Installation guide

Chapter 5. Conﬁguring the Boot Parameters Using the Local Console

5.2. Conﬁguration Procedure

The procedure for conﬁguring the Freeway system boot parameters is the same for UNIX, VMS, and Windows NT

systems. Freeway obtains the boot parameters from local non-volatile memory during system boot. Therefore, when

you conﬁgure the boot parameters in the following steps, all applicable parameters must be conﬁgured.

1. Connect a system console to your Freeway 3600. You will use this console to conﬁgure the boot parameters and

perform the initial system boot. Later you can disconnect the console because you can then perform these

conﬁguration functions using telnet or rlogin through any terminal or workstation connected to the network.

The system console can be either:

• a VT100-compatible terminal or terminal emulator connected to the COM1 connector on the rear panel of the

Freeway 3600, or

• an ordinary "PC" VGA video monitor and PS/2 keyboard connected to the VGA and keyboard connectors on

the rear panel of the Freeway 3600.

The Freeway 3600 system determines which interface to use as its system console by probing the keyboard

interface during system boot. If a keyboard is detected, then the console input is taken from that keyboard, and

console output is directed to the VGA monitor. If no keyboard is detected, then console input and output is taken

from (and sent to) the COM1 serial port.

If your system console will be a VT100-compatible terminal or terminal emulator, it should be connected to

Freeway using the cable supplied with your Freeway that has both a 9-pin and a 25-pin connector at each end.

Connect the 9-pin connector on one end of the cable to the COM1 connector on the Freeway’s back panel. For

the location of this connector, see Figure 3-2; it is the connector labelled "COM1" in that ﬁgure. Connect the

25-pin connector on the other end of the cable to the VT100-compatible terminal or emulator that you want to

use as a console.

2. If using a serial terminal as your system console, conﬁgure it to operate with the following communications

parameters:

• 9600 bits per second

• 8 bits data

• 1 stop bit

• No parity

• xon/xoff enabled

3. Turn the power switch on the Freeway 3600 back panel on.