philip@cel.cummins.com (Philip D. Pokorny) (06/25/91)
Good news... Yes you can purchase an inexpensive PC internal
modem and install it in an Apollo... The driver you need is the
SPE software for the Apollo SPE board (Try to get the software
without the board if you can...) I am using SPE V2.1 with the
pd91_m0280 patch from the most recent patch tape. (You could also
use V2.2 of the SPE software). This patch fixes some bugs in the
raw mode of operation on SPE serial ports.
After installing the software and hardware, DON'T power the node
down yet... You need to delete one of the files created in the
/dev/global_devices directory. You should find there two files:
spe_sio1_ddf, spe_sio2_ddf These files describe the physical
hardware of the SPE card. The Apollo SPE card has two serial
ports and a parallel port. Since your new modem has only one
serial port and no parallel port, you need to remove one of the
spe_sio#_ddf files. I believe (I sorry I can't remember
better...) that if your modem is set as COM1 then you need
spe_sio1_ddf and should remove spe_sio2_ddf. If your modem is
set as COM2 then you need spe_sio2_ddf and should remove
spe_sio1_ddf. Once again:
Configured: KEEP! Remove
COM1 spe_sio1_ddf spe_sio2_ddf
COM2 spe_sio2_ddf spe_sio1_ddf
I would recomend moving these files up one level to /dev. That
way if I'm wrong or the modem isn't configured the way you
thought you can put the correct file back. If it happens that
way, then your node will get to the Phase II shell but will stop
after trying to initialize global devices. Put the node in
service mode and boot to the Phase II shell. From that point,
you can remove the incorrect global device file and replace it
with the correct one. (Type help for a list of commands
available at the ')' prompt.)
I am currently using a 2400 baud modem in an Apollo DN3000 for
UUCP access to ADUS and some other vendors. Had some problems
before the patch_280 but since then everything is working fine.
Please drop me a line if you have any more questions.
Sincerely, Philip Pokorny I just work here, they
don't Cummins Electronics tell me what to say...
philip@cel.cummins.com
:)