File Name: RELEASE.TXT
Product Name: NI6510-ODIDRV
Description: DOS ODI Driver for the InterLan EtherBlaster
Version: 5.80
Part number: 158-0317-00
149-0317-01
SECTION 1 - Overview
--------------------
The driver in this directory allows the InterLan EtherBlaster to be used in
DOS-based systems to run networking software whose protocol stacks are
written to the ODI specification.
The driver was written and tested for conformance to the ODI specification
as described in the Novell "ODI Developer's LAN Driver TookKit Guide for DOS
Workstation HSMs - Version B" dated June 18, 1992 (also known as V3.0).
Additional information on the completion of Novell's certification tests
can be obtained by contacting Racal InterLan Pre-Sales Support at
1-800-LAN-TALK or 508-263-9929, or by contacting Novell, Inc.
Version 5.01 supports the EtherBlaster as well as all previous versions
of the NI6510.
Version 5.10 supports the 8 interrupt version of the EtherBlaster.
Version 5.50 supports the PCnet-ISA+ version of the EtherBlaster.
Version 5.70 disables the Guaranteed Access Time (GAT) mode in the Intel
823878I System I/O (SIO) chip, which is found in some PCI/ISA PCs. When
enabled, this mode can cause a violation of ISA bus timing specification for
bus master devices. As a result, the InterLan EtherBlaster is prevented from
accessing host memory in a timely manner. GAT mode can be modified in NET.CFG
to override the driver default (to turn GAT off). The keywords are GAT ON
(always turns it on), GAT OFF (always turns it off), and GAT NONE (does not
change the system power on default) under the "Link Driver NI6510" section.
Version 5.80 supports the XLerator series and Plug and Play. It is Novell
certified on the following adapters:
EtherBlaster T2 625-0384-00 Rev. AE (Bulletin L-2868 dated 02/02/95)
EtherBlaster TPO 625-0471-00 Rev. AA (Bulletin L-2903 dated 02/28/95)
XLerator TPO 625-0472-00 Rev. AA (Bulletin L-2904 dated 02/28/95)
EtherBlaster TP 625-0383-00 Rev. AC (Bulletin L-2925 dated 03/13/95)
XLerator TP 625-0470-00 Rev. AA (Bulletin L-2926 dated 03/13/95)
Section 3 is provided for users that are not familiar with ODI drivers
or their initilization. It lists the commands used to load the driver
and attach to a NetWare File Server using the standard IPX protocol.
Section 4 describes configuration parameters that can be specified in
the NET.CFG file. Most options apply to both the DOS and OS/2 operating
environments. (See table for details.)
SECTION 2 - Contents of this directory
--------------------------------------
To help you install and use this product, the following files are included
in this directory:
RELEASE.TXT - This file
NI6510.COM - EtherBlaster DOS ODI driver
NI6510.INS - Install file for the EtherBlaster DOS ODI driver
NET.CFG - Text file that specifies the configuration of the driver
and data link card to the operating system. You may need
to edit this file to match the jumper settings selected
on the card. (See Section 5 for a list of parameters used
in the NET.CFG file.)
SAMPLE.TXT - Text file that provides examples of using the DOS ODI driver
with various protocol stacks.
SECTION 3 - Sample AUTOEXEC.BAT File
------------------------------------
The following commands are typically added to AUTOEXEC.BAT on DOS-based
systems to load the driver and bind it to the standard IPX protocol stack:
LSL
NI6510
IPXODI
NETX
SECTION 4 - Entries in NET.CFG File
-----------------------------------
The following table summarizes the configuration parameters that can
be specified in the NET.CFG file. This information is taken directly
from the NetWare 386 Installation Manual (183-000582-001), Appendix E.
Table 1 - Entries in NET.CFG
==========================================================================
LINK SUPPORT PARAMETERS
Entry Explanation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BUFFERS comm_number [size]
Configures the number and size of receive buffers on the network.
The number of communication buffers must be large enough to hold
all media headers and the maximum data size. (Default: 0)
Buffer size is optional. Minimum size is 586. (Default: 1130)
Note: The IPXODI protocol stack does not use LSL comm buffers.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEMPOOL number [k]
Some protocols use this option to configure the size of the memory
pool buffers that the LSL will maintain.
The 'k' notation means multiply by 1024.
Note: The IPXODI protocol stack does not use LSL mempool buffers.
==========================================================================
PROTOCOL PARAMETERS
Entry Explanation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
BIND name
The protocol stack (usually IPXODI) binds to the first LAN
driver that it finds. This option limits the binding to the
specified LAN driver. If you select this option, 'name' should
be set to 'NI6510'.
Note: In a DOS environment, you can only bind IPXODI.COM to
one network card.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DEFAULT name
Requests that the protocol stack bind to the named LAN driver
and configures the protocol to a default stack. If you select
this option, 'name' should be set to 'NI6510'.
Note: IPXODI ignores this parameter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESCAN name
Requests that the protocol stack bind to the named LAN driver
and configures the protocol to a default prescan stack. If you
select this option, 'name' should be set to 'NI6510'.
Note: IPXODI ignores this parameter.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SESSIONS number
Specifies the number of sessions that the protocol stack will
be required to maintain at one time. (See the third-party
protocol documentation for the appropriate values.)
Note: IPXODI ignores this parameter.
