ITEM: E9753L

(GENERAL RAN 128-PORT ASYNC INFO)What does a p4 on a 16 port RAN mean?

Question:

AIX 3.2.4.
Risc 320.
16 port RAN.

What does a p4 in the display mean?. 19.2 modem baud type.
The modem is not accessable from the adapter.

Response:

REMOTE RAN CONFIGURATION AIDE

It is first possible that you have set up your SMIT screens incorrectly.
Here is some more detail on setting up through SMIT:

1) At the command line, enter smit 128psync.
2) Select Change/Show Characteristics of a 128-Port
Async Adapter.
The changeable parameters for the host adapter are:
Line 1 (2) Speed - Select the baud rate supported
by the synchronous modem and the
telephone line.
Line 1 (2) Cable Type - Must be 8-Wire.
Node 1 Comm Mode - See NOTE and Chart below.

3) Select Cconfigure Devices Added after IPL in smit, or
enter the command, cfgmgr from the command line. This
allows AIX to recognize the latest hardware change.

** NOTE **
When configuring the host adapter for synchronous modem
attachment of remote RANs, a "virtual" RAN must be
configured for operation (232_modem or 422_modem) IF
less than four RANs are connected on a host adapter line.

During synchronous modem operations, transmit and receive
clocks at both ends of the phone link control the precise
timing of the data flow. When a RAN is connected to the
host adapter locally (direct connect), the RAN uses an
internally generated clock to transmit data.

When a RAN is connected to the host adapter in a remote
connection via synchronous modems, the transmitted data
is exeternally clocked. In other words, the transmit clock
must be supplied from a modem.

The data flow return path to the host adapter (which is the
last RAN's TX clocking) must also be external.

** TABLE **

The '*' marks the "virtual RAN providing the external clocking
(232_modem is used in this example).

For One Remote Concentrator:

Node 1 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
* Node 2 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
Node 3 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
Node 4 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)

For Two Remote Concentrators:

Node 1 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
Node 2 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
* Node 3 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
Node 4 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)

For Three Remote Concentrators:

Node 1 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
Node 2 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
Node 3 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
* Node 4 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)

For Four Remote Concentrators:

Node 1 Comm Mode 232_modem (external clocking)
Node 2 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
Node 3 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)
Node 4 Comm Mode direct (internal clocking)

Another are to look for possible problems is the modem configuration.
DigiBoard has verified that these DSU's work with the default
sittings BUT some of the modems are shipped with incorrect jumpers
set in the DSU. Refer to your owners manual for the jumpers that
refer to "grounding signals". Signals inside the DSU must be grounded
and some DSU are shipped with these jumpers set so that grounding is
not done.

Make sure the Host side DSU is set for external clocking and the
remote DSU is set for repeator. Besides making sure the jumpers
are correct and setting Sync, 232, and baud it should work! For
future reference I'll append a list of modems that DigiBoard
has verified (either by testing themselves or by customers).

Here is some more information on RAN diags and display numbers:

RAN DIAGS
To run the internal diagnostics programs from the
RAN front panel, turn the RAN off and disconnect
it and any other RAN's to be tested from the host
adapter. Install a terminator plug on the RAN's
'OUT/T' connector, press and hold the right arrow
button while turning the power back on and wait for
the POST (Power On Self Test) to complete. When 'P0'
is displayed on the front panel and the 10 LEDs
(TD thru IFC) are clear, release the right arrow
button. If any of the LEDs stay on after the self
test completes refer to 'P0' LED discussion below
to determine the error detected.

Once the diagnostic mode has been entered, pressing
the right arrow button repeatedly will cycle through
all of the test numbers without executing the tests.
To execute a test, press the left arrow button while
the desired test number is displayed. The left-hand
decimal point of the 7-segment display will be turned
on to indicate that a test is in progress.

To stop running a test in progress, push the left arrow
button for approximately 1 second (or until the left-hand
decimal point in the 7-segment display goes off). The
test will terminate, and the 7-segment display will show
the test number preceded by 'P' (pass) or 'F' (fail).

