial-port
assignments, you can use the system programs to view them.
Viewing
Serial-Port Assignments
To view a serial-port assignment:
1. Turn on system. When F1 prompt appears, press F1. System programs
Main Menu appears.
Note:
For disk-array models, insert Reference Diskette into primary diskette
drive, then turn on system. Or, if system is turned on already, insert
Reference Diskette and press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. Select Set configuration from the Main Menu.
3. Select View configuration.
The serial port is listed on the screen under "Built
In Features." You cannot change the serial-port assignment from this
menu.
Changing
Serial-Port Assignments
To change a serial-port assignment:
1. Turn on the system and when the F1 prompt appears on the screen,
press F1. The system programs Main Menu appears.
Note:
For disk-array models, insert the Reference Diskette into the primary diskette
drive, then turn on the system. Or, if the system is turned on already,
insert the Reference Diskette and press Ctrl+Alt+Del.
2. Select Set configuration from the Main Menu.
3. Select Change Configuration.
4. Use the Up Arrow key or the Down Arrow key to highlight the
serial-port assignment. Use F5 and F6 to scroll through the list
of available choices and make a selection. If the serial-port assignment
conflicts with another assignment, an asterisk appears next to the conflicting
setting. You must change one of the conflicting settings to a nonconflicting
value.
5. Press F10 to save the new assignment.
6. If your server is a non-array model, back up the System Partition.
See Backing Up and Restoring the System Partition.
If your server is a disk-array model, it does not
have a System Partition. The changes made in this procedure were
saved when you pressed F10 in a previous step.
Note:
The Automatic Configuration program resets any customized serial-port
settings.
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