Title: DFlex ISA Serial I/O WindowsNT v3.51/4.00 Installation
Keywords: DFlex WindowsNT Install
Date: May 26, 1997
KDB: KDB-132
Revision: 0.03
Author: Support
Distribution: External
General Discussion
The Connect Tech Inc. DFlex non-intelligent serial communications adapters are fully compatible with Windows NT version 3.51 and 4.0x. The DFlex functions with the Microsoft supplied standard Windows NT serial device driver.
The DFlex can provide good through-put under Windows NT. In our tests using a DFlex-8 with the “Complex Interrupt” method in a Pentium Pro 200, the DFlex-8 achieved throughput of over 11000 CPS per port simultaneously receiving and transmitting.
The following procedure describes how to install an DFlex board into a computer running Windows NT (version 3.51/4.00).
DFlex Hardware Installation
The following procedure describes how to install an DFlex board into a
computer running Windows NT (version 3.51/4.0X).
1) Shutdown your computer.
2) Install the DFlex board with the below settings:
- We suggest using IRQ 10 or 11 (for this example we will use 10), so connect the IRQ jumper across the middle post to IRQ10 channel A. Ensure the B jumper is contacting no more than one IRQ jumper pin.
- We suggest using I/O address port 280h as the Base I/O port address for the first UART, the Dip Switch settings for that are (off off on off on off off on).
- Note: Other I/O Port and IRQ settings are possible with the DFlex see the DFlex manual for more information.
3) You can now power up your computer.
Software setup
1) Once Windows has booted, login as administrator (installation specific
account etc.).
2) Open the Control_Panel → Ports applet.
3) Click on the Add button.
4) Set the desired COM port number if necessary (this will default to next available COM port).
5) Enter the Base I/O Port addresses of the DFlex COM port(s), for example 280, 288, 290….etc.
6) Enter the DFlex Interrupt you chose, for example IRQ 10. Each DFlex port will use the same hardware interrupt.
7) Select the “Enable FIFO operation”, and press the “Done” button.
8) Each time you select done you will be prompted to reboot the system, you don’t need to reboot until you have entered ALL your DFlex ports as in steps 4.1 to 4.7. When you have entered the I/O addresses and the DFlex interrupt proceed to step 5.0.
DFlex hardware interrupt setup
The next step to configuring the DFlex under WindowsNT involves editing the registry for the purpose of describing the DFlex hardware interrupt. There are two methods for doing this, a simple method and a more complex method. We recommend the simple method for the first attempt at installing the DFlex. Once the DFlex is installed and functioning correctly, the user could proceed to the more complex method of interrupt configuration. The key difference between the two methods is that the more complex method achieves better efficiency and thoughput than with using the Simple method.
1) SIMPLE Interrupt Method (Shared Interrupt Scheme).
This series of steps involves editing the registry database to inform the WindowsNT serial driver that all the DFlex ports will share the same hardware Interrupt.
1.0) NT3.51:In the Administrative Tools Group, click the WinNT Diagnostics icon. Select the heading “Tools” and select “registry editor”.
1.1) NT4.00: Select the Start Menu->Run. Enter regedt32.exe, hit enter. This will bring up the WindowsNT Registry Editor.
1.2) Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Serial key.
1.3) On the right hand side you will see some information, double click the “PermitShare” value. This is the item we need to alter, the default is sharing OFF, we need to set sharing to ON. Double click this value and set it to 1.
1.4) Exit the registry editor, the changes are automatically saved.
1.5) You should now reboot your machine.
1.6) The serial ports should now be installed and operational. See section 4.0 for testing.
2) COMPLEX Interrupt Method (IRQ Status Port method).
This method involves writing information regarding the DFlex Status port to the WindowsNT registry. You will need to know the address of the DFlex status port you are using AND you must have DIP-Switch 7 set to ON. For our example of Base I/O address 280, the DFlex status port is at I/O address 2C0. We will use this for the example.
2.0) NT3.51:In the Administrative Tools Group, click the WinNT Diagnostics icon. Select the heading “Tools” and select “registry editor”.
2.1) NT4.00: Select the Start Menu->Run. Enter regedt32.exe, hit enter. This will bring up the WindowsNT Registry Editor.
2.2) Select the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Serial\Parameters key. For each Serial# (Serial1000n) associated with your DFlex ports (COM3, COM4 etc.) you will need to add two new registry values.
2.2.0) InterruptStatus value: In the Menu Bar choose “Edit, then Add Value”, enter in the values EXACTLY as below.
Value name : InterruptStatus
Data Type : REG_DWORD
Value : 2C0 (Highlight Hex format Tick Box)
The “Value” is the address of the DFlex status port corresponding to I/O address range. All DFlex ports on a single board will have the same status port address. So each key Serial10000, Serial10001…. Serial1000n will have the same value.
2.2.1) PortIndex value: In the Menu Bar choose “Edit, then Add Value”, enter
in the values EXACTLY as below. For value be sure to select hex format.
Value name : PortIndex
Data Type : REG_DWORD
Value : 1
So each key Serial10000, Serial10001…. Serial1000n will get a unique entry for the Value. You will enter 1 for DFlex port one, 2 for port two, etc.
2.3) Exit the registry editor, the new values you added will automatically be saved and then reboot the computer.
2.4) The serial ports should now be installed and operational. See section 4.0 for testing.
Testing
1) You can use the Terminal (3.51) and HyperTerminal (4.0x) communications programs to access the DFlex Com port (or any Com port for that matter). For example you could connect a loopback connector to a DFlex ports and test each DFlex port in turn.
2) Loopback connectors:
DB-9: RS-232
————
Connect pins.
1-4
2-3
7-8
DB-9: RS-485
————
Connect Pins.
1-2
3-4
6-7
8-9
Miscellaneous Things to note about Windows NT v3.51/4.00
1) This driver can support up to 255 serial ports. The limiting factor is the number of ISA slots and available IRQ’s and I/O ports.
2) There is no direct support for RS485 1/2 duplex or multidrop communications within the Microsoft drivers.
3) The RS-422 interface will work in point to point, full duplex and multidrop communications.
4) The 20mA Current Loop interface is functions normally.
5) The WindowsNT serial driver supports standard 16450 and 16550 UARTs, the 16650 UART will also work and provide an advantage.
End of KDB-132