TOPIC
Name: Apple PCI Token Ring Software
DISCUSSION From the Read Me included with this software: Apple PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 Contents Important information about the Apple PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 What the PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 includes Changes from version 1.0 System requirements Installing the PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 Important information about your Apple PCI Token Ring Card and software Setting the ring speed Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with MacIPX(TM) Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with Novell Netware for Macintosh 3.011, 3.12 or 4.02 Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card on Power Macintosh 7200/75 and 7200/90 systems Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with the Apple Internet Router Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with Apple LocalTalk/LaserWriter Bridge software Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with SNA*ps(TM) Locally Administered Addresses Using the Token Ring shim Important information about the Apple PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 This release of the Apple PCI Token Ring software is an unsupported release, and is being made available to customers for evaluation purposes only. What the PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 includes Version 1.0.1a2 of the PCI Token Ring Card software includes: * Apple PCI Token Ring ReadMe - this text file * Apple PCI Token Ring 1.0.1a2 - auto-detect Token Ring driver * Apple PCI Token Ring(16MB) 1.0.1a2 - fixed-speed 16Mb Token Ring driver * Apple PCI Token Ring(4MB) 1.0.1a2 - fixed-speed 4Mb oken Ring driver * Shimburger 1.0.1a2 - Token Ring shim loader * ShimTOKN 1.0.1a2 - Token Ring shim Changes from version 1.0 This release of the PCI Token Ring software incorporates the following changes and bug fixes since the 1.0 release of the PCI Network Software Installer: - Added support for reading and writing raw data packets per the OT 1.0 specification. - Fixed a bug in the driver that corrected the handling of TEST frames in some cases. - Provided fixed-speed support for users who do not (or cannot) use the auto-detect feature of the card. To accomplish this, the driver has been been split out to three variations: auto speed detect, 4Mb fixed-speed, and 16Mb fixed-speed. These drivers are mutually exclusive, and only one of these should be installed in the system for proper operation. - Added a Token Ring shim and loader, and revised the driver to support these shim components. There is no Installer associated with this release; all components must be drag-installed per the instructions in this Read Me. System requirements The PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 requires: * Any PCI-based Power Macintosh system except Power Macintosh 7200/75 and 7200/90 systems * MacOS version 7.5.3 or higher * Open Transport 1.1 or higher (OT 1.1.2 or later strongly recommended) * an Apple PCI Token Ring card Installing the PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2 This unsupported release of the PCI Token Ring software does not include an Installer. To use this software, you must drag the individual component(s) you need into the appropriate folder(s) on your system, and then reboot. To install the Apple PCI Token Ring software 1.0.1a2: 1. Remove the previous version (if any) of the "Apple PCI Token Ring" driver that may exist in your Extensions Folder (within the System Folder) by dragging this file to the trash. 2. Decide if you want to use the automatic ring speed detect feature (standard with the 1.0 release, and recommended for most users), or if you prefer to use a fixed speed version of this driver, offered in this 1.0.1a2 release. If you wish to use the automatic ring speed detect feature, drag: "Apple PCI Token Ring" 1.0.1a2 into the Extensions folder. If you wish to use a fixed-speed version of the driver, drag ONE of the following: "Apple PCI Token Ring(16MB)" 1.0.1a2 or "Apple PCI Token Ring(4MB)" 1.0.1a2 into the Extensions folder, depending on the speed of the Token Ring you will be attaching to. If you don't know which ring speed is appropriate for your installation, contact your Network Administrator. Please be careful to assure that only ONE of these three variations of the Token Ring driver is in your Extensions folder at any given time. 3. Decide if you want to install the PCI Token Ring shim. Generally, you should install the shim if you are using MacIPX, MacIrma, or any application that requires "raw mode" support. See below for more details on what the Token Ring shim does. If you wish to install the Token Ring shim, drag the following two files to your Extensions folder: "Shimburger" v1.0.1a2 "ShimTOKN" v1.0.1a2 4. Reboot your Macintosh to activate this new