ProfitPress Mega CDROM2 …eeware (MSDOS)(1992)(Eng)/ProfitPress-MegaCDROM2.B6I/MISC/NETWORK/UNET11.ZIP/README

Text File | 1990-12-31 | 9.9 KB | 219 lines

To PRINT README file to use as reference manual type;
                              PRINT README  <Return>


U-NET INSTALLATION

The following files need to be on your Installation Diskette;
      UINSWKST.CFG            INSTALL.EXE             S-PRINT.EXE
      UNET.SYS                UNET.EXE                W-PRINT.EXE
      UINSHOST.CFG
Insert the Installation Diskette in Drive A of the computer designated to
become the SERVER (the computer whose hard disk drive(s) and printer you wish
to share) and type in;        A:  <Return>
                              INSTALL  <Return>
Select the appropriate option (SERVER) using the arrow keys and INSTALL will
copy the appropriate files to the hard disk drive of the computer designated
as the SERVER. Select Exit when this is completed.

Now insert the Installation Diskette in the other computer (called the
WORKSTATION) and type in;     A:  <Return>
                              INSTALL  <Return>
Select the appropriate WORKSTATION option depending if the WORKSTATION
Computer has a hard disk drive or just floppy drive(s). You will be prompted
to change diskettes several times if you have only floppy drive(s) on your
WORKSTATION Computer. Ensure that you have at least 15Kb free space available
to allow for copying of files onto your boot disk. Select Exit when completed.


RUNNING U-NET

Simply type on the SERVER;
                              C:  <Return>
                              UNET  <Return>
Be sure to REBOOT the WORKSTATION once the cable is connected between the
Parallel Ports on the computers. The cable should be connected to LPT2 if
there is more than one Parallel Port in the computer.  (See next section for
Cable Requirement)

You will notice on the WORKSTATION that extra virtual drives appear (being
the SERVER'S drives). They can be accessed as though they were physically
present in the WORKSTATION Computer by using normal DOS commands.

Both the SERVER and the WORKSTATION retain all of the features they had as
standalone computers, however now the WORKSTATION can concurrently access
the SERVER'S hard disk drive(s) and printer.

To access the SERVER'S printer from the WORKSTATION type at the DOS prompt;
                              S-PRINT  <Return>
and if you wish to print locally at the WORKSTATION printer then type;
                              W-PRINT  <Return>
The WORKSTATION printing normally defaults to it's local printer on booting up.



CABLE REQUIREMENTS

U-Net requires linking together of the two computers using standard Parallel
Ports with a special cable. You can either make this yourself as described
below or order at low cost from the Authors (see later section).

We recommend a maximum distance of 50ft between computers and have available
standard 20ft(6m) and 50ft(15m) fully tested data grade cables.

Use data grade cable, 11 wires with shield and male DB-25 connectors.  Wiring
is as follows;

Pin          2          to          Pin         15
             3          --          ---         13
             4          --          ---         12
             5          --          ---         10
             6          --          ---         11
            10          --          ---          5
            11          --          ---          6
            12          --          ---          4
            13          --          ---          3
            15          --          ---          2
            25 (Also connect to shield)         25 (Also connect to shield)



CABLES, REGISTRATION & EXTRA PARALLEL PORTS

CABLES                  Standard 20ft (6m)       $19.95 + $5.00 shipping
                        Standard 50ft (15m)      $39.95 + $5.00 shipping
                        (Note: This includes Registration of the software)

REGISTRATION            Registration Only        $9.95
                        (License, Tech Support, BBS, Upgrades, Newsletters)

PARALLEL PORTS          Parallel Port (ISA)      $9.95 each + $5.00 shipping

PAYMENT                 Check, Money Order, COD  (Add $5.00 for CODs)
                                                 Overseas freight collect
Please be sure to include with your order;
                        NAME & SHIPPING ADDRESS
                        PHONE NUMBER
                        CHECK or MONEY ORDER (No Credit Card Payments)
                        ADD $5.00 if you require C.O.D. (only available in USA)
                        THE PRODUCTS YOU REQUIRE

The address to send to is;
                        Creative Technology
                        P O Box 14153, Scottsdale
                        AZ 85267-4153, USA




U-NET FEATURES

*     Easy installation on any IBM Compatible Computer (including PS/2
      Microchannel) by simply plugging into the Parallel Port on each computer.

*     No learning required as U-Net is transparent to the user who is left in
      a familiar DOS environment. The SERVER Computer's hard drive(s) are
      simply appended to the WORKSTATION Computer's drive(s) as additional
      virtual drives and accessed in a normal DOS manner.

*     U-Net allows the concurrent sharing of the SERVER (or Host) computer's
      hard disk drive(s), (including RAM disks and some CDROMs) and printer
      attached to LPT1.

*     U-Net gives you the ability to share software and datafiles when using
      LAN or multi-user versions of your application software by running SHARE
      (a DOS program included in DOS 3.3 and later) which gives you file and
      record locking facilities.

*     Printing from the WORKSTATION computer can be redirected to the SERVER'S
      printer by typing S-PRINT (SERVER Printing) and W-PRINT (WORKSTATION
      Printing) when at the DOS prompt. (Default is W-PRINT, setting remains
      the same until printer command is changed or WORKSTATION is rebooted).



U-NET PROGRAM FILES

UINSWKST.CFG  -  This file stores the WORKSTATION Computer parameters U-Net
requires.

UNET.SYS  -  This is the device driver program that allows your WORKSTATION
Computer to access the SERVER Computer. It adds approximately 8Kb to the memory
used on your WORKSTATION Computer.

UINSHOST.CFG  -  This file stores the SERVER Computer parameters U-Net requires

INSTALL.EXE  -  This is the initial installation program that gives you the
choice of SERVER or either WORKSTATION with a hard disk drive or WORKSTATION
with only floppy disk drive(s).  It automatically copies the appropriate files
onto the computers, checks the port addresses and configures the system
accordingly.  It adds a line to the WORKSTATION Computer's config.sys file,
device=unet.sys which needs removing if you do not want to run the network.

UNET.EXE  -  This is the Terminate-Stay-Resident (TSR) program that is executed
on the SERVER Computer to allow the WORKSTATION Computer to communicate with
it.  This program takes approximately 30Kb of the SERVER'S first 640Kb RAM.

S-PRINT.EXE  -  This program run on the WORKSTATION Computer simply switches
the redirection of any printing from the WORKSTATION to the SERVER'S printer.

W-PRINT.EXE  -  This program run on the WORKSTATION Computer switches the
redirection of printing back from the SERVER Computer's printer to the printer
attached to the WORKSTATION.


TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS, RECOMENDATIONS AND TROUBLE SHOOTING

*     It is recommended that you use MSDOS 3.3 or later and the same version of
      DOS on both computers.

*     The cable must be connected to the LPT2 Port if there is more than one
      parallel port in the computer.

*     U-Net software takes 30Kb (approx) of the SERVER'S first 640Kb RAM and
      8Kb on the WORKSTATION Computer.

*     Only use SHARE on the SERVER computer if you are using multi-user or LAN
      versions of your application software as it takes up memory and will slow
      performance.

*     OEM versions of DOS (such as Zenith, NEC) and some Disk Manager
      Partitioning Software which does not support standard sector lengths may
      need changing.  (Usually gives execute failure or error when changing
      directories). Use DOS FDISK to format hard disk drives to avoid problems.

*     Some "non-compatible" IBM clones; some Tandy models, Amstrad, etc are not
      fully compatibile and will not work.

*     Mixtures of DOS between SERVER and WORKSTATION can give problems.

*     Computer Games and Formatting of Diskettes should be avoided on the
      SERVER Computer while U-Net is running as this can cause problems.

*     Number of files open in the Config.Sys file on the SERVER may need
      increasing as it must open enough files for the WORKSTATION also.

*     If WORKSTATION programs are halted abnormally then it may be necessary to
      reboot the SERVER to ensure any open files are closed.

*     If using different screen types (mono and color) then a sub-directory on
      the SERVER with different configurations of the software may be required.

*     Sometimes PATH commands and AUTOEXEC files on the WORKSTATION need
      modifying to allow for software and data files residing on different
      virtual drives.

*     There may be a conflict in the SERVER between the U-Net software and some
      other TSRs running.  If this occurs you should ensure that U-Net loads
      first which may solve the problem.

*     Always carefully check that the cable is correctly connected should
      communication not be established.

*     Cables of too great a length or inadequate quality can give problems.

*     ERROR - SERVER not responding. U-Net installation cancelled - usually
      indicates that the Device Driver, UNET.SYS is in the config.sys file
      correctly on the WORKSTATION, but either the SERVER is not running the
      program UNET or the cable is not connected.