Each device attached to the Ethernet (with uses TCP/IP) is assigned a unique internet
address. Internet addresses are four byte numerical values, To make it easier to
remember these values, most systems on the network support a way of alaising the
internet address to some unique and easy to remember name. This is done on the Sun
Workstation (and other UNIX systems) in the /etc/hosts file. The PortMaster also
supports the same capability by maintaining a local hosts table.
The PortMaster hosts table should be used when any of the ports are set to prompt the
user for a host name on the network, This table is then consulted to determine the
correct internet address of the host.
If the hostname specified by the user is not found in the hosts table, then the
PortMaster will attempt to match the hostname using the Network information Service
(NIS), also known as "YP". See the section "Global Configuration" for more
information on setting the YP server and YP domain.
To view or edit the PortMaster hosts table, log in to the PortMaster and select the
"Hosts" button from the main console.
The following window will be displayed:
Figure 3-14. Hosts Window
Tile mouse buttons across the top of the Hosts window are use to access tile
available functions. The buttons are:
Open - Retrieves the current hosts table from the PortMaster and displays it in the
scrollable text window.
Sale Saves the hosts entries shown in the text window as the new~ hosts table for
the PortMaster.
Done - removes the Hosts Window from view.
To edit the PortMaster hosts table use the following general procedure:
].. Select Open with the left mouse button. Tile Hosts table will[ be retrieved from
the PortMaster. sorted in IP address order and will be displayed in the scrollable
text window.
2. Make additions, deletions, and changes. All entries should have the Internet
address (in the conventional '.' notation) follow~ed b) tile official host name. A
'#' indicates the beginning of a comment; characters up to the end of the line
are ignored. This convention is identical to the /etc/hosts file on your Sun
Workstation, Therefore, the Sun /etc/hosts file can be pasted directly into the text
window.
3. After making all modifications, select "Save". This will store the entries in the
text window on the internal disk of the PortMaster.
PMconsole with an ASCII Terminal
The ASCII terminal interface provides several screens through which you can configure
the PortMaster ports, monitor the performance, and install other PortMasters on your
network. This can be run from any ASCII terminal logged onto the Sun Workstation
which supports full screen addressing and has an entry in the /etc/termcap file,
Before running proconsole verify that your TERM environment variable matches your
terminals entry m the /etc/termcap file. If the screen display is unreadable, the
wrong terminal type has probably been specified. Press the "Control" key and the
letter "C" to exit the program and consult with your system administrator on the
proper setting of your terminal type.
When PMconsole is started, the screen in Figure 3-15 will be display ed.
Figure 3-15. PortMaster Console login display
This is the primary screen in the PortMaster Console program. From this screen all
other screens and functions of the software are accessible. The list of commands
across the top of the screen are used to access the various functions. A function is
selected by using the arrow keys or by typing the first letter of one of the
commands. Once the command has been highlighted, pressing the <RETURN> key will cause
it to be executed. The PortMaster Console screen has the following commands:
Login - to access any Portmaster
Edit - to set the port configurations, network configurations and administration
password
Hosts - to view and edit the list of network host names stored in the PortMaster
View - to view all port configurations and data traffic for the PortMaster
Reboot - to remotely reboot the PortMaster
Install - to install a PortMaster onto the network or to install new software
releases
Quit - to exit the PortMaster Console program
A detailed description of each of these functions is described below,
TO communicate with any PortMaster which has already been installed onto the network
you must use the Login function. This function establishes a link with the Portmaster
and allows you to utilize all other functions. To Login, use the following steps:
1, Move the reverse video box over the LOGIN command
and press <RETURN>.
2. The Password prompts will be displayed. Enter the PortMaster name which was
assigned during the installation procedure. Then press <RETURN>, For example enter:
Portmaster Name: portmasterl
3. Enter the password, if any, and press <RETURN>. When the PortMaster is initially
installed there is no password.
There will be a message stating that the connection is being attempted. With a
successful connection, the main PortMaster screen (Figure 3-16) will be displayed.
Figure 3-16. Portmaster Console screen
The PortMaster Console screen displays the port statuses for the 10 serial ports
(S0-S9). the parallel port (.PO) and [or the network (Ethernet).
After the PMinstall program has been run, or if the PortMaster is moved to a new
network, you will need to tell it about the network internet addresses. In addition,
the global configuration screen is used to change the PortMaster Administration
password. From the PortMaster Console, do the following:
1. Select the EDIT command. A new menu listing all of the ports and the Network will
be displayed. Highlight the "NETWORK" command using the arrow keys and press
<RETURN>,
2. The screen in Figure 3-17 will be displayed,
Figure 3-17. Edit screen -Global
3, Enter the following information, terminated by pressing RETURN:
PortMaster Name - name of PortMaster as entered during the installation procedure.
Default Host - name of PortMaster host. This is the name of the primary Sun
Workstation which the PortMaster will be connected to during operation.
Alternate Hosts - up to three alternate host names. Ports which are configured for
User Login will automatically switch to an alternate host if the Default Host is
unavailable {ie. host is down or network is unreachable). Login connections are
attempted in the order in which the alternate host names are entered. These are
optional and may be left blank.
Gateway Name - If the PortMaster is being connected to a network with gateway
systems, then the name of the default gateway on the same network should be entered,
Otherwise, just enter the Default Host from above. The PortMaster automatically
routes network packets through gateways which are running the Routing Information
Protocol (RIP), but will use the default gateway if no RIP gateways are found.
Netmask - defaults to 255.255,255.0. This should only be modified if your site uses
subnetting. Consult you network administrator for this information.
YP Server - For networks which use Sun's Network Information Service (NFS}, also
known as YP, the PortMaster can be configured to use this service for host name
matching. If this service is being used, enter the hostname of tile YP server which
the PortMaster should
use.
Domain - I[ a YP Server is being used, the correct YP domain name must be entered.
Password - PortMaster administration password.
As each of The first three items is entered, it will be validated against your
systems global host table (/ere/hosts or Yellow Pages). These were established by
PMinstall if this is a stand-alone installation, or by your network administrator.
The Netmask should not be changed unless you are using sub-nets and understand their
operation. Refer to the Sun documentation for more information on sub-nets.
4. You will notice a function key label at the bottom of the screen. This indicates
that by pressing function key F2 or by pressing down the "Control" key and typing the
letter "E" the commands menu will be displayed. To save the configuration data on the
PortMaster disk, press F2 and select SAVE from the command list. At the bottom of the
screen will be a message:
Configuration parameters successfully saved.
5, Se}ect the DONE command. At this point, the PortMaster has all the information
necessary to begin normal serial communications with its host.
Installation from PortMaster Console
To install a PortMaster from the PortMaster Console, instead of using the program
PMinstall as described in Chapter 2, select the INSTALL command. The screen in Figure
3-18 will appear. The option commands in this screen are the same options available
with PMinstall (See Chapter 2, Running PMinstall):
New PortMaster
New Host
Upgrade PortMaster
Upgrade Host
Figure 3-18. PortMaster Install screen
Setting the Serial Port Configuration
To set the configuration of any of the 10 serial ports, use the following general
procedure:
1. Select the EDIT command. A new menu listing all of the ports and die Network will
be displayed. Highlight the Serial Port you wish to edit using the arrow keys and
press <RETURN>,
2. The Edit screen for the selected serial port (Figure 3-19) will appear From this
screen you can modify the serial port configuration parameters
Figure 3-19. Edit screen - Serial Ports
Upon entry, you will be in edit mode. This means that you can move around the screen
with the arrow keys or by pressing <RETURN>. In addition, there is a set of function
key labels across the bottom of the screen Any of these function keys (or their
associated Control characters) can be pressed at any time The function keys and
their meanings
are:
F2 or "Control-E" - Commands When this key is pressed, the function keys will be
replaced by a menu of commands which can be executed The available commands are:
APPLY - send the configuration to PortMaster memory, Does not take effect until you
select REMOTE RESET. These values are temporary until you select SAVE. 1[ power is
removed from the PortMaster, the new parameter values will no longer be stored in the
PortMaster.
SAVE - performs an APPLY and stores tile port configuration on the PortMaster
configuration disk.
RESET - reset the serial port using the values stored by the APPLY or SAVE
selection,
GENERIC - set the on-screen values to the port default configuration.
CLONE - copy the port configuration from another port.
EDIT - returns you to edit mode. The cursor moves back up onto the screen and
the function key labels reappear.
DONE - return to the PortMaster Console screen.
This screen displays the serial port parameters and the current
values. Some selections have menus. To use the menu, move
your cursor to the field to be changed with the <RETURN> or arrow keys. Press the F4
function key (or Control-G) and a menu of choices will be displayed Alternately the
selections can be rotated through with the F3 function key (or Control-F), Other
items can be edited directly from your keyboard by typing in new choices.
The serial port edit screen supports two modes of operation; "Standard" and
"Extended". Most users will find that the "Standard" mode will meet all of their
needs. "Extended" mode is for users who wish to customize the operation of the serial
port more extensively. The desired mode can be selected by choosing a Mode option at
the top of the edit
screen.
These are the parameters that can be selected from this screen:
Port Type (menu field)
User Login - (default) the specified port will display a login prompt to the user.
After successful baud rate matching and receiving a login name, the user will be
transferred directly to a [ogin session on the host Sun Workstation.
Host Device - the port will operate as a host controlled device on the Sun
Workstation. The Host Device field described below must be entered.
Two-Way - (or bidirectional) the port will operate in User Login mode if carrier is
detected on pin 8 of the RS-232-C connector, Otherwise it can be accessed as a host
controlled device on the Sun Workstation. The Host Device field described below must
be entered,
Host Device (keyboard entry field
This is field is required in either the Host Device or Two-Way modes. The Host Device
name is the name of a pseudo tty device in the workstation directory /dev. Standard
device entries are:
/dev/ttypO - /dev/ttypf /dev/ttyq0 - /dev/ttyqf /dev/ttyr0 - /dev/ttyrf /dev/ttysO -
/dev/ttysf
There is a utility included with the PortMaster software called Istty. This program
lists only the pseudo-try devices that are in /der, sorted in numerical order, h is a
quick way to check on what pseudo-Ky devices you have in your /der directory. This
program resides in the /usr/portmaster directory, Simply use the command:
Istty
See Appendix A for discussion of device drivers.
Terminal Type (keyboard entry field
This optional field is used in either the User Login or Two-Way modes. When a new
session is established on the host Sun Workstation. this terminal type will
automatically be set ill the user's environment. A valid entry from the Sun's
/etc/termcap file should be entered. If this field is left blank, the host Sun
Workstation will assume a "dumb" terminal.
Baud Rates (menu field
Three different baud rates may be specified. These baud rates are used for speed
matching with the device being attached to the PortMaster, Speeds are sequentially
matched from the first baud rate (left side) through the third baud rate (right
side). [n Host Device mode, only the first baud rate is used.
First baud - the first baud rate that PortMaster uses to synchronize with the
attached device. (default = 9600 baud)
Second baud - the second baud rate that PortMaster uses to synchronize with the
attached device. (default = 2400 baud)
Third baud - the third baud rate that PortMaster uses to
synchronize with the attached device. (default = 1200
baud)
Modem Control (menu field)
On or off may be selected. The default is "off", If "on" is selected the PortMaster
uses tile modem carrier detect line. The device will be idle until the carrier detect
line becomes
true,
Parity (menu field)
Even, odd, or none may be selected. The default is "none".
This value should be set to match the device being attached to
the postmaster. When even or odd is selected, 7 Databits and
1 stopbit are assumed. When none is selected, g Databits and
I stopbit are assumed. See the "Extended Mode Parameters"
section if another combination is required.
Login Message (keyboard entry field]
The message to be displayed to the user prior to the login
prompt. Up to 255 characters can be in the message.
In addition the the parameters described above in "Standard
Mode Parameters", the following parameters may be set when
Extended Mode is selected.
Data bits (menu field)
5, 6, 7, or 8 Databits may be selected. The default is g,
This value should be set to match the device being attached to
the PortMaster.
Stop bits (menu field
1 or 2 stop bits may be selected. The default is I. This value
should be set to match the device being attached to the
PortMaster.
Flow Control (menu field)
PortMaster supports two types of flow control:
Xon/Xoff - This is a software flow control which is supported
by most devices. By using ASCII control characters DC[ and
DC3 the PortMaster communicates with the attached device to
start and stop the flow of data.
RTS/CTS - This is for devices where hardware Flow control is required. When the
PortMaster is able to receive data from
the attached device, it raises Request to Send (RTS) on pin 4 of the RS-232
connector. Output from the PortMaster will only occur if the Clear to Send (CTS)
modem line on pin 5 of the RS-232 connector is raised by the attached device.
Host (menu field)
The port can be configured to support three different ways of determining the Sun
Host to establish a session on:
Default ~ In this mode, the host entries entered in the global (network) edit screen
are used for this port.
Prompt - In this mode, the user is given a host prompt (before the standard login
prompt). The user then is required to enter a valid host name or internet address for
a Sun host on the network.
Specified - In this mode a primary host and up to three alternate hosts may be
entered for this specific port. In this way)' each port can be independently assigned
to a specific Sun Workstation. When this option is selected, the additional fieIds
will appear on the display for the entry of the host names, Ports which are
configured for User Login will automatically~ switch to an alternate host if the
Primary Host is unavailable (ie. host I is down or network is unreachable). Login
connections are attempted in the order in which the host names are entered. The (first
(or primary) host is required. The remaining hosts are optional and may he left
blank.
Login Service (Menu field)
The port can be configured to use one of four different network services for
establishing login sessions.
PortMaster - This is the default service and can be used with any host workstation
which has had a "Host Installation"