software. Important information about your PCI Token Ring Card and software These notes pertain to the Apple PCI Token Ring software, version 1.0.1a2, and to the Apple PCI Token Ring card. Setting the ring speed If you are using an auto-detect version of the Apple PCI Token Ring driver, the card automatically detects the speed of the ring (4 Mbps or 16 Mbps) and adapts to it, eliminating the need for any manual speed-setting mechanism. You can determine the type of driver you have installed by looking at the driver name (file name) in your Extensions folder. Only one of these files should be present on your system: Apple PCI Token Ring auto-detect Token Ring driver (recommended) Apple PCI Token Ring(16MB) fixed-speed 16Mb Token Ring driver Apple PCI Token Ring(4MB) fixed-speed 4Mb Token Ring driver When using an auto-detect version of the driver, the card will "remember" the speed it used most recently and will make subsequent insertions using that speed, except for the initial insertion when it will use a factory-preset speed of 16 Mbps. Should an insertion failure occur, however, the card will report this error to the user, and toggle the speed of the card for the next insertion attempt. In essence, after an insertion error occurs, the card will alternate between 4 Mbps and 16 Mbps with each insertion attempt until it finally succeeds. The only caveat to this is the initial insertion using a factory-preset speed of 16 Mbps. The card's design requires that the first insertion cannot be onto an empty ring (one with no stations on it already), or the insertion will fail. If you are using a Token Ring MAU or hub that does not support this auto speed detect feature, replace the Apple PCI Token Ring driver on your system with the fixed-speed driver of the appropriate speed. The fixed-speed drivers will never negotiate the speed, and will always insert (or attempt to insert) at the same speed. Using the PCI Token Ring Card with MacIPX Early testing indicates that this release of the Apple PCI Token Ring software supports MacIPX at least minimally, though thorough compatibility testing has not been completed. Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with Novell Netware for Macintosh 3.011, 3.12 or 4.02 Versions of the APPLETLK.NLM prior to version 4.50c have known problems with source routing, which may affect the proper operation of this card with your server. To avoid these problems, upgrade your APPLETLK.NLM to version 4.50c (or later), following the installation instructions provided by Novell. This upgrade is available on Novell's NetWire Web site ( http://www.novell.com/ ) as a self-extracting archive titled ATK45C.EXE. Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card on Power Macintosh 7200/75 and 7200/90 systems The Apple PCI Token Ring Card is not supported on Power Macintosh 7200/75 and 7200/90 systems. If you try to use this card in a Power Macintosh 7200/75 or 7200/90, the system may freeze. Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with the Apple Internet Router The Apple Internet Router is not compatible with Open Transport, and is therefore not compatible with the Apple PCI Token Ring card or driver. Using the Apple PCI Token Ring Card with Apple LocalTalk/LaserWriter Bridge software The Apple LocalTalk Bridge 2.1 and Apple LaserWriter Bridge 2.1 products are compatible with the Apple PCI Token Ring Card, although earlier versions are not compatible. The latest LaserWriter and LocalTalk Bridge updates can be found by searching for "LocalTalk Bridge" in the Software Updates Library at: " http://asu.info.apple.com " Locally Administered Addresses There is presently no Apple-provided mechanism for setting a Locally Administered Address of the Apple PCI Token Ring Card. The hardware address of the card can be displayed by selecting the popup menu item in the AppleTalk Control Panel, setting the User Mode to Advanced, and clicking on the Info button. Using the Token Ring shim The Token Ring shim is included as a pair of components (a loader and the shim itself) which provide API-level compatibility for applications that rely on older slot manager-based APIs. When installed, the Token Ring shim loader scans the OT registry for Token Ring cards and registers them as pseudo NuBus cards using the Slot Manager. The Token Ring shim itself is loaded when an application opens the .TOKN driver for the specified slot, and performs call translation functions using the Ethernet, Token Ring and Fibre Distributed Data Interface functions, within the limitations of the OT architecture. For proper Token Ring shim operation, it is highly recommended that OT 1.1.2 or later be used. |
||||||
| Document Information | |
| Product Area: | Apple General Information |
| Category: | Apple On Line Resources |
| Sub Category: | Apple SW Updates |
Copyright © 2000 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved.