AlphaStation 200 4/### Internal Modem Configuration
Preface and Background
The AlphaStation 200 4/### can be configured with an internal modem for
telecommunications purposes. Most modems today are sold for installation in
PC hardware and come with instructions for configuring the hardware
assuming it is running software from that outfit in Redmond, WA. While this
software and PC hardware may be pervasive, it does not mean that these
modems should be relegated to a life only within these systems.
The following will describe the configuration steps which have been used
time and time again to successfully configure the Digital AlphaStation 200
4/{100/166/233} with an internal modem.
Modem Hardware, Setup and Configuration
The adoption of the V.90 56K modem standard/protocol prompted this page's
author to seek out and purchase such a compliant modem. After visiting
several commodity hardware computer retailers, it became evident that
finding an external modem compliant with this new V.90 standard was going
to be like a Quest for the Holy Grail. Fortunately, one retailer offered me
an OEM 3com (US Robotics) model #5687 to test out and, if it didn't work
for me, I was encouraged to return it.
This is not an endorsement for the 3com model #5687 V.90 56K modem;
however, it is known to work in the AlphaStation 200 4/### using the
configuration instructions on this page. Other modem manufacturer modems
may also work, just be forewarned that these instructions were developed
for and using the 3com model #5687. All further references to the
configuration and setup of the hardware are made with the assumption that
the modem being installed is a 3com modem #5687. Please, if you follow
these instructions and find another manufacturer's modem will work for you,
do send an eMail to VAXman@TMESIS.COM with information on the manufacturer,
model #, and any specific alterations to the console configuration which
may be necessary. Your input will be included here for the altruistic
benefit of others.
The 3com model #5687 V.90 56K modem must be jumpered to set its IRQ and
address. To function with the AlphaStation configuration setup described
subsequent, the modem must be set to IRQ = 5 and the address set to
02E8(16).
The IRQ is set on this card by placing a jumper on one of the 5 IRQ
jumper posts numbered {2,3,4,5,7}. The address is set by placing a
jumper on another set of posts which are designated in the manual
as the selectors for {COM1,COM2,COM3,COM4}.
[Image]
Address 02E8(16) is the COM4 designation. On the 3com model #5687
V.90 56K modem, this cooresponds to placing the jumper across the
pins which are marked as SEL on the card. There will be three sets
of pins marked {1,2,SEL}. Pins {1,2} should have any jumpers, which
may have been placed on them at the factory, removed.
Insert the modem card into any available/convenient ISA slot on the
AlphaStation's riser and secure it into place. Be careful and observe all
static precautions when working inside the system.
One last note before closing the system. If you require support from 3com,
you will be asked for the serial number of your modem card. The serial
number is on a small bar coded label which will be affixed to the card. I
would suggest the careful removal of the tag and the reaffixing to the
metal plate which maintains the RJ-11 phone jacks. Thus, if you do need to
contact the manufacturer for support, you will not need to open the
AlphaStation simply to obtain the serial number.
AlphaStation 200 4/### Console Setup and Configuration
To insure that your console is in a known state before you start this
procedure, it may be a good idea to initialize the system's ISA
configuration table with the isacfg -init command.
Here is an example of the console output when issuing the command:
>>>isacfg -init
Initializing table to defaults
type >>>init to use these changes
>>>
Confirm that the console ISA configuration table has been initialized to
the default using the show config command:
>>>show config
Firmware
SRM Console: V6.6-1
ARC Console: 4.53
PALcode: VMS PALcode V5.56-2, OSF PALcode X1.46-2
Serial Rom: V4.6
Diag Rom: V1.6
Processor
DECchip (tm) 21064-3 166Mhz 512KB Cache
MEMORY
64 Meg of System Memory
Bank 0 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x0
Bank 1 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x2000000
Bank 2 = No Memory Detected
Flash ROM0 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM1 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM2 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM3 Mfr - AMD
PCI Bus
Bus 00 Slot 06: NCR 810 Scsi Controller
pka0.7.0.6.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dka0.0.0.6.0 RZ26F
dka100.1.0.6.0 RZ28M
dka400.4.0.6.0 RRD45
Bus 00 Slot 07: Intel SIO 82378
Bus 00 Slot 11: DECchip 21040 Network Controller
ewa0.0.0.11.0 08-00-2B-E7-AD-CE
Bus 00 Slot 13: Digital ZLXp Graphics Controller
ISA
Slot Device Name Type Enabled BaseAddr IRQ DMA
0
0 MOUSE Embedded Yes 60 12
1 KBD Embedded Yes 60 1
2 COM1 Embedded Yes 3f8 4
3 COM2 Embedded Yes 2f8 3
4 LPT1 Embedded Yes 3bc 7
5 FLOPPY Embedded Yes 3f0 6 2
>>>
If you are satisfied that your configuration is now at the default and you
wish to configure the sound card into the system, issue the built-in macro
command add_sound.
