User Guide
Trademark Notices
Document Number: 2000369 Rev. C
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.
Third Edition (Rev C), September 23, 2011
Copyright © 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 Plus Universal PCI .......................................................................... 5
Locating the Latest Drivers and Documentation .................................................................................. 6
Card and Interface Installation ..........................................................................................7
Connecting Serial Devices ...................................................................................................9
DTE Versus DCE ............................................................................................................................................ 9
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs ................................................................................................... 9
DB9 Signals............................................................................................................................................... 10
DB9 Null-Modem Cables .......................................................................................................................... 10
RS-232 Null-Modem Cable ............................................................................................................... 10
DB9 Straight-Through Cables ................................................................................................................. 10
DB9 Loopback Plugs................................................................................................................................. 11
DB25 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs ............................................................................................... 12
DB25 Signals............................................................................................................................................. 12
DB25 Null-Modem Cables ........................................................................................................................ 12
DB25 Null-Modem Cables (RS-232) ........................................................................................................ 13
DB25 Straight-Through Cables (RS-232) ................................................................................................ 13
DB25 Loopback Plugs............................................................................................................................... 14
RJ45 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs................................................................................................ 15
RJ45 Pinouts ............................................................................................................................................. 15
RJ45 Null-Modem Cables ........................................................................................................................ 15
RJ45 Straight-Through Cables ............................................................................................................... 16
RJ45 Loopback Plugs................................................................................................................................ 16
Troubleshooting ...................................................................................................................17
Before Calling Technical Support ........................................................................................................... 17
RocketPort Plus Universal PCI Diagnostics......................................................................................... 17
Bootable CD .............................................................................................................................................. 18
Running the Bootable Diagnostic CD ...................................................................................................... 18
Testing a Port or Ports ....................................................................................................................... 18
Stress Testing the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI .......................................................................... 19
Exiting the Diagnostic ....................................................................................................................... 19
If the Diagnostic Fails........................................................................................................................ 19
Troubleshooting Windows Systems......................................................................................................... 19
Comtrol Utility.......................................................................................................................................... 20
Using PortMon to Test the Driver Installation ................................................................................ 22
Troubleshooting Linux Systems .............................................................................................................. 27
Technical Support ....................................................................................................................................... 28
RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C Table of Contents - iii
Using Test Terminal to Test a Port ................................................................................................... 25
lcom(1) ....................................................................................................................................................... 27
File Transfer ............................................................................................................................................. 27
Changing Serial Port Settings (stty) ....................................................................................................... 27
Setting Up Terminals and Modems (mgetty, getty) ............................................................................... 27
Testing with minicom ............................................................................................................................... 27
Table of Contents
Index........................................................................................................................................29
iv - Table of Contents RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C
Product Overview
Overview
The RocketPort Plus Universal PCI 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.
It supports 3.3 and 5.0 volt PCI bus architecture and is compatible with 32- and
64-bit PCI slots. The RocketPort Plus Universal PCI card supports
communications speeds up to 921,600 baud.
The RocketPort Plus Universal PCI 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 Plus Universal PCI 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 Plus Universal PCI family consists of the following models:
• Quadcable (fanout cable) with four DB9M or DB25M connectors
• Octacable (fanout cable) with eight DB9M, DB25M, or RJ45 connectors
Before Installing the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI
If you are planning on installing the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI 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 Plus
Universal PCI before installing the card in the event you need to call technical
support.
RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C 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/RPuPCIplus_drivers.htm
Diagnostic and
Utilities
ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus_diag.htm
User Guides ftp://ftp.comtrol.com/html/RPuPCIplus_docs.htm
6 - Overview RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C
Card and Interface Installation
Caution
Caution
Octacable
DB9
Use the following procedure to install a RocketPort Plus Universal PCI card.
1. If this is a Windows installation, copy the latest driver to your system before
installing the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI. 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. Remove the system cover from your computer.
4. Select a PCI expansion slot.
5. Remove the slot cover or release the clamp.
6. Insert the card into the slot and seat it securely.
7. Reinstall the expansion slot retaining screw or clamp.
Do not connect an interface to the card when the host system is
powered on, this can cause card failure.
8. 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 Quadcable or 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.
9. Tighten the retaining screws on the connector.
10. Power on the host system.
11. 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.
12. After installing the driver, you should verify that the ports are functioning
properly and then connect your serial devices.
You can use the Troubleshooting
for your operating system.
Refer to Connecting Serial Devices
serial devices.
section on Page 17 for port testing procedures
on Page 9 for information about connecting
RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C Card and Interface Installation - 7
Card and Interface Installation
8 - Card and Interface Installation RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C
DTE Versus DCE
Connecting Serial Devices
This section provides information about the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI
connectors, in the event that you need to build cables or loopback plugs.
• DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 9
• DB25 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 12
• RJ45 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs on Page 15
A loopback plug is a serial port plug with pins wired together that you can use
with application (for example, the diagnostic, Test Terminal, or minicom) to test
serial ports. See
about using the test application shipped with the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI.
Most serial devices, except modems, are Data Terminal Equipment (DTE) devices.
Modems are Data Communication Equipment (DCE) devices.
How you build a cable depends on which device your are connecting to (DTE or
DCE). For example, you need a null-modem cable to connect the COM ports
(COM1 or COM2) on the computer or the RocketPort Plus Universal PCI ports to
printers, terminals, bar code readers or DNC equipment. If you are connecting a
DTE device to a DCE device you need a straight-through modem cable.
• Straight-through cable (DTE to DCE) - connects TxD to TxD and RxD to RxD.
• Null-modem cable (DTE to DTE) - connects TxD to RxD and RxD to TxD.
Before Calling Technical Support on Page 17 for information
DB9 Serial Cables and Loopback Plugs
The following figures and table illustrate the signals present on DB9 connectors if
you need to build your own null-modem or straight-through DB9 serial cables.
• DB9 Signals on Page 10
• DB9 Null-Modem Cables on Page 10
• DB9 Straight-Through Cables on Page 10
• DB9 Loopback Plugs on Page 11
RocketPort Plus Universal PCI User Guide: 2000369 Rev. C Connecting Serial Devices - 9
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