To exit diagnostic test mode and return to the initialized
state ('P1' displayed), run Test 9, the Watchdog Timer test.
This test ends by resetting the RAN and running the POST
sequence.

Since it appears you are failing test 8 (EEPROM) you
should run this test. If this test fails and a service
call is made. I would like to know the QSAR number for
this concentrator so that we can track it through the
IBM channels and get it back to DigiBoard. We have not
seen this problem before on the IBM product line and
would be very interested in it. The QSAR number is
assigned by the service guy when he replaces the bad
concentrator I think.

What is En? I'll just go thru them all so that you can
teach the world.

'P0' - Power-On self test. During this phase the modem
signals (TD thru IFC) will come on starting with
TD. Each one corresponds to a particular test(s)
that has completed:
TD - Clear interrupts, Enable upper memory - EPROM
(16K), set peripheral chip select base address
& PCS 0-3, Enable lower memory - 128K DRAM,
Enable mid-range memory base address - EEPROM,
Set mid-range memory size & PCS 4-6, Processor
flag & register tests, Set enhanced mode for
the 80186, Perform LED & 7 segment display test,
display 'P0'.
RD - Test 64K DRAM from 00000H - 0FFFFH
RTS - Test 64K DRAM from 10000H - 1FFFFH
CTS - Set BIOS stack @ 1FC00H, Transfer interrupt
vectors from EPROM to DRAM, Mask all H/W
interrupts OFF, STI - Enable interrupts,
Real time clock is started.
DSR - Test the 16 async ports in internal loopback.
DCD - Test the sync port in internal loopback (422).
DTR - Test the sync port in internal loopback (232).
RI - EFC sync & async configuration is set, Sync
port is initialized for download.
OFC - EEPROM read, checksum, & node test performed.
IFC - EPROM data gets moved to DRAM data segment,
EPROM checksum is performed (VPD not included).

If any of the test fail and are considered 'FATAL' by
the BIOS, the LED will display 'Ed' (FATAL POST Error
Diagnostic). The following Modem signals will come on
based on the test failure detected:
RD - Lower 64K RAM memory error (00000H - 0FFFFH)
RTS - Upper 64K RAM memory error (10000H - 1FFFFH)
DCD - Sync RS-422/DMA test failure.

If any of the test fail and are considered 'NON FATAL' by
the BIOS, the LED will display 'P1' (Ping Packet). The
following Modem signals will come on based on the test
failure detected:
DTR - Internal loopback mode (232).
RI - Sync port initialization.
OFC - EEPROM read, checksum, & node test performed.

If there were no 'FATAL' errors, the POST diagnostics will
automatically proceed to the command mode 'P1' and wait
for sync packets from a Host Adapter Card or an operator
entry to select user diagnostics. After the 1 second delay
at the end of the POST diagnostics sequence, the display
will change from 'P0' to 'P1' and 3 LEDs (DTR/RI/OFC) will
begin cycling at a 200 ms rate as the command mode begins
listening for synchronous packets in three different modes.
Non-fatal errors will be displayed via the assigned LED
discussed above.

'P1' - Ping packet mode. Power on self test is complete,
relays are open and waiting for some to talk to this
RAN.

'P2' - RAN has received a Ping packet from the host. This
means that the host has succesfully transmitted a
Ping packet to this RAN. This Ping packet carries
the information that tells the RAN how to configure
itself, such as baudrate, 422/232, etc..

'P3' - This is NOT displayed on the LED's. Then the RAN
transmits a packet that contains the RAN's
physical characteristics for the host to determine
which download image to send it. The RAN has no
knowledge as to whether or not the packet was
successfully received by the host.

'P4' - Download image is being received from the host. The
RAN will normally stay at 'P4' for a length of time,
depending on the synchronous baud rate being used.

'En' - Error Node. A valid Ping Packet was received but the
node number in EEPROM is incorrect.

'AC' - ACtivity. "AC" appears in the display window. The
ten LEDs (TD thru IFC) turn on sequentially from
left to right. The speed of this "chase light" display
increases with the overall activity level of the RAN.

