XIRCOM TOKEN RING ADAPTER Additional Information SmartRing Software Version 3.12 September 8, 1992 README.DOC Updated February 15, 1994 ======================================================================== Welcome to a new level of connectivity convenience. The Xircom Token Ring Adapters are the easiest to use token ring adapters available. Be sure to fill out and return your Product Registration Card and record your model and serial number on page ii of the Xircom User's Guide. The following information may not be contained in the User's Guide. This README.DOC was updated on February 15, 1994, to incorporate additional notes for users of Xircom's 4Mbps Pocket Token Ring Adapters, models PT04BT and PT04B3. See "PT04 Notes" following the "Utilities" section of this document for specific details. GENERAL ------- This release of SmartRing(tm) software supports all Xircom Token Ring Adapters: Pocket Token Ring Adapter, External Token Ring Adapter, and Pocket Token Ring Adapter II. ENHANCEMENTS ------------ The enhancements and features of this release are: 1) Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) capabilities in all DOS drivers. 2) Support for IBM OS/2 version 2.00 3) Sign-on messages for DOS SmartRing(tm) drivers displaying parallel port mode (non-bidirectional, bidirectional, or enhanced). 4) TRMLID.COM (ODI driver) - "max frame size" parameter specification is supported for NET.CFG. 5) TRSETUP.EXE - includes auto media sensing capability for External Token Ring Adapters, and may now be loaded as a device driver in CONFIG.SYS, as well as being run from the command line. UTILITIES --------- New utilities include: 1) TRSETUP.OS2 - setup utility for OS/2 with same functionality as TRSETUP.EXE, used as device driver. 2) EPP.SYS and EPP.COM - utilities for enabling/disabling EPP mode in EPP-capable machines. PT04 NOTES ---------- This release of SmartRing Software is being provided to users of Xircom's 4Mbps Pocket Token Ring Adapters to allow added functionality and bug fixes. This release fixes the following problem: 1) When using Windows, machines no longer hang upon exit and re-entry into Windows. The following items are known limitations of this software. 1) When using NetWare 4.0 or 4.01, use of the VLM.EXE shell (rather than NETX.EXE) is not supported. 2) The DOS ODI driver (TRMLID.COM) does not support promiscuous mode for use with network analyzer products such as Novell's LANalyzer. 3) IBM ThinkPad models 700 and 720 are only supported at 25mhz speed. 4) OS/2 2.1 is not supported with SMARTND.OS2. A beta driver is available for use with OS/2 2.1. Contact Technical Support for further information. The following are workarounds that can be used with this release: 1) NEC UltraLite Versa: If your Pocket Token Ring Adapter gives an EEPROM failure, type MODE LPT1=COM1. If the adapter then works, add the MODE LPT1=COM1 command to either your AUTOEXEC.BAT batch file, or the batch file you use to start your network. 2) IBM ThinkPads 700 and 720 (with 25/50 mhz processor speed): Slow down processor speed to 25 mhz in the ThinkPad setup. MICROSOFT WINDOWS(tm) 3.1 NOTES ------------------------------- If you are using Microsoft Windows(tm) version 3.1 with SMARTIPX, you will receive error messages stating that you need to use a newer version of Novell's IPX. A subsequent version of SMARTIPX will contain updated IPX code. The ODI driver, TRMLID, will operate correctly in this environment. See the User's Guide for installation instructions for the ODI driver. MICROSOFT LAN MANAGER NOTES --------------------------- If you are using Microsoft LAN Manager version 2.0 or 2.1, the directory structure of the SmartRing Software diskettes has been modified to allow you to use LAN Manager's setup utility for easier installation. The instructions for installation are as follows: LAN MANAGER VERSION 2.1 FOR DOS AND OS/2 ---------------------------------------- 1. Begin installation of LAN Manager 2.1 using "setup." 2. When prompted to select the available network adapter driver, choose "Other Driver" at the bottom of the screen. 3. When prompted, insert the SmartRing Software diskette labeled "NDIS Drivers" and press Enter. 4. Select "Xircom Token Ring Adapter" from the menu 5. Continue with the installation until it is completed. 6. Reboot your PC. LAN MANAGER VERSION 2.0 FOR DOS AND OS/2 ---------------------------------------- 1. Begin installation of LAN Manager 2.0 using "setup." At the "Import Network Drivers" screen, choose YES. 2. Insert the SmartRing Software diskette labeled "NDIS Drivers" and press Enter. 3. Select "Xircom Token Ring Adapter" from the list of drivers to import. 4. Continue with the installation. 5. At the Network Drivers menu, select "Xircom Token Ring Adapter" from the list of drivers to install. 