User guide

DC 900-1333Q 25

Chapter

Freeway Introduction

This manual describes how to install and operate your Freeway server. Before starting

the Freeway server, you should familiarize yourself with basic Freeway concepts as

described in this introductory chapter. Then you can proceed to Chapter 2 which con-

tains the initial installation and boot procedure. Refer to the Glossary for Freeway ter-

minology and acronyms.

1.1 Freeway Overview

Protogate’s Freeway server enables client applications running on a PC or similar system

to access multiple serial communication lines on a wide-area network (WAN). The cli-

ent application connects to the Freeway server via the Ethernet local-area network

(LAN).

The Freeway server is a rack-mountable system that has an Intel-based single-board

computer (SBC) along with several PCI-bus slots. The Freeway server runs Protogate’s

Freeway OS which is based on the BSD Unix operating system. The LAN interface is

managed by dual Ethernet ports on the SBC. Additional Ethernet ports may be added

to the Freeway if needed. The WAN interfaces (serial communication lines) are handled

by one or more Protogate Intelligent Communication Processor (ICP) boards. Each

ICP boards has its own CPU and memory, and executes the specific communication

protocol software required for the WAN lines. The ICP boards run Protogate’s real-time

operating system (OS/Protogate) and are available in 3 models depending on the num-

ber of serial ports: 2-port, 4-port, or 8-port. Each ICP board uses one PCI slot on the

Freeway server.

02/23/99

Ginni: I took

today’s

version of the

overview, but

modified it

here to be

server only.