'0-15' - Modes 0 through 15 correspond to ports 0 through 15.
Press the right or left buttons until the desired port
number appears in the display window. The LEDs now
become a "line monitor" for the selected port. The
first eight LEDs indicators show the activity of each
of the eight RS-232 signals (TD, RD, RTS, CTS, DSR, DCD,
DTR, and RI) . The last two LED indicators show when
output flow control (OFC) and input flow control (IFC)
are active.

'PC' - Packet Count. "PC" appears in the display window, and the
ten LEDs show a binary representation of total number of
packets transmitted or received. Pressing both arrow
buttons simultaneously resets the count to 0.

'EC' - Error Count. "EC" appears in the display window, and the
ten LEDs show a binary representation of the total number
of errors counted in the data. Pressing both arrow buttons
simultaneously resets the count to 0.

'PU' - Process Utilization. "PU" appears in the display window,
and the ten LEDs become a bar graph indicating the
percentage (0 - 100%) of the time the RAN's microprocessor
is being used.

'LU' - Line Utilization. "LU" appears in the display window, and
the ten LEDs become a bar graph indicating the percentage
(0 - 100%) of the time the synchronous communications line
is being used.

'1n,2n,...8n' Node Number. The display window shows the node
number of the RAN. The ten LEDs behave as in "AC" mode.
The node numbers of the RANs in a daisy-chain must be
assigned in ascending order, from the RAN closest to the
host adapter, to the last RAN in the chain. Valid
node numbers are one (1) through four (4). With 5-8
reserved for future use.

Troubleshooting Tips
---------------------

Symptom: RAN displays 'P1' with DTR, RI and OFC LEDs scrolling.

Solution: Normal "waiting" mode of RAN, meaning there is no
communications from the host to the remote RAN. If
both modems are communicating, test the RANs synchronous
ports. Disconnect the RAN from the modem, connect the
standard daisy-chain cable between the RAN's "IN" port
and its "OUT/T" port. Run Diagnostic Test 6 (RS-422) or
Test 7 (RS-232) to test the sync ports on the RAN.

Symptom: RAN displays (and stays at) 'P2'.

Solution: The remote RAN has received a packet of data from the
host adapter. A data packet was sent back to the host
adapter but is not being received by the host. Make
sure the last remote RAN is terminated. Check the
configuration of Nodes in SMIT. Check node number assigned
to the RAN. Run Diagnostic Test 6 (or 7) to test the
sync ports on the RAN.

Symptom: RAN scrolls between 'P2' and 'P4'.

Solution: The RAN is attempting to execute the code downloaded to
the box, but the data may be corrupt. The 'P2' is another
attempt to send a packet to the host. This action may be
caused by a poor phone connection or the modems may be
improperly set-up. Check modem cabling. Make sure modems
are set for 'external' clocking.

Symptom: RAN displays (and stays at) 'P4'.

Solution: The RAN will normally stay at 'P4' for a length of time,
depending on the synchronous baud rate being used, and
the number of concentrators at the remote site. If full
acknowledgement is not achieved within the built-in
timeout period (approx. one minute), the remote RAN
will switch to a 'defined' state. Check the status of
the 'SA' devices in SMIT, which must be 'available'.

Another thing to note is in some instances a "modified" NE cable works.
This cable is documented below:

Cable NE: 128-Port Async Controller EIA-232 Modem Cable, System.

System End Modem End
Connector Connector
(15-pin Male) (25-pin Male)

1 RxD RxD 3
4 RxC RxC 17
6 TxD TxD 2
9 TxC TxC 15
12 Signal Signal 7
Ground Ground
Shell Shield Shield 1
Ground Ground
13 +5V RTS,DTR 4,20

Cable NF: 128-Port Async Controller EIA-232 Modem Cable, Device.

Modem End System End
Connector Connector
(25-pin Male) (15-pin Female)

3 RxD RxD 6
17 RxC RxC 9
2 TxD TxD 1
15 TxC TxC 4
7 Signal Signal 12
Ground Ground
1 Shield Shield Shell
Ground Ground
4,20 RTS,DTR +5V 13

Support Line: (GENERAL RAN 128-PORT ASYNC INFO)What does a p4 on a 16 port RAN mean? ITEM: E9753L

Dated: February 1994 Category: N/A

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