Installation guide

Building a Simple Network Page 2-5
AlphaNET Installation Guide, Revision 05
NODECHECK=
If NODECHECK is set to ON, AlphaNET will check to see if the node exists before it attempts to
communicate with it. If the node cannot be located, you will immediately get the error message:
Node
does not exist. If NODECHECK is set to OFF, if AlphaNET cannot find a node you will still get
the same error message, but it will take a few extra seconds.
NODECOUNT=
The NODECOUNT parameter must always be equal to or greater than the number of physical nodes
(computers) connected to your network. Our example network only has two computers, or nodes, so the
NODECOUNT is 2.
If your NODECOUNT parameter is set to fewer computers than are on the network, you will not
be able to communicate with all of the computers.
GROUPCOUNT=
The GROUPCOUNT parameter is much like the NODECOUNT parameter; it must be equal to or greater
than the number of physical groups that are part of your network. In our example, the NETWORK
parameter was given the identification number 100. Currently, network 100 only contains two computers,
making up one group. Therefore, we will set the GROUPCOUNT parameter to 1.
The GROUPCOUNT parameter needs to contain the number of groups that are part of your
physical network. You do not need to include other groups that access your network via a gateway.
The gateway concept will be discussed later on in this document. Also, like the NODECOUNT
parameter, if the GROUPCOUNT is set to fewer groups than are on the network, you will not be
able to communicate with all groups.
NAME=
The NAME parameter assigns a symbolic name to the network. In our example we used Accounting
Network, but any name can be used as long as it does not exceed 20 characters, including the spaces
between words. This is the name returned on first line of the NTSTAT display.
DEVICEADDRESS=
This is commented out in our example because this particular parameter is only required when using an
Ethernet board that has a configurable board address, like the AM-362. Other Ethernet boards have fixed
addresses and do not require this parameter. The AM-362 Ethernet Paddle Card Installation Instructions
cover this subject in detail for AM-362 boards.
5. Create a Network Ersatz File
One of the things that AlphaNET does is generate a cpuID number based on the network, group, and
node parameters defined in your network initialization file. Each computer on the network will have its
own unique cpuID number that looks something like this: