User Guide
Trademark Notices Comtrol and RocketPort are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation. Windows and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners. Fifth Edition (Rev E), July 18, 2014 Copyright © 2007 - 2014. Comtrol Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Table of Contents Overview...................................................................................................................................5 Product Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 5 Before Installing the RocketPort INFINITY ........................................................................................... 5 Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation .............
Table of Contents Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................25 Before Calling Technical Support ........................................................................................................... 25 RocketPort INFINITY Diagnostics.......................................................................................................... 25 Troubleshooting Windows Systems...........................................
Overview Product Overview The RocketPort INFINITY is a high-speed in-server serial expansion card that is RS-232/422/485 software-selectable for use in 3.3V universal PCI or PCI-X slots in a host system. The RocketPort INFINITY was designed to support speeds up to 921Kbps (if connected, using fan-out cables) or 460.8Kbps (if using an interface box).
Overview 6 - Overview RocketPort INFINITY User Guide: 2000465 Rev.
Card and Interface Installation This section discusses the following: • Installing the Card • Attaching a Quad/Octacable Interface Cable on Page 8 • Attaching an Interface Box on Page 8 • Installing a Rackmount Interface Box on Page 9 Installing the Card Use the following procedure to install a RocketPort INFINITY card. 1. Turn off the host computer. 2. Remove the system cover from your computer. 3. Select a PCI or PCI-X expansion slot. 4. Remove the slot cover or release the clamp. 5.
Card and Interface Installation Attaching a Quad/Octacable Interface Cable Use this procedure to complete the quadcable or octacable installation. 1. Make sure that the host system is powered off before connecting the cable. 2. Attach the 68-pin end of the quadcable or octacable to the card. Do not use force when connecting the cables. Make sure that the connectors are properly aligned. Caution Octacable DB9 3. Tighten the retaining screws. 4. Power on the host system. 5.
Card and Interface Installation 7. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning properly (see the driver documentation) and then connect your serial devices. If necessary, return to this guide for information about connecting serial devices (Connecting Serial Devices on Page 11.) Installing a Rackmount Interface Box Rackmount interface boxes are sturdy enough to allow you to stack several units on a shelf, or you can mount it directly into a rack. 1.
Card and Interface Installation 10 - Card and Interface Installation RocketPort INFINITY User Guide: 2000465 Rev.
Connecting Serial Devices This section provides information about the RocketPort INFINITY connectors, in the event that you need to build cables or loopback plugs. • DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 11 • DB25 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 14 • RJ45 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 17 A loopback plug is a serial port plug with pins wired together that you can use with application (for example, the diagnostic, Test Terminal, or minicom) to test serial ports.
Connecting Serial Devices DB9 Signals Refer to the manufacturer’s installation documentation if you need help with the connector pinouts or cabling for the serial device.
Connecting Serial Devices DB9 StraightThrough Cables (RS232 or RS-485 HalfDuplex) Use the following figure if you need to build an RS232 or RS-485 half-duplex straight-through cable. Straight-through cables are used to connect modems and other DTE devices. For example, a straight-through cable can be used to connect COM2 of one PC to a modem. RocketPort DCE Serial Device DB9 Pins Signal 1 DCD 2 RxD TxD or TRxD- 3 4 DTR 5 GND 6 DSR RTS or TRxD+ 7 8 CTS RI 9 Note: RJ45 connectors are not standardized.
Connecting Serial Devices DB25 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs This section describes DB25 cables and loopback plugs for the following models: • Fan-out Cable Signals (quadcable and octacable) • Interface Box Signals on Page 15 (standard and surge models) • DB25 Null-Modem Cables (RS-232) on Page 15 • DB25 Null-Modem Cables (RS-422 or RS-485 Full-Duplex) on Page 16 • DB25 Straight-Through Cables (RS-232 or RS-485 Half-Duplex) on Page 16 • DB25M: Fan-out Cable Loopback Plugs on Page 16 • DB25F
Connecting Serial Devices Interface Box Signals Refer to the manufacturer’s installation documentation if you need help with the connector pinouts or cabling for the serial device.
Connecting Serial Devices DB25 Null-Modem Cables (RS-422 or RS-485 Full-Duplex) Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-422 or RS-485 full-duplex null-modem cable. A null-modem cable is required for connecting DTE devices. Interface boxes have optional pins available for these signals. Refer to Interface Box Signals on Page 15 for more information.
Connecting Serial Devices DB25M: Surge Interface Box Loopback Plugs RocketPort INFINITY models with DB25 male connectors on the Surge interface box are shipped with a a single loopback plug (RS-232/422). Wire the following pins together to build additional RS-232/422 plugs or replace a missing RS-232/422 loopback plug.
Connecting Serial Devices RJ45 Null-Modem Cable (RS-232) Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-232 null-modem cable. RocketPort RJ45 A null-modem cable is required for Signal Pins connecting DTE devices. TxD 4 RxD RTS CTS DSR DCD DTR GND RJ45 Null-Modem Cable (RS-422 or RS485 Full-Duplex) Use the following figure if you need to build an RS-422 null-modem cable. A null-modem cable is required for connecting DTE devices.
Specifications and Notices This section discusses the following: • 68-Pin VHDCI Connector (Quad/Octacable) on Page 19 • LFH60 and DB37M Multiplex Connectors DB9 and DB25 Interface Box Cable on Page 21 • FCC Notices on Page 22 68-Pin VHDCI Connector (Quad/Octacable) Use the following table if you need to build a cable for a proprietary serial device. 34 RocketPort INFINITY User Guide: 2000465 Rev.