Here is an example of the console output when issuing the command:
>>>add_sound
type >>>init to use these changes
>>>
Confirm that the console ISA configuration table has been configured with
the sound card (PCXBJ) using the show config command:
>>>show config
Firmware
SRM Console: V6.6-1
ARC Console: 4.53
PALcode: VMS PALcode V5.56-2, OSF PALcode X1.46-2
Serial Rom: V4.6
Diag Rom: V1.6
Processor
DECchip (tm) 21064-3 166Mhz 512KB Cache
MEMORY
64 Meg of System Memory
Bank 0 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x0
Bank 1 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x2000000
Bank 2 = No Memory Detected
Flash ROM0 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM1 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM2 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM3 Mfr - AMD
PCI Bus
Bus 00 Slot 06: NCR 810 Scsi Controller
pka0.7.0.6.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dka0.0.0.6.0 RZ26F
dka100.1.0.6.0 RZ28M
dka400.4.0.6.0 RRD45
Bus 00 Slot 07: Intel SIO 82378
Bus 00 Slot 11: DECchip 21040 Network Controller
ewa0.0.0.11.0 08-00-2B-E7-AD-CE
Bus 00 Slot 13: Digital ZLXp Graphics Controller
ISA
Slot Device Name Type Enabled BaseAddr IRQ DMA
0
0 MOUSE Embedded Yes 60 12
1 KBD Embedded Yes 60 1
2 COM1 Embedded Yes 3f8 4
3 COM2 Embedded Yes 2f8 3
4 LPT1 Embedded Yes 3bc 7
5 FLOPPY Embedded Yes 3f0 6 2
2
0 PCXBJ Singleport Yes 530 9 0
388 1
>>>
The system is now ready for the magic incantation which will define the
modem card. This command assumes that the card has been jumpered as
described in the "Modem Hardware Setup and Configuration" section.
The modem card may be inserted into any one of the ISA slots on the riser
card in the AlphaStation 200 4/###. The position and/or numbering of the
slot is not important. Insert the card into any slot which will make the
access to the RJ-11 phone jacks convenient in your configuration/system.
The command for configuring the modem is:
>>>isacfg -mk -dev 0 -slot 4 -handle TTA -irq0 5 -iobase0 2E8 -etyp 1 -enadev 1
type >>>init to use these changes
>>>
Confirm that the console ISA configuration table has been configured with
the modem card using the show config command:
>>>show config
Firmware
SRM Console: V6.6-1
ARC Console: 4.53
PALcode: VMS PALcode V5.56-2, OSF PALcode X1.46-2
Serial Rom: V4.6
Diag Rom: V1.6
Processor
DECchip (tm) 21064-3 166Mhz 512KB Cache
MEMORY
64 Meg of System Memory
Bank 0 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x0
Bank 1 = 32 Mbytes(16 MB Per Simm) Starting at 0x2000000
Bank 2 = No Memory Detected
Flash ROM0 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM1 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM2 Mfr - AMD
Flash ROM3 Mfr - AMD
PCI Bus
Bus 00 Slot 06: NCR 810 Scsi Controller
pka0.7.0.6.0 SCSI Bus ID 7
dka0.0.0.6.0 RZ26F
dka100.1.0.6.0 RZ28M
dka400.4.0.6.0 RRD45
Bus 00 Slot 07: Intel SIO 82378
Bus 00 Slot 11: DECchip 21040 Network Controller
ewa0.0.0.11.0 08-00-2B-E7-AD-CE
Bus 00 Slot 13: Digital ZLXp Graphics Controller
ISA
Slot Device Name Type Enabled BaseAddr IRQ DMA
0
0 MOUSE Embedded Yes 60 12
1 KBD Embedded Yes 60 1
2 COM1 Embedded Yes 3f8 4
3 COM2 Embedded Yes 2f8 3
4 LPT1 Embedded Yes 3bc 7
5 FLOPPY Embedded Yes 3f0 6 2
2
0 PCXBJ Singleport Yes 530 9 0
388 1
4
0 TTA Singleport Yes 2e8 5
>>>
The init command which has been requested at each step of this
configuration may now be issued:
>>>init
ff.fe.fd.fc.fb.fa.f9.f8.f7.f6.f5.
ef.df.ee.ed.ec.f4.eb.....ea.e9.e8.e7.e6.e5.
