kdb244: Installing the DFlex Serial Adapter Under Solaris 2.6

Title: Installing the DFlex Serial Adapter Under Solaris 2.6
Date: January 13, 2006
KDB: KDB-244
Revision: 0.01
Author: Support
Distribution: External

Introduction:

Solaris 2.6 does not utilize the asy.conf as previous Solaris releases. Instead the installation requires the use of the Device Configuration Assistant (devconf).

Procedure:

1. Assuming the system is up and running Solaris at the moment, execute this command as root:
   touch /reconfigure ; reboot
2. During the start of the reboot into Solaris there is a five second countdown where the Escape key can be hit to go into the Device Configuration Assistant. Hit when you see that prompt.
3. Now hit to scan the system for devices that devconf recognizes by default. A partial scan can miss some items, so do a full scan.
4. If the device is not listed after the scan is complete, hit to go into the Device Tasks screen. If it is listed, then devconf does recognize the device and to continue and boot from the hard drive should allow it to be recognized by Solaris. If not, a call for installation support may be needed for that device.
5. Assuming the device did not show up in that list in the Device Tasks screen. Use the cursor key to position over the checkbox for View/Edit Devices, hit the spacebar to select it, and then to go there.
6. In this screen use the key to Add Device, like serial ports. So hit the key to add the device.
7. Use the cursor key to position over the correct device type that is being added and hit the spacebar to select it. In the case of this example select Serial Port. Then hit to continue to the next screen.
8. Enter an I/O address list (PORT on the screen) by doing the usual spacebar selection, to continue sequence. Serial ports are a range of 8 consecutive addresses, even though most documentation only refers to the starting address. Enter a range by separating the low and high numbers with a “-” character. If multiple non-consecutive ports are used by the device, add then in multiple steps. Ranges and single port addresses can be mixed in the list. Remember that all port addresses are in hex, although not leading number is required since hex is expected by devconf. In the example of putting COM3 at I/O address 280 enter 280 – 287.
9. Enter the IRQ value for the device, if any. These numbers are decimal, not hex, so be aware of that when entering this value. In the example for putting COM3 at IRQ 5 enter a 5s here.
10. There are two other items that can be entered for devices on this screen. They are DMA and Memory. Neither apply to a serial port device, typically. The DMA value is a DMA channel used by devices that can directly read and write memory. All devices need to have unique values here. The Memory is where the memory ranges used by the device can be specified. (This step not needed for the DFlex.)
    (NOTE: Repeats step 8 – 10 for each port of the DFlex.)
11. Once the device has been properly defined here, hit to add it to the list of devices defined for your system. If a mistake is made while defining it, hit to cancel and start the definition over again. No editing is allowed. If any conflicts are found with known devices you will be told which device it conflicts with and the definition will not be added. In that case correct the conflict or change the part of the definition that was wrong.
12. If there are no conflicts, hit to continue. The Device Tasks screen will appear.
13. From Device Tasks, hit to return to the Identified Devices screen.
14. From the Identified Devices screen, hit to load in the needed drivers and to get the Boot Solaris screen.
15. Make sure the default boot device is selected (in this case the hard drive is the choice) and hit to boot.
16. If a touch /reconfigure ; reboot was not done before rebooting then do a b -r at the Select (b)oot or (i)nterpreter: prompt.
17. Once the system comes up, do a prtconf command to see if the device was recognized by Solaris. Also look for the device file in the /dev tree. For COM3 this would be /dev/cua/c. The prtconf output would now have a new line showing a new instance of the asy driver.
18. Once the ports have been added, configure the serial communications by modifying the /etc/uucp/Devices file to include:
    Direct cua/a – 9600 direct
    Direct cua/b – 9600 direct
    Direct cua/c – 9600 direct
    Direct cua/d – 9600 direct
    (And so on for the number of ports needed. Note: a and b are Standard Com 1 and 2.)

End of KDB-244