Driver for the Windows(R) NT Operating System, for:
InterchangeVS(TM) 1000 Series Communication Hub
InterChangeVS 2000 Series Analog Modem Hub
RocketPort Serial Hub
=================================================================
SCOPE AND LIMITS
Use this file to install the Comtrol software. This readme
file covers:
- Prerequisites
- Removing existing drivers and components
- Driver installation
- Installation troubleshooting
- Known software capabilities and limitations
- Technical Support contact information
VS1000/1100 and RocketPort Serial Hub Users:
For hardware installation or modem, printer, NT RAS (Remote
Access Service), or backup server installation and configuration,
see the Installation and Configuration Guide for your product.
VS2000 Users:
For NT RAS, modem reset, modem configuration, or backup server
installation and configuration, see the VS2000 VS-Link
Installation and Configuration Guide. For hardware installation
information, see the Hardware Installation Card that came with
the unit.
This product was developed and tested under Microsoft Windows NT
Release 4.0. Alternate instructions for Windows NT 3.51 are given
where needed. If you are using Citrix WinFrame, follow the
instructions for NT 3.51 and adapt as needed.
=================================================================
PREREQUISITES
This file assumes that you have already installed the Windows NT
operating system and that you have a basic understanding of
Windows NT operation.
=================================================================
REMOVING EXISTING DRIVER
Comtrol recommends removing older versions of the driver
before installing new releases.
1. Open the Control Panel and start the Network applet.
2. Select the Adapters tab.
3. Highlight Comtrol VS1000/VS2000.
4. Click the Remove button.
5. Close the Network applet.
6. Restart the server so that your changes take effect.
=================================================================
INSTALLING THE DRIVER
After you have extracted the driver files, follow these steps:
1. Right-click on the Network Neighborhood and select properties,
or open the Control Panel and start the Network applet.
2. NT 4.0: Select the Adapters tab and click the Add button.
NT 3.51: Click the Add Adapter button.
3. NT 4.0: Click the Have Disk button.
NT 3.51: Highlight Other and click Continue.
4. Enter the drive and directory path to the installation files
and click OK. For example:
C:\comtrol
5. With Comtrol VS1000/VS2000/RocketPort Serial Hub highlighted,
click OK.
The system copies in the driver files, opens the Main Setup
window, then launches the Add Device Wizard. You must add and
configure at least one VS-series or RocketPort Serial Hub
device at this time.
6. Click Next to continue.
7. Use the droplist to select the Comtrol hardware you are
installing and click Next.
8. Use the droplist to select the number of ports on the device
you are installing and click Next.
9. Enter the network (MAC) address of the device you are
installing and click Next.
NOTE: During initial installation of the driver, the droplist on
the network address field does not work. After you have
finished the installation and have rebooted the NT server
(so that the driver is bound to the server NIC card), then
you can use the droplist to select the network address of
any VS-series or RocketPort Serial Hub device that is
connected to the network and powered up.
10. If this NT server is the PRIMARY server for the device you are
installing, click No and click Next.
If this NT server is a BACKUP server for the device you are
installing, click Yes, then use the droplist to select a wait
time. Click Next.
NOTE: For more information about the backup server option, see
the Installation and Configuration Guide.
11. Click Finish.
The Device Properties window displays. This shows the
selections you made in the Add Hardware Wizard.
12. Review your selections. Make changes if needed, and click the
OK button.
NOTE: The OK button is at the bottom of this window. If you are
using 640x480 screen resolution, you may need to drag the
window higher in order to see the buttons.
The Main Setup window displays.
13. If you have other VS-series or RocketPort Serial Hub devices
to install at this time, click the Add button to launch the
Add Device Wizard, then repeat Steps 6 through 11.
14. If you need to change high-level software options, click the
Options tab, then make changes as needed. When you are done,
click the Main Setup tab to return to the Main Setup window.
15. If you need to change port configuration options at this time,
click on the desired COM port, then click the Properties
button. For more information about port options, see the
Installation and Configuration Guide.
16. When you are done, click the OK button. You are asked to
confirm that you want to save configuration changes and exit.
17. Click Yes. You are reminded that you need to restart the
server before your changes can take effect.
18. Click OK. The Network window displays.
19. Click Close. The system updates its bindings information,
then you are asked if you want to restart the server.
20. Click Yes.
The system exits and restarts Windows NT.
When the cycle is complete, you may resume normal operations.
------------------------------------------------------------
ADDING VS1100 EXPANSION UNITS (VS1000 Only)
Follow this procedure to add VS1100 expansion units to an
existing and operating VS1000/VS1100 installation.
1. Terminate all remote access sessions in progress and
power down the VS1000 base unit.
