Windows XP Operating System Device Driver Installation and Configuration
Trademark Notices Comtrol, RocketModem, and RocketPort are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation. Microsoft and Windows are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Third Edition, May 8, 2003 Copyright © 2002 - 2003. Comtrol Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents Overview ................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Driver Requirements ........................................................................................................................................ 5 Locating Current Drivers .................................................................................................................................
Table of Contents Page blank to accommodate double-sided printing.
Overview Hyperlinks within the document are underscored and blue; URLs or external hyperlinks are underscored and red. Driver Requirements The RocketPort or RocketModem adapter (ISA, PCI, Universal PCI, or CompactPCI bus types supported) requires at least one host server running Windows® XP. Locating Current Drivers The latest driver can be located for your product by using the links to the web site or directly to the ftp site: • Downloads Page on the web site (http://support.comtrol.com/download.
Driver Features Driver Features This section provides information that you may need to install a device driver for a RocketPort or RocketModem adapter (ISA, PCI, Universal PCI, or CompactPCI bus types supported). The driver supports up to 128 RocketPort and/or RocketModem ports per server. Note: The critical limit is the number of ports your server can support. In most applications, this is defined by the number of RAS port supported, which is typically 256 ports per primary server.
Installing the Device Driver The following subsections discuss driver installation and removal. It also discusses adapter and port configuration. If you have installation problems, see Troubleshooting on Page 45. Installation Procedures The following subsections discuss installation procedures for a variety of installations. In many installations, Windows XP detects the adapter and installs the default driver automatically.
Access the Device Manager Access the Device Manager You can access the Device Manager many different ways. If you are unfamiliar with accessing the Device Manager, you can use this method: 1. Open the Start button, right-click on My Computer, and select Manage. 2. Select the Device Manager. 3. Open the Multi-port serial adapters entry (click [+] to expand the list).
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) Use this procedure if you want to upgrade the driver in the Windows XP operating system in an existing installation. 1. Unzip the file into a new subdirectory, for example: \Comtrol. See Locating Current Drivers on Page 5 if you need a device driver. 2. Access the Device Manager (Page 8), open the Multi-port serial adapters entry, and right-click on the adapter that you want to disable. 3.
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) 5. Select the Update Driver button. 6. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced) and the Next button.
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) 7. Select Don’t search, I will choose the driver to install and the Next button. 8. Select the Have Disk button. 9. Browse to the location of the driver file that you extracted in Step 1 and then select the OK button.
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) 10. Select the device from the list and select the Next button to install the driver with the default settings. 11. Select the Continue Anyway button on the Hardware Installation dialog box. 12. Select the Finish button to complete the driver installation process.
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) 13. Select Next if you want to enable the adapter. 14. Select Finish to complete the process of enabling the adapter. 15. You can close this window or configure adapter or COM port properties using the Main Setup and Options tabs. For configuration procedures, see Changing or Configuring Device Properties on Page 19 or Configuring Port Properties on Page 21.
Upgrading the Driver (Existing Installation) 16. Close the Device Manager.
Found New Hardware Wizard Installation (Driver Not Found) Found New Hardware Wizard Installation (Driver Not Found) If the operating system finds the adapter but not the driver, use the following procedure when the Found New Hardware Wizard appears. 1. Copy the latest device driver to your hard drive and unzip it to a temporary location. If you want to use the latest released device driver, see Locating Current Drivers on Page 5. 2.
Found New Hardware Wizard Installation (Driver Not Found) 4. Select the Have Disk button. 5. Select the Browse button. 6. Locate the directory where the driver files are located and select Open.
Found New Hardware Wizard Installation (Driver Not Found) 7. Select the OK button. 8. Select the Next button to start the installation process. 9. Select the Continue Anyway button to continue the driver installation.
Found New Hardware Wizard Installation (Driver Not Found) 10. Select the Finish button and refer to the appropriate product. RocketPort: The new driver is now installed and the system will start to configure the default COM Ports. When it is done, you may need to use the following subsections to configure the adapter for your environment.
Changing or Configuring Device Properties Changing or Configuring Device Properties You can change the adapter’s name and starting COM port number by accessing the Main Setup tab. To change device properties, see Changing the Adapter Name or the Starting COM Port Number on Page 20. In addition, you can configure the following device properties using the Options tab. See Configuring Device Properties (Comtrol Adapters) on Page 20 for the procedure.
Changing the Adapter Name or the Starting COM Port Number Changing the Adapter Name or the Starting COM Port Number Use the following procedure to change the adapter name or the starting COM port number for the adapter. 1. Access the Main Setup Tab (Page 19). 2. Highlight the device name and select the Properties button. 3. After making your changes, select the OK button and follow any other driver prompts.