Specifications and Notices 20 - Specifications and Notices Pin RS-232 RS-422 RS-485 FD RS-485 HD 15 RXD2 RXD-2 RXD-2 16 CTS2 RXD+2 RXD+2 17 RJ45 18 GND 19 TXD3 TXD-3 TXD-3 TRXD-3 20 RI3 21 DCD3 22 DTR3 TXD+3 TXD+3 TRXD+3 23 RTS3 24 DSR3 25 RXD3 RXD-3 RXD-3 26 CTS3 RXD+3 RXD+3 27 TXD4 TXD-4 TXD-4 TRXD-4 28 RI4 29 DCD4 30 DTR4 TXD+4 TXD+4 TRXD+4 31 RTS4 32 DSR4 33 RXD4 RXD-4 RXD-4 34 CTS4 RXD+4 RXD+4 35 TXD5 TXD-5 TXD-5 TRXD-5 36 RI25
Specifications and Notices Pin RS-232 RS-422 RS-485 FD 59 RXD7 RXD-7 RXD-7 60 CTS7 RXD+7 RXD+7 61 TXD8 TXD-8 TXD-8 TRXD-8 62 RI8 63 DCD8 64 DTR8 TXD+8 TXD+8 TRXD+8 65 RTS8 66 DSR8 67 RXD8 RXD-8 RXD-8 68 CTS8 RXD+8 RXD+8 RS-485 HD LFH60 and DB37M Multiplex Connectors DB9 and DB25 Interface Box Cable Use the following table if you need to build an interface cable.
Specifications and Notices Ports 1-16 (Continued) DB37-1 LFH60 Pair Signal Source Dest J1-17 J2-48 V+ Ports 17-32 (Continued) DB37-2 LFH60 Pair Signal Source Dest J3-17 J2-55 V+ V+ J1-18 J2-49 V+ J3-18 J2-56 J1-19 J2-50 V+ J3-19 N/C J1-20 N/C J3-20 N/C J1-21 N/C J3-21 N/C J1-22 J2-40 GND J3-22 J2-34 GND J1-23 J2-39 GND J3-23 J2-33 GND J1-24 J2-39 GND J3-24 J2-32 J1-25 J2-45 1B RXCLK- J3-25 J2-7 1B RXCLK- J1-26 J2-15 2B RXDATA- J3-26 J2-6 2B RXDATA- J
Specifications and Notices Labeling Requirements (FCC 15.19) This equipment complies with Part 15 of FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions: • This device may not cause harmful interference, and • This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation. Modifications (FCC 15.21) Changes or modifications to this equipment not expressly approved by Comtrol Corporation may void the user’s authority to operate this equipment.
Specifications and Notices 24 - Specifications and Notices RocketPort INFINITY User Guide: 2000465 Rev.
Troubleshooting If you are experiencing problems with the RocketPort INFINITY, review the troubleshooting procedures for your system before calling Technical Support. Before Calling Technical Support Review the following information before calling Technical Support because they will request that you perform many of the procedures or verifications before they will be able to help you diagnose a problem. • Verify the cabling using Connecting Serial Devices on Page 11.
Troubleshooting Note: If the diagnostic goes into sleep mode while unattended, press the Num Lock key to activate the screen. 3. Enter 1 to 4 to test a port or ports on a specific RocketPort INFINITY, or select S to run the stress test on all RocketPort INFINITY cards installed in the system. Note: The stress test requires a loopback plug for each port on each card. Use Ctrl/Alt Delete to kill the diagnostic process at any time.
Troubleshooting The Comtrol Utility package includes the following applications that you can access from the Comtrol Program group: • Test Terminal can be used to troubleshoot communications on a port-by-port basis. Test Terminal requires a loopback plug. You can build a loopback plug if you are missing the loopback plug shipped with the RocketPort INFINITY (Connecting Serial Devices on Page 11). • Port Monitor checks for errors, modem control, and status signals.
Troubleshooting The loopback test test the modem control (hardware handshaking) signals. It only has meaning in RS-232 mode on serial connector interfaces with full RS232 signals. If performed under the following conditions, the test will always fail because full modem control signals are not present: • RS-422 • RS-485 • RJ11 connectors 7. Close Test Terminal If both of these tests successfully complete, then the port is operational as expected. Note: Do forget to restart the application.
Troubleshooting Testing with minicom You can also use minicom, which shipped with most Linux distributions, to test the serial ports. A Comtrol document is available for using minicom. Technical Support Comtrol has a staff of support technicians available to help you. You should review Before Calling Technical Support on Page 25 before calling Technical Support.
Troubleshooting 30 - Troubleshooting RocketPort INFINITY User Guide: 2000465 Rev.
Index A attach interface 8 serial devices 11 B bootable diagnostic using 25 C card installation 7 troubleshooting 25 Comtrol contact information 29 connect serial devices 11 connector 68-pin VHDCI 19 DB25F standard interface box 15 DB25M fan-out cable 14 surge interface box 15 DB9 12 RJ45 17 D DB25 null-modem cables 15 straight-through cables 16 DB25F standard interface box connector signals 15 loopback plugs 16 DB25M fan-out cable connector signals 14 loopback plugs 16 DB25M surge interface box connecto
Index loopback plugs DB25F standard interface box 16 DB25M fan-out cable 16 DB25M surge interface box 17 DB9 13 definition 11 RJ45 18 low-profile bracket 7 N null-modem cables DB25 15 DB9 12 RJ45 18 O octacable 68-pin VHDCI connector 19 DB25 connectors 14 DB9 connectors 11 installation 8 RJ45 connectors 17 P phone number Comtrol 29 Port Monitor 27 ports testing Linux 28 Microsoft systems 26 product overview 5 Q quadcable 68-pin VHDCI connector 19 DB25 connectors 14 DB9 connectors 11 installation 8 RJ45 co