2. Connect the VS1100 expansion unit to the VS1000 base
unit, following the instructions given in the HARDWARE
INSTALLATION reference card. Remember to place the
terminator plug in the OUTPUT jack on the last VS1100
in the chain.
3. Power up the VS1000 base unit and verify that it passes
the power-on diagnostics.
4. Start the Comtrol Hardware Setup program in the Comtrol
VS1000/VS2000/Serial Hub program group. The Main Setup
window displays.
5. Highlight the base VS1000 you are working with and click
the Properties button.
6. Use the droplist to set the Number of Ports to the
combined total of the VS1000 unit and all associated
VS1100 expansion units.
7. Click OK to exit the Device Setup window.
8. Click OK to exit the Main Setup program.
9. Save your changes, then restart the server so that your
changes take effect.
------------------------------------------------------------
ADDING MORE VS1000, VS2000, OR ROCKETPORT SERIAL HUB DEVICES
Follow this procedure to add more devices to an existing and
operating installation.
1. Connect the new device to the Ethernet hub.
2. Connect the new unit to power, switch it on, and verify
that it passes power-on diagnostics.
3. Open the Comtrol Hardware Setup program in the Comtrol
VS1000/VS2000/Serial Hub program group. The Main Setup
window displays.
4. Click the Add button. The Add Device Wizard starts.
5. Click Next to continue.
6. Use the droplist to select the Comtrol hardware you are
adding and click Next.
7. Use the droplist to select the number of ports on the
device you are adding and click Next.
8. Enter the network (MAC) address of the device you are
addding and click Next. You can find this number on a
tag on the back or bottom of the device.
NOTE: Whenever a VS-series or RocketPort Serial Hub
device is connected to the network and powered up,
it automatically broadcasts its unique MAC address
to all servers on the network. Assuming you have
installed the driver correctly, you should be able to
use the droplist button to see the MAC addresses of
all the Network Communication Hub devices on the
network.
9. If this NT server is the PRIMARY server for the device
you are installing, click No and click Next.
If this NT server is a BACKUP server for the device you
are installing, click Yes, then use the droplist to
select a wait time. Click Next.
NOTE: For more information about the backup server
option, see the Installation and Configuration
Guide.
10. Click Finish. The Device Setup windows displays.
11. Review your entries, and change them if necessary. When
you are done, click the OK button.
NOTE: The OK button is at the bottom of this window. If
you are using 640x480 screen resolution, you may
need to drag the window higher in order to see the
buttons.
The Main Setup window displays.
12. If you have other devices to add at this time, click the
Add button to launch the Add Device Wizard and repeat
Steps 5 through 11.
13. If you need to change high-level software options, click
the Options tab, then make changes as needed. When you
are done, click the Main Setup tab to return to the Main
Setup window.
14. If you need to change port configuration options at this
time, click on the desired COM port, then click the
Properties button. For more information about port
options, see the Installation and Configuration Guide.
15. When you are done, click the OK button. You are asked to
confirm that you want to save configuration changes and
exit.
16. Click Yes. You are reminded that you need to restart the
server before your changes can take effect.
17. Click OK.
18. Restart Windows NT. When the cycle is complete, you may
resume normal operations.
------------------------------------------------------------
"HOT-SWAPPING" DEVICES
On occasion it may be necessary to replace installed and
configured devices without downing the server or reconfiguring
ports. To do so, follow these procedures.
"HOT-SWAPPING" VS1000, VS2000, or ROCKETPORT SERIAL HUB UNITS
-------------------------------------------------------------
1. Note the Network Address of the new unit.
2. Connect the new unit to the Ethernet hub, switch it on,
and verify that it passes power-on diagnostics. See
the Hardware Installation Card for more information.
3. Transfer all cables from the device being replaced to the
new device.
Note: Make sure that you transfer all cables on a port-
by-port basis so that the cables don't change
the configuration.
4. Start the Comtrol Hardware Setup program. The Main Setup
windows displays.
5. Highlight the device you are working with and click the
Properties button. The Device Setup window displays.
6. Use the Network Address field droplist to select the
Network Address of the new Unit. DO NOT MAKE ANY OTHER
CHANGES ON THIS SCREEN. The unit being swapped in must
have the same number of ports and the same starting COM
port number as the unit being taken out of service.
NOTE: Do not add or remove VS1100 expansion units while
swapping VS1000 base units.
7. Click OK to close the Device Setup window.
8. Click OK to exit the Comtrol Hardware Setup program.
9. Click OK to save the new configuration.
The new device immediately replaces the old one.
Restarting the server is not needed.
"HOT-SWAPPING" VS1100 EXPANSION UNITS (VS1000 ONLY)
-------------------------------------
1. Terminate all remote access sessions in progress and
power down the VS1000 base unit.
2. Transfer all serial and VS1100 cables from the VS1100
being replaced to the new VS1100.
3. Switch the VS1000 base unit on and verify that the new
VS1100 passes power-on diagnostics.
The new VS1100 immediately replaces the old one. Further
configuration or restarting the server is not needed.
=================================================================
INSTALLATION TROUBLESHOOTING
Follow these steps to begin installation troubleshooting.
For more extensive information, see the Installation and
Configuration Guide for your product.
* Check the Event Viewer in the Windows NT Administrative Tools
group for useful informational messages.
* SERIAL DEVICES: Check to make sure that you have the correct
cables on the correct ports (RJ45 Ethernet and RJ45 Serial
cables are easily mistaken for each other) and that the
cables are connected securely.
* Check to make sure the Ethernet hub and any other network
devices that may be between the server and the device are
powered up and working correctly.
* Check to make sure that the network address shown on the Device
Setup window matches the network address of the device.
* Select the Device Advisor tab from the Device Setup window,
and look for error messages and indications of network problems.
* If operating in a multiple-server environment, check to make
sure that you are controlling the device from its primary
server, that there is only one primary server assigned to this
particular device, and that no backup server has pre-empted the
primary server.
NOTE: For more information about the backup server option,
see the Installation and Configuration Guide.
* Use the Test Terminal program to troubleshoot communications
on a port-by-port basis.
* Use the Port Monitor program to check for errors, modem
control, and status signals.
* Use the Peer Tracer program to track and trace the driver
internal events.
* If you have more than one device, follow the procedures given in
"HOT-SWAPPING" (above) to swap out units. If this corrects the
problem, the device you removed from service may be defective or
in need of repair.
=================================================================
KNOWN CAPABILITIES AND LIMITATIONS
The driver was written to the Win32 API, which means that
it works with applications like:
* Remote Access Server NT
* Terminal and FAX programs
NOTE: Device names above COM9 require the \\.\ (backslash
backslash period backslash) in order for the system to
recognize them. For example, to reference COM20 use
\\.\COM20 as the file name.
The following tables list the driver capabilities and limitations for
the Win32 API. Refer to the Installation and Configuration
Guide for your Network Communication Hub device for additional
information.
DEVICE CONTROL BLOCK SETTINGS
Item Status
------------------- ----------------------------------------------
BaudRate any valid baud rate between 75 and 230,400
ByteSize 7 or 8
ErrorChar supported
EofChar not used, supports only binary
EvtChar supported
fAbortOnError supported
fBinary always binary mode
fDtrControl supported
fDsrSensitivity not supported
fErrorChar supported
fInX, fOutX supported
fNull supported
fParity supported
fOutxCtsFlow supported
fRtsControl RTS_CONTROL_DISABLE, RTS_CONTROL_ENABLE,
RTS_CONTROL_HANDSHAKE, RTS_CONTROL_TOGGLE
Other flow control SERIAL_DSR_HANDSHAKE, SERIAL_DCD_HANDSHAKE
fTXContinueOnXoff supported as always TRUE
Parity EVENPARITY, NOPARITY, or ODDPARITY
StopBits ONESTOPBIT or TWOSTOPBITS
XonChar, XoffChar supported
UNSUPPORTED IOCTL FUNCTIONALITY
Item Status
--------------------------- --------------------------------------
IOCTL_SERIAL_SET_HANDFLOW
(unsupported options) SERIAL_DSR_SENSITIVITY
IOCTL_SERIAL_GET_COMMSTATUS fCtsHold, fDsrHold, fRlsdHold,
(unsupported options) fXoffHold, fXoffSent
=================================================================
TECHNICAL SUPPORT
Before contacting Comtrol Technical Support, please make sure
that you have the following information:
- Your System Information
- Network operating system type and release
- Driver version
- Server PC make, model, and speed
CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS:
email: support@comtrol.com
web: http://www.comtrol.com
ftp: ftp://ftp.comtrol.com
FAX: (612) 494-4199
phone: (612) 494-4100
COMTROL EUROPE:
email: support @comtrol.co.uk
FAX: +44 (0) 1 869-323-211
phone: +44 (0) 1 869-323-220
===================================================================
COPYRIGHTS AND NOTICES
Copyright 1998. Comtrol Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with
regard to the contents of this guide or to the suitability of
Comtrol products for any particular purpose. Specifications
subject to change without notice. Some software or features may
not be available at the time of publication. Contact your
reseller for current product information.
TRADEMARKS
Comtrol is a trademark of Comtrol Corporation.
Microsoft is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
InterChangeVS is a trademark of Comtrol Corporation.
Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or
registered trademarks of their respective companies.
DOCUMENT NUMBER: 8000087
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.