User Guide
Trademark Notices
Document Number: 2000370 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
Supported Models.......................................................................................................................................... 5
Before Installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422.................................................................................... 5
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation .................................................................................. 6
Card and Interface Installation ..........................................................................................7
Connecting RS-422 Serial Devices......................................................................................9
DTE Versus DCE ............................................................................................................................................ 9
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs ................................................................................................... 9
DB9 Signals (RS-422) ............................................................................................................................... 10
Straight-Through Cables (DCE) .............................................................................................................. 10
Null-Modem Cables (DTE) ....................................................................................................................... 10
DB9 Loopback Plugs................................................................................................................................. 11
Straight-Through Cables (DCE) .............................................................................................................. 11
Null-Modem Cables (DTE) ....................................................................................................................... 11
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................13
Before Calling Technical Support ........................................................................................................... 13
RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 Diagnostics .................................................................................................. 13
Bootable CD .............................................................................................................................................. 14
Running the Bootable Diagnostic CD ...................................................................................................... 14
Testing a Port or Ports ....................................................................................................................... 14
Stress Testing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 .................................................................................. 15
Exiting the Diagnostic ....................................................................................................................... 15
Troubleshooting Windows Systems......................................................................................................... 15
Troubleshooting Linux Systems .............................................................................................................. 23
Technical Support ....................................................................................................................................... 24
If the Diagnostic Fails........................................................................................................................ 15
Comtrol Utility.......................................................................................................................................... 16
Using PortMon to Test the Driver Installation ................................................................................ 18
Using Test Terminal to Test a Port ................................................................................................... 21
lcom(1) ....................................................................................................................................................... 23
File Transfer ............................................................................................................................................. 23
Changing Serial Port Settings (stty) ....................................................................................................... 23
Setting Up Terminals and Modems (mgetty, getty) ............................................................................... 23
Testing with minicom ............................................................................................................................... 23
Index........................................................................................................................................25
RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Table of Contents - 3
Table of Contents
4 - Table of Contents RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Product Overview
Overview
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 series multiport serial card fits into the PCI slot of
a personal computer, and uses a 43 MHz processor that is specifically designed to
process asynchronous serial communications.
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 supports RS-422 exclusively, in either DTE or DCE
mode. It supports 3.3 and 5.0 volt PCI bus architecture and is compatible with 32and 64-bit PCI slots. The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 card supports
communications speeds up to 921,600 baud.
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 series 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 uPCI Plus 422 cards in one computer,
providing a maximum of 32 additional serial ports. The PC must comply with the
PCI 2.2 specification or greater.
Supported Models
The RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 family consists of the following models:
• Quadcable (fanout cable) with four DB9 male connectors
• Octacable (fanout cable) with eight DB9 male connectors
Before Installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422
If you are planning on installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 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. Optionally, you can use the links in the following subsection.
You may want to record the model and serial number of the RocketPort uPCI Plus
422 before installing the card in the event you need to call technical support.
RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Overview - 5
Overview
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation
This table contains links the software and installation documentation.
Software or
Document
Location
Device drivers ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_drivers.htm
Diagnostic and
Utilities
ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_diag.htm
User Guides ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus422_docs.htm
6 - Overview RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
Card and Interface Installation
DIP Switch
OFF
ON
DCE = On (Down)
DTE = Off (Up)
Factory Default Setting = DTE
Caution
Use the following procedure to install a RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 card.
1. If this is a Windows installation, copy the latest driver to your system before
installing the RocketPort uPCI Plus 422. See Locating the Latest Drivers and
Documentation on Page 6 to locate the latest driver and installation
documentation.
2. Turn off the host computer.
Note: You may want to write down the model number and serial number of
the card before installation.
3. If necessary, set the DIP switches for the appropriate communications mode.
The default DIP switch setting is DTE.
• DCE mode
ports.
• DTE mode
ports.
4. Remove the system cover from your computer.
5. Select a PCI expansion slot.
6. Remove the slot cover or release the clamp.
7. Insert the card into the slot and seat it securely.
8. Reinstall the expansion slot retaining screw or clamp.
Note: You may want to replace the system cover after the driver is installed
and running in the event that you need to change the DTE/DCE switch
setting.
Do not connect an interface to the card when the host system is
powered on, this can cause card failure.
, if necessary, set the DIP switch to ON on the corresponding
, if necessary, set the DIP switch to OFF on the corresponding
RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B Card and Interface Installation - 7
Card and Interface Installation
Caution
Octacable
DB9
9. Attach the DB78 end of the quadcable or 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.
10. Tighten the retaining screws on the connector.
11. Power on the host system.
12. Click Cancel if a Found New Hardware message
appears on a Windows operating system.
Execute the device driver file to start the driver installation.
For other operating system device drivers, see Locating the Latest Drivers and
Documentation on Page 6.
13. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning
properly and then connect your serial devices.
You can use the Troubleshooting
section on Page 13 for port testing procedures
for your operating system.
Refer to Connecting
RS-422 Serial Devices on Page 9 for information about
connecting serial devices.
8 - Card and Interface Installation RocketPort uPCI Plus 422 User Guide: 2000370 Rev. B
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