Configuring Port Properties Configuring Port Properties You can configure specific port properties for this adapter with these options: • Override and lock baud rate to a specific value • Timeout on transmit data on port close • Map CD to DSR • Map 2 stop bits to 1 • Wait on physical transmission before completing write • Emulate modem hardware RING signal • Clone all Comtrol ports for board Use the following procedure to access the Port Properties. 1.
Configuring Port Properties b. Timeout on transmit data on port close: Use this droplist to select the length of time to wait for data to clear the transmit buffer after a host application has closed the port. This is typically used with peripheral devices such as printers, to give the data sufficient time to flush through the system. c. Map CD to DSR: This option is used in installations where there is no connection to the port’s DSR input.
Resetting RocketModem Modems Resetting RocketModem Modems 1. Access the Main Setup Tab (Page 19), select the port you want to reset from the Configuration list, and select Properties. The Modem tab appears if the selected port is a Comtrol modem product. 2. Select the Modem tab.
Removing the Adapter and Driver 3. Select the Reset button to reset the selected modem to its default (power-on) state. Note: This resets only the modem on the selected modem port, on the selected adapter. This option cannot be used to reset non-Comtrol modems. 4. To use this modem or modems with RRAS, see the RRAS Configuration Overview for Windows XP document, which can be located in the RRAS_Doc subdirectory.
Configuring Non-Plug and Play Devices After installing the hardware and driver for Windows XP, you can use this discussion to configure non-plug and play modem COM ports. Note: RocketModem models install automatically because they are plug and play devices. Other plug and play modems will install automatically. Installing Non-Plug and Play Devices Use the following procedure to install non-plug and play devices. 1. If you have not so yet, connect the device to a RocketPort port and turn on the device. 2.
Installing Modems Installing Modems Use the following procedure to install non-plug and play modems. 1. If you have not done so yet, connect the modem (or modems) to the desired RocketPort port (or ports) and turn on the modem (or modems). Note: This may take a few minutes, depending upon your system and the number of modems you are installing. 2. Open the Control Panel and select the Phone and Modem Options icon. 3. Select the Modems tab.
Installing Modems 4. Select the Add button. 5. Select Don’t detect my modem. I will select it from a list and Next.
Installing Modems 6. Select an appropriate standard modem model and the Next button. Note: If you have a driver from the modem manufacturer, select Have Disk and browse to the location of the driver. 7. Highlight the port or ports on to which you have connected modems.
Installing Modems 8. Select the Finish button to complete the modem installation. 9. Configure modem properties as necessary. For assistance, use the Windows XP help system. 10. To use this modem or modems with RRAS, see the RRAS Configuration Overview for Windows XP document, which can be located in the RRAS_Doc subdirectory.
Installing Printers Installing Printers Use the following procedure to install a non-plug and play printer. Note: If you want to install a plug and play printer, connect the printer to the appropriate serial port and the driver should automatically install. If it does not automatically install, use the following procedure as a guide with the printer manufacturers documentation. 1. Open the Control Panel and select the Printers and Faxes icon. 2. Select Next when this screen appears. 3.
Installing Printers 4. Select the COM port that corresponds to the port to which the printer is connected. 5. Select the Manufacturer, Printer type, and then select Next. Note: If you have a driver from the printer manufacturer, select Have Disk and browse to the location of the driver. 6. Optionally, enter a printer name and select Next.
Installing Printers 7. Select Yes if you want to print a test page. 8. Select the Finish button to complete the installation. 9. Close the Printer and Faxes control panel.
Comtrol Tools This section discusses the following utilities that are installed with most Comtrol drivers for Microsoft operating systems: • Test Terminal program (wcom32.exe), which can be used to troubleshoot communications on a port-by-port basis (Using Test Terminal on Page 35). • Port Monitor program (portmon.exe), which checks for errors, modem control, and status signals (Using Port Monitor on Page 38). In addition, it provides you with raw byte input and output counts.
Installing the Utilities (Windows 2000 and Windows XP) 3. Select the Next button to install the Utilities in the default subdirectory. 4. Select the Next button to begin the installation. 5. Select the Finish button to complete the Utilities installation.
Using Test Terminal Using Test Terminal WCOM32 is a terminal program that enables you to open a port, send characters and commands to the port, and toggle the control signals. Note: WCOM32 will not work on ports used by RAS if Remote Access Service is running or any other application is using the port. If you are using RAS, you must stop the service before starting WCOM32 to test RAS COM ports. To test ports that are not used by RAS, you do not need to stop RAS. Follow these steps: 1.
Testing a Comtrol Device If the COM port is available, a terminal window appears: Note: Notice the button in the terminal window. If this option is activated, it is green and uppercase ( ), the COM port internal loopback feature is activated, and the data is returned by the COM port hardware. If this option is deactivated, it is gray and lowercase ( ), the internal loopback is deactivated, and the data is sent out of the COM port.