V6.6-1, built on Aug 26 1997 at 14:28:09
...
It's now time to boot the system.
OpenVMS Setup and Configuration
The ISA devices do not "announce" themselves such that OpenVMS can
auto-configure them and load the appropriate device driver. Therefore,
Digital has provided a special mechanism for ISA devices. These
instructions are for OpenVMS V7.n. If you are running V6.2, there is a
similar feature in OpenVMS for accomplishing the same task which the
subsequent sections will describe.
I have not included instructions here for V6.2 simply because I myself have
not configured my available AlphaStations under V6.2. If you follow these
instructions and get your modem functioning under OpenVMS V6.2, please,
forward you're observations via eMail to VAXman@TMESIS.COM. Your feedback
will be included here, again, for the altruistic benefit of others.
OpenVMS V7.n maintains a file in SYS$SYSTEM: called SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT.
This file is used to add the definitions of ISA devices so that they will
be configured into the system when the machine is booted. Edit this file
and add the following:
device = "56K V.90 Modem"
name = TT
driver = SYS$YSDRIVER
adapter = ISA
id = TTA
end_device
That's it. Quite simple.
You now need to reboot the system and your modem should appear as device
TTA0:.
The terminal characteristics for TTA0: can be modified in the system
startup and should, at a minimum, contain:
$ SET TERMINAL/PERMANENT/MODEM/SPEED=57600/ALTYPEAHD/TYPE_AHEAD TTA0:
Once the modem has been configured, you will want to communicate with the
modem and establish certain modem configuration parameters. You can
communication with your modem using:
$ SET HOST/DTE TTA0:
The modem should be configured, at a minimum, using the following "Hayes"
commands:
AT&C1&D2&S1&W
If you've purchased and installed a 3com model #5687 V.90 56K modem, you
can view the status of the modem's configuration with the following
command:
ATI4
The 3com model #5687 V.90 56K modem also maintains an on-line AT help
feature which is accessible via the command:
AT$
and
AT&$
Conclusion
Enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Since the initial publication of this page, some questions have been asked
and therefore, this section has been added. Hopefully, these will assist
you and answer any similar questions.
*Are the choice of IRQ 5 and address 2E8 mandated by the AlphaStation
firmware? ...by the modem?
PC/ISA hardware mentality/limitation. The IRQ for a terminal can be
3,4,5 and 7. In the default configuration, COM1 consumes IRQ 4, COM2
consumes IRQ 3 and the LPT consumes IRQ 7. These are hard-wired on the
board so, you're not left with too much choice. IRQ 5 seems to be it!
If you look too at the available address space, there's also little
choice. Traditionally, the COM designations are:
COM1: 03F8(16) -- This is already consumed by COM1
COM2: 02F8(16) -- This is already consumed by COM2
COM3: 03E8(16) -- not used in default configuration
COM4: 02E8(16) -- not used in default configuration
I suppose you could configure the modem as COM3: 03E8(16). I don't
really see a great deal of flexibility though in the other aspects of
the configuration. It's the damn PC I/O scheme that is limiting; not
the AlphaServer firmware.
*With the modem installed, do the normal serial ports shift controller
letters or anything like that?
Yes! The SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT is called to configure devices first so,
the modem will become TTA0:. The others, depending on whether or not
you have the console set serial or graphics, will become TTB0: and
TTC0:. (No TTC0: if you have a serial console -- that becomes OPA0:.
*In the magic incantation is -slot 4 related to the physical slot it's
installed in?
No. It is a conceptual or virtual slot; not physical "slot". Just keep
it at -slot 4 and you'll be ok.
As for the actual slots, you can place the card in any convenient
slot.
*In the magic incantation is -handle TTA a fixed requirement, or could you
use something like TTB or TTC?
As near as I can figure, it's merely an identifier for use in the
SYS$USER_CONFIG.DAT file. I suppose if you wanted, you could call it
DOG as long as the id = TTA was changed to id = DOG. This is a
cooperative venture between the console and the VMS I/O sub-system.
ISA devices don't announce or identify themselves so, the console has
this "kludge" to assist the VMS I/O device configuration.
Copyright © 1998 Brian Schenkenberger and TMESIS. All Rights Reserved.
Digital, the digital logo, OpenVMS, VAX and Alpha are trademarks of
Digital Equipment Corporation
3com and US Robotics are trademarks of the 3com Corporation
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This document was last modified Tuesday, August 11, 1998 07:20:55 PM