User Guide
Trademark Notices
Document Number: 2000482 Rev. B
Comtrol and RocketPort are trademarks of Comtrol Corporation.
Windows and Microsoft are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Other product names mentioned herein may be trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective
owners.
Second Edition (Rev B), September 12, 2011
Copyright © 2007 - 2011. Comtrol Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Comtrol Corporation makes no representations or warranties with regard to the contents of this document or
to the suitability of the Comtrol product 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.
Table of Contents
Overview...................................................................................................................................5
Product Overview.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Before Installing the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE ............................................................................ 5
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation .................................................................................. 5
Card and Interface Installation ..........................................................................................7
Installing the Card ........................................................................................................................................ 7
Attaching an Octacable Interface Cable .................................................................................................. 8
Attaching an Interface Box ......................................................................................................................... 9
Installing a Rackmount Interface Box ................................................................................................... 10
Connecting Serial Devices .................................................................................................11
DTE Versus DCE .......................................................................................................................................... 11
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs ................................................................................................. 11
DB9 Signals............................................................................................................................................... 12
Straight-Through Cables (DCE) .............................................................................................................. 12
Null-Modem Cables (DTE) ....................................................................................................................... 12
DB9 Loopback Plugs................................................................................................................................. 12
Building Interfaces ..............................................................................................................13
68-Pin VHDCI Connector ........................................................................................................................... 13
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................15
Before Calling Technical Support ........................................................................................................... 15
RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE Diagnostics ........................................................................................... 15
Running the Bootable Diagnostic ............................................................................................................ 16
Testing a Port or Ports ....................................................................................................................... 16
Stress Testing the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE........................................................................... 16
Exiting the Diagnostic ....................................................................................................................... 16
If the Diagnostic Fails........................................................................................................................ 16
Troubleshooting Windows Systems......................................................................................................... 17
Comtrol Utility.......................................................................................................................................... 17
Using PortMon to Test the Driver Installation ................................................................................ 19
Troubleshooting Linux Systems .............................................................................................................. 24
Technical Support ....................................................................................................................................... 25
Using Test Terminal to Test a Port ................................................................................................... 22
lcom(1) ....................................................................................................................................................... 24
File Transfer ............................................................................................................................................. 24
Changing Serial Port Settings (stty) ....................................................................................................... 24
Setting Up Terminals and Modems (mgetty, getty) ............................................................................... 24
Testing with minicom ............................................................................................................................... 24
Index........................................................................................................................................27
RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B Table of Contents - iii
Table of Contents
iv - Table of Contents RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B
Overview
Product Overview
The RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE is a high-speed in-server serial expansion card
for use in a PCI-Express (PCIe) compatible slot in a host system. The RocketPort
EXPRESS SMPTE was designed to support speeds up to 921Kbps and supports
RS-422 exclusively, in either DCE or DTE mode.
The RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE uses Comtrol Application Specific Integrated
Circuit (ASIC) technology to replace most hardware functionality to minimize
components, including:
• The processor
• A serial controller
• Bus interface logic and other miscellaneous logic
You can install up to four RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE cards in one computer,
providing a maximum of 32 additional serial ports. The RocketPort EXPRESS
SMPTE is an 8-port card with a DB9F interface box.
Before Installing the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE
If you are planning on installing the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE in a Windows
system make sure that you have placed the device driver assembly to a location
that is available to the host system before installing the card in the host.
You can use the Software and Documentation CD to locate the latest device drivers
and documentation or the links in the following table.
You may want to record the model and serial number of the RocketPort EXPRESS
SMPTE before installing the card in the event you need to call technical support.
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation
This table contains links the software and installation documentation. Optionally,
you can locate the latest device drivers, software, and installation documentation.
Software or
Document
Device drivers ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/rp_express_smpte_drivers.htm
Diagnostic and
Utilities
User Guides ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/rp_express_smpte_docs.htm
ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/rp_express_smpte_diag.htm
Location
RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B Overview - 5
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation
6 - Overview RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B
Installing the Card
DIP Switch
OFF
ON
DCE = ON
DTE = OFF
Factory Default Setting = DCE
Card and Interface Installation
This section discusses the following:
• Installing the Card
• Attaching an Octacable Interface Cable on Page 8
• Attaching an Interface Box
• Installing a Rackmount Interface Box
Use the following procedure to install a RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE card.
1. Turn off the host computer.
2. If necessary, set the DCE/DTE DIP switch for your environment.
on Page 9
on Page 10
RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B Card and Interface Installation - 7
•DCE mode
the appropriate ports.
• DTE mode
DTE mode.
3. Remove the system cover from your computer.
4. Select a PCI-Express (PCIe) compatible slot.
5. Remove the slot cover or release the clamp.
6. If necessary, replace the low-profile mounting bracket with the standard
mounting bracket shipped with the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE.
7. Insert the card into the slot and seat it securely.
8. Reinstall the expansion slot retaining screw or clamp.
Note: You may want replace the system cover after the driver is installed and
running in the event that you need to change the DTE/DCE switch
setting.
: verify that the DIP switches are set to ON for DCE mode on
: set the switches to OFF as needed for any ports that require
Attaching an Octacable Interface Cable
Caution
Caution
Do not connect an interface to the card when the host
system is powered on, this can cause the card to fail.
9. Attach the appropriate interface (octacable or interface box) to the RocketPort
EXPRESS SMPTE:
• Attaching a
• Attaching an Interface Box
• Installing a Rackmount Interface Box
n Octacable Interface Cable on Page 8
Attaching an Octacable Interface Cable
Use this procedure to complete the octacable installation.
1. Make sure that the host system is powered off before connecting the cable.
2. Attach the 68-pin end of the octacable to the card.
Make sure that the connectors are properly
aligned and forcefully push the connector of
the Octacable with a rocking motion into the
card connector. Make sure that the connector
is seated tightly before tightening the
retaining screws on the connector.
3. Tighten the retaining screws.
4. Power on the host system.
5. Click Cancel if a Found New Hardware message appears on a Windows
operating system.
Execute the device driver assembly to start the driver installation.
For other operating system device drivers, see Locating the Latest Drivers and
Documentation on Page 5.
6. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning
properly and then connect your serial devices.
You can use the Troubleshooting
procedures.
Refer to Connecting Serial Devices
connecting serial devices.
on Page 9
on Page 10
section on Page 15 for port testing
on Page 11 for information about
8 - Card and Interface Installation RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B
Attaching an Interface Box
Caution
Caution
Use this procedure to complete the installation with an interface box.
Do not connect the cable to the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE card or
interface box when the computer is powered on. The interface is not
hot-swappable.
Connecting the cable to the RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE card or
interface box while the computer is powered on may damage the
electronics on the card or interface box.
1. Make sure that the host system is powered off before connecting the cable.
2. Attach the LFH60 end of the interface cable to the RocketPort EXPRESS
SMPTE card and the DB37 end to the connector the interface box.
Make sure that the connectors are properly
aligned. Do NOT use force when connecting the
cables to the host adapter card.
3. Tighten the retaining screws.
4. Power on the host system.
5. Click Cancel if a Found New Hardware message
appears on a Windows operating system.
Execute the device driver assembly to start the
driver installation.
For other operating system device drivers, see
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation
Page 5.
6. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning
properly and then connect your serial devices.
You can use the Troubleshooting
procedures.
Refer to Connecting Serial Devices
connecting serial devices.
Attaching an Interface Box
on
section on Page 15 for port testing
on Page 11 for information about
RocketPort EXPRESS SMPTE User Guide: 2000482 Rev. B Card and Interface Installation - 9
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