==========================================================================
LINK DRIVER PARAMETERS
Entry Explanation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK DRIVER name
Specifies the LAN driver to be used, which is configured by the
following options. (You must have a separate LINK DRIVER 'name'
heading for each board in the system.)
In this case, 'name' should be set to NI6510.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
DMA [#1 | #2] channel_number
Indicates the DMA Channel(s) used by the NIC. If this entry
does not match the NIC's DMA jumper settings, the driver
will not work properly.
If you do not specify which DMA channel is to be used, the
default will be selected on initialization.
You can omit the #1 option if the LAN board only uses one DMA
channel. For example, if channel 3 is being used on the EtherBlaster/
NI6510, add the following line to the LINK DRIVER section of NET.CFG:
DMA 3
If your LAN board uses two DMA channels (3 and 4), the second
DMA channel setting must contain the #2 option, as follows:
DMA 3
DMA #2 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
INT [#1 | #2] interrupt_request_number
Indicates the interrupt level of the NIC. If this entry
does not match the NIC's interrupt level jumper settings,
the driver may hang on initialization.
If you do not specify which of the interrupts is to be used,
the default will be selected on initialization.
You can omit the #1 option if the LAN board only uses one
interrupt. For example, if INT 9 is being used on the EtherBlaster/
NI6510, add the following line to the LINK DRIVER section of NET.CFG:
INT 9
If your LAN board uses two interrupts (2 and 4), the second
interrupt setting must contain the #2 option, as follows:
INT 2
INT #2 4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MEM [#1 | #2] hex_starting_address [hex_length]
Indicates the starting memory address used by the NIC. If this
entry does not match the NIC's I/O address jumper settings, the
driver reports an error.
Use the hexadecimal physical address of the memory used by the
LAN board, which must match the starting address specified by
the board's jumper settings.
The hex length is usually optional. See your third-party
installation documentation for details.
For example, if your LAN board uses memory starting at address
D0000, add the following line to the LINK DRIVER section of
NET.CFG:
MEM D0000
Note: The EtherBlaster does not have a memory setting.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
NODE ADDRESS hex_address
This option overrides any hard-coded node address that might
be suppled with the LAN board.
Note: Changing the node address of the LAN board can create
conflicts with other boards on the network. If possible, use
the hardcoded address supplied with your board.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PORT [#1 | #2] hex_starting_address [hex_number_of_ports]
Indicates the starting port I/O address used by the NIC. If this
entry does not match the NIC's I/O address jumper settings, the
driver reports an error.
Use the hexadecimal physical address of the I/O ports used by
the LAN board, which must match the starting address specified
by the board's jumper settings.
If you do not specify which I/O port is to be used, the default
will be selected on initialization.
You can omit the #1 option if the LAN board only uses one range
of I/O ports. For example, if I/O port 300-320 is being used on
the EtherBlaster, add the following line to the LINK DRIVER
section of NET.CFG:
PORT 300
If your LAN board uses two I/O ranges (300-320 and 340-360), the
second setting must contain the #2 option, as follows:
PORT 300
PORT #2 340
The hex length is usually optional. See your third-party
installation documentation for details.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS/2 SLOT ?
If you have inserted only one LAN board in a PS/2, this option
causes the driver to scan for the board and its configuration
settings.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PS/2 SLOT number
If you have inserted more than one LAN board in a PS/2, this
option forces this link driver to use the board in the specified
slot number.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
FRAME frame_type
Specifies the frame type to be used by the LAN board (if it
supports more than one type).
Protocol Environment Frame Type
IPX ETHERNET_802.3
DEC, TCP/IP, IPX, ETHERNET_II
APPLETALK, XNS
OSI, IPX ETHERNET_802.2
TCP/IP, IPX, APPLETALK ETHERNET_SNAP
IBM, IPX, OSI TOKEN-RING
TCP/IP, IPX, DEC TOKEN-RING_SNAP
Note: Ethernet LAN drivers typically default to ETHERNET_II.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOOK AHEAD SIZE number
Specifies the number of bytes in the packet that the LAN driver
sends to the Link Support Layer (LSL) to determine how to route
the packet. The value can range from 0 to 128. (Default: 18)
See your protocol documentation for the recommended size. If
two protocols are used, select the highest of the two values.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
PROTOCOL name hex_protocol_ID frame_type
Enables an existing LAN driver to handle a new protocol. Use
this option to specify the protocol's name, hexadecimal protocol
ID number, and frame type.
For example, to attach protocol 'XYZ' to your EtherBlaster, add
the following lines to the LINK DRIVER section of NET.CFG:
Frame ETHERNET_SNAP
Protocol XYZ 904A ETHERNET_SNAP
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SEND RETRIES number
Specifies the maximum number of times the LAN driver will try
to resend a packet following a communications error.
The default value is determined by the driver.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
SAPS number
If you use the LANSUP driver with your board, use this option to
specify the number of Service Access Points (SAPs) needed. The
number you choose should allow for all applications using the
IBM LAN Support Program. (Default: 1)
The maximum value is dependent on the type of LAN board used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LINK STATIONS number
If you use the LANSUP driver with your board, use this option to
specify the number of link stations needed. The number you choose
should allow for all applications using the IBM LAN Support
Program. (Default: 1)
The maximum value is dependent on the type of LAN board used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
MAX PACKET number
The LANSUP driver defaults to a packet size of 1128 bytes, which
includes all frame headers and the desired data size.
Use this option to specify a larger packet size. The maximum size
depends on the type and speed of the LAN board used.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.