Black Box SW928C manual

1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax 724-746-0746 CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION Order toll-free in the U.S.: Call 877-877-BBOX (outside U.S. call 724-746-5500 ) FREE technical support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: Call 724-746-5500 or fax 724-746-0746 Mailing address: Black Box Corporation , 1000 Park Drive, Lawrence[...]

1 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH FEDERAL COMMUNICA TIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTR Y CANADA RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE ST A TEMENTS This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio-frequency energy, and if not installed and used properly, that is, in strict accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions, may cause interference to radio communication.[...]

3 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 12. Precaución debe ser tomada de tal manera que la tierra fisica y la polarización del equipo no sea eliminada. 13. Los cables de la fuente de poder deben ser guiados de tal manera que no sean pisados ni pellizcados por objetos colocados sobre o contra ellos, poniendo particular atención a los contactos y receptáculos d[...]

5 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Contents Chapter Page 1. Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 2. Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 2.1 Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

7 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Chapter Page Appendix A: Serial Ports ..................................................................................53 A.1 RS-232 and RS-422 Pin Assignments ....................................................53 A.2 Connecting to Computers—RS-232 Connections ..............................54 A.2.1 RS-232 Connections to [...]

9 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 2. Introduction The Modular Smart Switch is suitable for a wide variety of applications, including printer and plotter sharing, file transfer, modem sharing, network switching, electronic point-of-sale systems, access control networks, machine tool control, data collection, and mainframe connections. 2.1 Features • Modular[...]

11 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 3. Installing Memor y and Por t Modules To fit memory and port modules, you will need to remove the lid of your Modular Smart Switch. To do this, remove the four retaining screws holding the lid in place (see Figure 3-2 ) and lift the lid away. 3.1 Fitting Expansion-Buffer Memory The Modular Smart Switch contains two memory[...]

13 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Figure 3-2. Fitting Port Modules. To fit port modules: 1. Make sure that the Modular Smart Switch is powered off. 2. Remove the rear- panel blanking plates as appropriate. 3. Insert the modules as shown in Figure 3-2 . 4. Push the modules onto the mating connectors on the base board. Do not place too much pressure on the bo[...]

15 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 4.1 Setting the Global Timeout Period Figure 4-1. Setting the Global Timeout Period. 0 0 1 1 0 1 0 1 OFF (0) ON (1) 1 2 3 4 5 6 Timeout = 16 seconds Timeout = 30 seconds Timeout = 1 minute Timeout = 4 minutes Reserved - set to 0 TEST switch - set to 0 (OFF) for normal operation 14 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 4. Configuring the Mo[...]

17 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 4.2 Setting Parallel Ports as Inputs or Outputs Figure 4-2. Selecting the Direction of Parallel Ports (Input or Output). HIGH port Dual parallel port module LOW port HIGH port switches LOW port switches OFF (0) ON (1) 1 ON 2 3 4 1 0 0 1 1 1 Set port as INPUT Set port as OUTPUT Automatic input/output detection (* not guarant[...]

19 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH NOTE The XON/XOFF setting for printer and plotter con-nections is a bidirectional protocol that recognizes the XON and XOFF characters in both directions. The XON/XOFF setting for com-puter connections recog-nizes the XON and XOFF characters in one direction only. This allows graphics, font and other non text data to be sen[...]

21 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 5. Installing the Modular Smar t Switch 5.1 Selecting Ports for Y our Equipment Printer and Plotter Sharing Applications Unless otherwise specified, all print and plot data will automatically be routed to port 1. If you are automatically sharing a single printer or plotter, connect it to port 1. All ports have equal priorit[...]

23 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH MODE COM1:9600,N,8,1,P <enter> This sets the baud to 9600, no parity, 8 bits per character, and 1 stop bit on COM1. You may wish to put this in your computer’s AUTOEXEC.BAT file. You may wish to use the supplied software to enhance the speed and functionality of your serial port (refer to Chapter 7 for full details [...]

25 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 5.9 Buffer Status Indicators The buffer status indicators show the state of the internal buffer memory in the form of a bar graph: • 1 ⁄ 4 Indicator —Buffer is over 1/4 full • 1 ⁄ 2 Indicator —Buffer is over 1/2 full • 3 ⁄ 4 Indicator —Buffer is over 3/4 full • F (full) Indicator —Buffer is completely [...]

27 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 6.3 Command-Line Options The control software supports a number of command line options that allow the utility to be installed and run in several different formats. They also allow a number of default settings to be changed and different hotkey combinations to be selected. Options are specified after a forward slash on the [...]

29 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH To use HOTKEY within Windows, you must first install the control software in your computer’s memory. Do this before you run Windows, because once you are within Windows, resident programs cannot be loaded. You can then activate HOTKEY by clicking on HOTKEY.COM, HOTKEY.PIF, or an icon associated with these files. The contr[...]

31 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH F. Destination Port—Indicates the port on the Modular Smart Switch that your PC is currently connected to. All data output from the currently selected PC port (G) will be routed to this destination port on the Modular Smart Switch. G. PC Port—Indicates the port on your PC that the control software will use to send contr[...]

33 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 6.8 Direct Output of T yped Keyboard Characters Normal keyboard characters and control characters can be sent to the printer using the “Direct Output” option. In the keyboard characters box, all characters typed will be sent directly to the printer except <up>, <down>, and <escape>. Control characters [...]