6. Continue with the installation until it is complete. 7. Reboot your PC. NDIS NOTES ---------- If you are using the NDIS driver for DOS (SMARTND.DOS), it is recommended to modify your PROTOCOL.INI file to include the following parameter in the [XIRCDOS_NIF] section: MaxFrameSize = 2048 Refer to your User's Guide for specific information on installing and configuring the SMARTND.DOS driver. OS/2 NOTES ---------- If you are using OS/2 version 1.3 or earlier, use the SMARTND.OS2 driver located in the \NDIS_OS2 subdirectory, and the remaining configuration files from the \NDIS_OS2\V_1X subdirectory (such as the .NIF file and other MDGDLC files). Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) operation is not supported in this release of SMARTND.OS2. An EPP-capable version of SMARTND.OS2, along with the EPP.OS2 utility program, is available on the Xircom INFOSYS Bulletin Board System (BBS) at the number given at the end of this README.DOC. See the User's Guide for information on using the BBS. Parallel port mode is not displayed by SMARTND.OS2 in this release. A version of SMARTND.OS2, which displays parallel port mode (non-bidirectional, bidirectional, or enhanced), is available on the BBS. Local (pass-through) printing with the External Token Ring Adapter is not supported under OS/2 at this time. OS/2 INSTALLATION (VERSION 2.00) -------------------------------- 1) Configure OS/2 2.00 for an IBM 16/4 Token Ring adapter. 2) Copy SMARTND.OS2, XIRTOK.NIF to subdirectory containing IBMTOK.OS2, IBMTOK.NIF (\IBMCOM\MACS). 3) Edit CONFIG.SYS as follows: a) Change the line: DEVICE=C:\IBMCOM\MACS\IBMTOK.OS2 to read: DEVICE=C:\IBMCOM\MACS\SMARTND.OS2 4) Edit PROTOCOL.INI in \IBMCOM subdirectory as follows: a) Change all references of: IBMTOK_NIF to: XIRTOK_NIF - under the '[IBMLXCFG]' section, change: IBMTOK_nif = IBMTOK.nif to: XIRTOK_nif = XIRTOK.nif - under the '[LANDD_nif]'section(if it exists), change: Bindings = IBMTOK_nif to: Bindings = XIRTOK_nif - under the '[NETBEUI_nif]'section(if it exists), change: Bindings = IBMTOK_nif to: Bindings = XIRTOK_nif b) Add the following section to the end: [XIRTOK_NIF] Drivername = SMARTND$ OS2V2COMPATIBLE = YES AutoOpen = NO EPP INSTALLATION ---------------- The DOS drivers on this disk support personal computers (PCs) that have Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP) capability. This high-speed parallel port technology has been incorporated into Intel's 25Mhz SL chip set in the 82360SL I/O controller. To enable EPP mode on an EPP-compatible computer, the EPP.COM or EPP.SYS file must be loaded prior to loading a Xircom EPP-capable network driver. During loading, the network device driver will report that the driver is in ENHANCED MODE, except for SMARTND.OS2. If you are not certain that your PC supports EPP, you may load EPP.SYS or EPP.COM. The EPP utility will display a message reporting that ENHANCED PARALLEL PORT HARDWARE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED or THIS COMPUTER IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH ENHANCED PARALLEL PORT HARDWARE. MACHINE SPECIFICS ----------------- The following Enhanced Parallel Port (EPP)-capable machines have been tested as of the time of this release. This list will change as new machines with EPP capability become available. Compaq Contura Compaq LTE Lite/20 & Lite/25** Dell 325 NC Everex Carrier SL/25 GRiD 1660 IBM N45 SL NCR 3170 Safari Zenith MastersPort 386SLe Zenith Z-Note 320 and 325 ** To enable EPP on the Compaq Lite, first use the machine's SETUP program to change the default LPT port from LPT1 to LPT2. If you are using any Compaq machine with SMARTND.DOS and the Xircom Parallel Port Multiplexor (PPX), the machine's parallel port will come up in non-bidirectional mode. A beta version of SMARTND.DOS is available on the Xircom BBS which allows bi-directional operation. When using a Mitsuba Ninja or Packard Bell 286 LPV under NetWare, Interrupt 7A must be disabled by creating a SHELL.CFG file containing the line: INT7A=OFF TECHNICAL SUPPORT ----------------- If you have any other questions or problems or would like to verify the latest version of software, please contact Xircom Technical Support between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Pacific Time in the U.S.). Current drivers are available on Xircom's electronic Bulletin Board System. Refer to the Preface in your User's Guide for details. XIRCOM (U.S.A.) TEL: (800) 874-4428 inside the United States TEL: (818) 878-7600 direct BBS: (818) 878-7618 (24-hour data line) XIRCOM EUROPE TEL: +32/(0) 3 326 34 94 BBS: +32/(0) 3 326 23 68 (24-hour data line) From other areas, contact your local reseller or distributor. Enjoy your Xircom Token Ring Adapter! ===============================[ END ]================================