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Appendix B

Configuring the Sun Enterprise 250 Server RSC Serial Port Modem



This appendix applies to Sun Enterprise 250 servers only. When you connect a third-party modem to the Sun Enterprise 250 RSC serial port, you must configure the modem. For other platforms, the modem on the RSC card is preconfigured.

You can access RSC using an Ethernet connection, and you can also install a dedicated modem connected to the RSC serial port for access from outside your company network. For increased security, you can specify a dialback number if the modem supports this feature.

To install and configure the modem, follow the instructions that came with it. This appendix gives examples for configuring a MultiTech MultiModem II, MT2834 Series Intelligent Data/Fax Modem (Sun part number 370-2234-03), and a Courier V.Everything modem.

To enable and set up the RSC modem, you should use the following configuration settings unless otherwise indicated. You can use the GUI (graphical user interface) to change configuration settings, or you can use the RSC shell or the rscadm utility to change configuration variables.

General Settings

Use the following settings to configure the RSC serial port.

TABLE  B-1   Serial Port General Settings
GUI Setting
 Configuration Variable Setting

Serial Port Settings

Baud Rate: 9600

Parity: None

Stop Bits: One

Data Bits: Eight

Enable Hardware Handshaking

Enable PPP  

serial_baud 9600

serial_parity none

serial_stop 1

serial_data 8

serial_hw_handshake true

ppp_enabled true  

Pager Variable Settings

For sending pager alerts, RSC is designed to operate with any modem paging service that complies with the Telocator Alphanumeric Protocol (TAP). If you want to support both dial-in to the RSC modem and dial-out to pagers, set the RSC serial port baud rate and pager baud rates to 9600.

Use the following settings to enable and configure pager alerts. Use of pager 2 is optional. You do not need to enter settings for pager 2 if you are using a single pager. In this table, the characters -> indicate menu hierarchy; for example, Alert Settings->Pager means open Alert Settings and then choose Pager.

TABLE  B-2   Pager Alert Settings
GUI Setting
 Configuration Variable Setting

Alert Settings->Pager

Send RSC alerts to pagers  

page_enabled true  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 1

Number: phone number to dial

PIN: pager user's PIN  

page_info1 number@ID  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 1->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Parity: Even

Stop Bits: One

Data Bits: Seven

Password: password

Modem Init. String: see Modem Initialization Strings  

page_baud1 9600

page_parity1 even

page_stop1 1

page_data1 7

page_password1 password

page_init1  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 2

Number: phone number to dial

PIN: pager user's PIN  

page_info2 number@ID  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 2->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Parity: Even

Stop Bits: One

Data Bits: Seven

Password: password

Modem Init. String: see Modem Initialization Strings  

page_baud2 9600

page_parity2 even

page_stop2 1

page_data2 7

page_password2 password

page_init2  


Pager Phone Number

The pager phone number is the number for the paging service's TAP connection, and not the number for voice page notifications. It must be a phone number that connects to a modem that adheres to the TAP protocol. You may need to contact your paging service to obtain this number as well as other pager configuration parameters.

Pager phone numbers must include the complete string to dial; for instance, if your internal phone network requires a 9 before the number, include it. You can include a comma (,) after the 9 if a pause is required in order to wait for a dial tone. For example, 9,18005551212.


Storing Configuration Strings in the Modem's NVRAM

Use the rscadm modem_setup command to set modem configuration. Arguments to the modem_setup command consist of attention (AT) commands. Then store the settings in the modem's NVRAM.

Use the following initialization:


Modem Initialization Strings

Use the modem initialization strings for pagers 1 and 2 to allow RSC to set modem parameters required by the paging service during modem setup. The initialization string consists of AT commands.

The variables page_init1 and page_init2 have a maximum length of 15 characters, and are not stored in the modem's NVRAM. Settings in the page_init1 and page_init2 variables complement or override the settings you store in the modem's NVRAM memory using the rscadm modem_setup command. Note that if you use a different phone number or paging service for pagers 1 and 2, you may need to enter different initialization strings for each pager.

See Setting Up the MultiTech MultiModem II for the MultiTech MultiModem II initialization string, and see Setting Up the Courier V.Everything Modem for the Courier V.Everything modem initialization string.


Pager Password

The pager password is the password for the TAP paging service. In most cases in the United States, this password is not used. However, some paging services (for instance, in the United Kingdom) require a password.

Setting Up the MultiTech MultiModem II

Use the following information to set up the MultiTech MultiModem II.


Set Modem DIP Switches

Check that all modem DIP switches for the MultiTech MultiModem II are in the default position, as specified in the following table

TABLE  B-3   MultiTech MultiModem II DIP Switch Settings
Switch
 Switch Function
 Setting: Up/Down

1  

Forced DTR  

DTR function normally: Up  

2  

Flow control  

Hardware flow control: Up  

3  

Enable/suppress responses  

Enable responses: Down  

4  

UNIX UUCP spoofing  

Disable UUCP spoofing: Up  

5  

Enable/disable auto-answer  

Enable auto-answer: Up  

6  

Maximum throughput setting  

Enable maximum throughput: Up  

7  

Request to send forced  

RTS forced on: Down  

8  

Enable/disable command mode  

Enable command mode: Down  

9  

Digital loopback test  

Remote digital loopback test: Down  

10  

Leased line/dial-up operation  

Dial-up operation: Up  

11  

AT responses/MultiTech responses  

MultiTech responses: Down  

12  

Asynchronous/synchronous operation  

Asynchronous operation: Down  

13  

Speed switch  

28,800-bps operation: Up  

14  

Speed switch  

28,800-bps operation: Up  

15  

Carrier detect/DSR forcing  

CD and DSR normal: Up  

.


Modify RSC Configuration Variables

Using the RSC GUI or RSC shell, set the following configuration variables.

TABLE  B-4   MultiTech MultiModem II RSC Settings
GUI Setting
 Configuration Variable Setting

Serial Port Settings

Baud Rate: 9600

Enable Hardware Handshaking  

serial_baud 9600

serial_hw_handshake true  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 1->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Modem Init. String: &D3&E0&E14$BA1  

page_baud1 9600

page_init1 &D3&E0&E14$BA1  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 2->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Modem Init. String: &D3&E0&E14$BA1  

page_baud2 9600

page_init2 &D3&E0&E14$BA1  

The string &D3 sets the modem to reset when DTR drops, the string &E0 disables error correction, the string &E14 disables data compression, and the string $BA1 turns off speed conversion.

To check that these settings are correct, use the rscadm show command.


Modify Modem Settings

Use the rscadm modem_setup command to enter the following AT commands.

# rscadm modem_setup
OK
ATZ (Reset modem)
OK
AT$BA1 (Turn off speed conversion)
OK
AT&W0 (Write out settings to modem)
OK
AT$SB9600 (Set serial port baud rate to 9600)
OK
AT&W0 (Write out settings to modem)
OK
AT$BA0 (Turn on speed conversion)
OK
AT&W0 (Store current settings to modem NVRAM)
OK

After executing these AT commands, you can verify the modem settings in NVRAM by using the ATL5 command:

OK
ATL5
B1 E1 M1 Q0 R0 V1 X0 &E0 &E4 &E6 &E8 &E10 &E13 &E14 %C0 #C1 *C0 &C1 
$MB9600 $SB9600 $BA0 &W0 
OK

After confirming settings, turn the modem off, reset RSC using the GUI or the resetrsc shell command, and then turn the modem on again.

Setting Up the Courier V.Everything Modem

Use the following information to set up the Courier V.Everything modem.


Set Modem DIP Switches

Set the DIP switches for the Courier V.Everything modem according to the following table.

TABLE  B-5   Courier V.Everything DIP Switch Settings
Switch
 Switch Function
 Setting: Off/On

1  

Normal response to DTR signal/ignore DTR signal  

Normal response to DTR signal: Off  

2  

Verbal/numeric result code format  

Verbal result code format: Off  

3  

Display/suppress result codes  

Display result codes: On  

4  

Echo/do not echo offline commands  

Do not echo offline commands: On  

5  

Auto-answer/do not auto-answer  

Auto-answer: Off  

6  

Send carrier detect signal normally/always send CD  

Send carrier detect signal normally: Off  

7  

Display all result codes/display only when originating  

Display all result codes: Off  

8  

Act on AT commands (smart)/ignore AT commands (dumb)  

Act on AT commands: On  

9  

Disconnect on receipt of +++/enter online command mode on receipt of +++  

Disconnect on receipt of +++: Off  

10  

Load the configuration that is stored in non-volatile memory/load the &F0 configuration from read-only memory  

Load the configuration that is stored in non-volatile memory: Off  


Modify RSC Configuration Variables

Using the RSC GUI or RSC shell, set the following configuration variables.