35 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH When in the functions menu, use the arrows to select END OF FILE and then press <enter>. The dialog box will respond with an END OF FILE message for a few seconds. The END OF FILE function can also be used to end long timeouts. 6.10 Setting the Options To enter the options menu, use the <up> and <down> cur[...]

37 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 7. Serial Por t Control Utility The control software allows serial ports on IBM compatible PCs to be run at the high baud rates supported by the Modular Smart Switch. The utility can be used to control COM1 or COM2 and supports a wide range of protocols. The time-saving advantages of running serial ports at higher baud rate[...]

39 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH OR : b) The Fast Printing Direct to Port option is switched off within Windows 3.1. This can be found within the CONTROL PANEL PRINTERS CONNECT window. 38 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Increasing the baud rate of serial connections reduces the maximum cable lengths. As a rule of thumb, doubling the baud rate halves the maximum dist[...]

41 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Figure 8-1. Main Menu. A=The port on the Modular Smart Switch that is connected to the computer that you wish to exchange files with. B=The port on your computer that is connected to the Modular Smart Switch. C=A flashing arrow to indicate that the Modular Smart Switch is in “file- transfer mode.” 2. Boot up the file-tr[...]

43 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 8.4 General Hints and Tips 1. Always use the control software when using file-transfer software: Many packages such as Laplink Pro will not operate without the control software installed. 2. File transfer requires a protocol of 8 bits per character, 1 stop bit, no parity, and hardware handshaking. When using RS-232 with har[...]

45 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 9.2 Connect Command 9.2.1 S ELECTING A D ESTINATION P ORT By default, the Modular Smart Switch automatically sends all data to port 1. To send data to a different port or route back to port 1, use the following command: <PM CONNECT port> where “port” represents a port number from 1 to 12. The new destination will [...]

47 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH <PM CONNECT port SOFTWARE:DISABLE> 9.2.6 R EMOVING L INE F EEDS AT E ND OF S OFTWARE C OMMANDS When programming applications such as DBASE to automatically send data to a specific printer, you might want to remove linefeed and carriage-return characters that are automatically inserted by the application at the end of [...]

49 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 9.6 Sending Default Start-of-Day Destination Ports At the start of each day, each port will be routed through to port 1. However, for IBM compatible PCs, individual start-of-day destinations can be set for each computer. To do this, create a text file containing the desired selection command (see Section 9.5 ) and modify yo[...]

51 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH 10.4 Problems Interfacing Serial Devices Most problems experienced with connecting serial devices are caused by incorrect cabling or incorrect handshake/protocol settings. Do not assume that, because a cable has the correct connectors and works between two other devices, it will work when connected to the Modular Smart Swit[...]

53 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Appendix A: Serial Por ts A.1 RS-232 and RS-422 Pin Assignments The serial ports on the Modular Smart Switch use DB25 connectors. The following table lists RS-232 and RS-422 pin assignments and signal descriptions. Those pins not appearing in the table are not used. T able A-1. DB25 Serial Pinouts. Pin Description RS-232 RS[...]

55 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Figure A-1. IBM PC/XT Serial Cable Pinning. If you already have a cable that works directly between your IBM PC and serial printer, it may be suitable for use as the input cable to your Modular Smart Switch. A.2.2 RS-232 C ONNECTIONS TO IBM AT AND C OMPATIBLES The IBM AT and compatibles provide a DB9 connector for the seria[...]

57 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH A.4 Connecting to Modems The cable shown in Figure A-4 can be used to connect to most standard modems. Do not connect additional lines. Figure A-4. Cable Pinout for Modems. Modular Smart Switch end 25-Pin socket connector Printer end 25-pin plug connector 1 2 3 4 5 7 20 1 2 3 4 5 7 20 56 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH Figure A-2. IB[...]

59 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH A.6 Connecting to NEC Spinwriter The NEC Spinwriter ® series of printers also provide a DB25 socket connector for serial data. However, their “printer ready” flow-control signal is output on pin 19 (unlike most printers, which output this signal on pin 20). Suitable wiring is as shown in Figure A-6 . Figure A-6. NEC Sp[...]

61 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH A.8 RS-422 Cables The pins and connector types used for RS-422 communication vary widely between devices. Standard cables therefore do not exist. Connect the cable as shown in Figure A-8 . For systems using XON/XOFF handshaking, only RXD +, RXD -, TXD +, and TXD - need to be connected. Figure A-8. RS-422 Cable Pinouts. Modu[...]

63 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH T able B-1. DB25 Parallel Connector Pinouts. Pin Name Input from Computer Output to Printer 1 STROBE INPUT OUTPUT 2-9 DATA 0 to 7 INPUT OUTPUT 10 ACKNOWLEDGE OUTPUT no connection 11 BUSY OUTPUT INPUT 12 PAPER END OUTPUT low no connection 13 SELECT OUTPUT high no connection 14 AUTOFEED XT no connection no connection 15 ERROR[...]

64 MODULAR SMAR T SWITCH B.2 Cable for IBM PC, PC/XT , A T , or Compatible Parallel cables to connect from IBM compatibles to the Modular Smart Switch require a 25-pin plug on both ends. All lines should be connected “straight- through” (that is, 1 to 1, 2 to 2, etc.). B.3 Cable to 36-Pin Amphenol Connector A standard IBM Centronics ® cable wi[...]