Testing RocketModem Adapters Testing RocketModem Adapters The following test may be used to ensure functionality of the RocketModem. Note: Make sure that the button is off for the following tests. Test 1: The following procedure checks to see if the modem responds. 1. Type atz. This should return an OK. 2. Type at&v. This should display the modem configuration. Test 2: The following test calls from the modem to an ordinary telephone. 1. Connect the modem to a phone line. 2.
Using Port Monitor Using Port Monitor The Port Monitor program (portmon.exe) offers a summary of all Comtrol device statistics in one spreadsheet view. It also enables you to verify operation of all Comtrol device ports from a single window. The Port Monitor display follows the familiar spreadsheet model: each COM port is a horizontal row, and each vertical column displays a variable or value for the respective COM port. For definitions of the abbreviations used, see Port Monitor Variables on Page 41.
Changing Screen Appearance Once the monitor window appears, Port Monitor is active and collecting data. If any cumulative data has been saved from previous sessions, it is automatically brought in and used. Port Monitor continues to run and collect data until you terminate it, at which point all accumulated data is automatically saved for use in the next session. Changing Screen Appearance While Port Monitor is running, there are a number of commands and controls that change the appearance of the screen.
Report Configuration Report Configuration • Use Color0 to set the column character color when the value is zero. • Use Color1 to set the column character color when the value is not zero. • When done, click OK to save your changes and return to Port Monitor. To configure reports, select Config from the Edit menu. The Single report options cover all ports and are overwritten each time the reports are generated.
Port Monitor Files Port Monitor Files Port Monitor creates and uses the following files: • portmon.vew • calcs.dat The default column layout is saved in portmon.vew. If you have been experimenting with the appearance of the monitor screen, you can use the File menu Save option to save your customized layout in another.vew file. You can retrieve this file later by selecting the Open option from the File menu, or you can select the View Default option from the Edit menu to retrieve portmon.
Port Monitor Variables Variable Description RxMinCPS Last minute average of receive characters per second. TxCPSMinAvMax Peak TxCPSInst for the last minute. RxCPSMinAvMax Peak RxCPSInst for the last minute. TxCPSHourAvMax Peak TxMinCPS for the last hour. RxCPSHourAvMax Peak RxMinCPS for the last hour. TxCPSDayAvMax Peak TxMinCPS for the last day. RxCPSDayAvMax Peak RxMinCPS for the last day. TxTotalRaw Total number of transmit bytes raw data from the device driver.
Using Peer Tracer Variable Description TxPkts Raw count of total transmit packets sent. RxPkts Raw count of total receive packets sent. OverrunErrors Total count of receive overrun errors. FramingErrors Total count of receive framing errors. ParityErrors Total count of receive parity errors. OverrunErrorsRaw Total count of receive overrun errors, from the device driver. FramingErrorsRaw Total count of receive framing errors, from the device driver.
Log Functions Log Functions All logging functions are found under the File menu. To start keeping a log, select Log to Disk from the File menu. The other options on this menu are View Disk Log, Clear Disk Log, Clear Screen, and Exit. Using Peer To use peer, simply type in commands at the : prompt. (It may be necessary to press Enter to make the : prompt appear.) For example, to examine COM5, type: PORT COM5 To gather some information about the port, type: STAT .
Troubleshooting and Technical Support This section contains troubleshooting information for your RocketPort or RocketModem adapter and how to contact Technical Support. Troubleshooting If you are having trouble with a RocketPort or RocketModem, try the following. Note: Most customer problems reported to Technical Support are traced to cabling or network problems. 1. Verify that you are using the correct types of cables in the correct places and that all cables are tightly connected.
Technical Support Technical Support If you need technical support, contact Comtrol using one of the following methods. Contact Method 46 Corporate Headquarters Comtrol Europe FAQ/Online http://support.comtrol.com/support.asp Downloads http://support.comtrol.com/download.asp Email support@comtrol.com support@comtrol.co.uk Web site http://www.comtrol.com http://www.comtrol.co.
Index A accessing Device Manager 8 adapter device properties 20 adapter name changing 20 application port addressing format 45 B baud rates lock above 230.4 Kbps 21 over 230.
Index modems testing 37 monitor ports 38 N non-plug and play device installation 25 O online support 46 output counts portmon 38 Override and lock baud rate to 21 P Peer Tracer 43 commands 44 peripheral devices transmit buffer 22 plug and play device installation 18 Port Monitor variables 41 port monitor commands 39 files 41 program 38 port name addressing format 45 port properties configuring 21 printer installing non-plug and play 30 R report configuration portmon 40 reports portmon 38 REPORTS di