TABLE  B-6   Courier V.Everything RSC Settings
GUI Setting
 Configuration Variable Setting

Serial Port Settings

Baud Rate: 9600

Enable Hardware Handshaking  

serial_baud 9600

serial_hw_handshake true  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 1->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Modem Init. String: E1&B1&M0&K0&N6  

page_baud1 9600

page_init1 E1&B1&M0&K0&N6  

Alert Settings->Pager->Pager 2->Advanced

Baud Rate: 9600

Modem Init. String: E1&B1&M0&K0&N6  

page_baud2 9600

page_init2 E1&B1&M0&K0&N6  

The string E1 turns echo on, the string &B1 sets fixed serial port baud rate, the string &M0 disables error correction, the string &K0 disables data compression, and the string &N6 sets baud rate to 9600.

To use a baud rate other than 9600, change the baud rate for pager 1 or 2, and also use the corresponding AT command in the modem initialization string:

To check that these settings are correct, use the rscadm show command.


Modify Modem Settings

Use the rscadm modem_setup command to enter the following AT commands.

# rscadm modem_setup
OK
ATZ (Reset modem)
OK
ATE1 (Turn echo on for this session)
OK
AT&N6 (Set serial port baud rate to 9600)
OK
AT&R1 (Turn off RTS flow control)
OK
ATS13=1 (Set S-register 13 to 1; reset modem when DTR drops)
OK
AT&B1 (Set serial port to fixed rate)
OK
AT&W (Store current settings to modem NVRAM)
OK

After executing these AT commands, you can verify the modem settings in NVRAM by using the ATI5 command.

OK
ATI5
USRobotics Courier V.Everything NVRAM Settings...

   BAUD=9600    PARITY=N  WORDLEN=8  DIAL=TONE 

   B0   F1   M1   X1   &A1  &B1  &G0  &H0  &I0  &K0
   &L0  &M0  &N6  &P0  &R1  &S0  &T5  &U0  &X0  &Y1  %N6  #CID=0

  S00=001 S02=043 S03=013 S04=010 S05=008 S06=002 S07=060 S08=002
  S09=006 S10=014 S11=070 S12=050 S13=001 S15=000 S19=000 S21=010
  S22=017 S23=019 S24=150 S25=005 S26=001 S27=000 S28=008 S29=020
  S31=000 S32=009 S33=000 S34=000 S35=000 S36=000 S37
OK

After confirming settings, turn the modem off, reset RSC using the GUI or the resetrsc shell command, and then turn the modem on again.

Modem Reconfiguration Required After Changing RSC Serial Port Settings

If you change the RSC serial port baud rate after configuring the modem, you must reconfigure the modem to use the new baud rate. Use a similar procedure if you change the serial parity, data bits, or stop bits setting.

  1. Log in as root and use the rscadm modem_setup command.

    The modem adjusts automatically to the new baud rate.
  2. If desired, adjust the modem's phone line baud rate to match the serial port baud rate.

    For example, if you changed the serial port baud rate to 19200, use the following AT commands:
    For the MultiTech II MultiModem: AT&$MB19200.
    For the Courier V.Everything modem: AT&N10.
  3. Write the modem's current settings to the modem's NVRAM, so that the modem will default to the current settings.

    For the MultiTech II MultiModem, use this AT command at the OK prompt: AT&W0.
    For the Courier V.Everything modem, use this AT command at the OK prompt: AT&W.

Troubleshooting Modem Problems

You can log in to the host as root and use the command rscadm modem_setup to debug modem problems. Then you can issue AT commands to the modem and attempt to dial the paging terminal of your paging service. When you connect successfully to a paging terminal that uses the TAP protocol, you should receive the ID= prompt, indicating the start of a successful TAP connection.

If you cannot log in successfully using AT commands, check modem hardware configuration such as DIP switches and RSC serial port settings.

Instead of using the rscadm command, you can connect the modem to one of the server's serial ports and use a UNIX utility such as tip to connect to the TAP paging terminal. This allows you to check the modem independent of RSC. If you can connect successfully using this method, you know you are using the correct paging terminal number. See the man pages for tip and stty for UNIX-level troubleshooting.

To check pager alerts, use the command rscadm send_event -c message.
This sends an alert message to pagers specified by RSC configuration.



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