Axel Terminal Server

Setting up an Axel Terminal Server.

This is a TCP/IP terminal and print server. It used 'standard' VGA screen and PC keyboard. You can connect one Parallel and two Serial Devices to the back of it.

These serial devices can be terminals. You could have 3 screens and one printer, 1 screen three printers, 2 screens 2 printers all running off the same device.

Setup

<CTRL><ALT><ESC> to enter setup mode.

You need to allocate it an IP address in either via DNS or /etc/hosts file in the Unix box. And enter it via

Setup -> TCP/IP -> Interface

Use the Setup -> TCP/IP -> Hosts option to tell the Terminal Sever the IP address(es) and name(s) of any other Unix box's on the network.

The terminal emulates scoansi and this is set on a per screen basis. You can have up to 8 different sessions running at once, using <ALT> <F1>-<F8> to switch between them.

Use the Setup -> Terminal -> Session (1-8) to customise each screen. Note: There is a 'copy' option so that once Session 1 is configured you can copy this over to the other 7 sessions.

For the really basic idiot setup use the following settings:

   Protocol          Telnet
   Host              <name of unix box>
   TCP Port          23
   Auto-connect      Yes
   Auto-reconnect    Yes

   Pre-Defined       SCO OPENSERVER

As far as Premvet 5 goes treat it as type 3 (ansi colour) in master.dev. It is not possible to differentiate between the different sessions (see axttyd below if this is required).

Setting up the Parallel Port for a Printer

Use the Setup option -> Aux Ports -> Parallel Port

	    Associated Service          rtty
	    Parameters        
	       TCP Port                 2050
	       NL=CR+NL                 As required

Use the netcat model file set to the above setting

Getting/Configuring the Axel from the command line

To dump all the setting currently configured use:

rcmd IP_ADDRESS setup_get > file e.g.
rcmd axel1 setup_get > axel1.config You can edit the file and then sent it back to the terminal with:

rcmd IP_ADDRESS setup_send < file

The new configuration will not take affect until the Axel is either rebooted or power cycled. You can force a re-boot from the command line with:

rcmd IP_ADDRESS ax_reboot

One other usefull rcmd command is:

rcmd IP_ADDRESS ax_getstat which will return TCP/IP statistics which may help to trouble shoot any connection problems.

Setting up a serial port for a terminal

Use the Setup option -> Aux Ports -> AUXx Port x

	    Associated Service          telnet
	    Parameters        
	       Host                     Machine you want
	       TCP Port                 23
	       TERM                     wy60
               Auto-connect             Yes
               Auto-reconnect           Yes

	    Operating Mode              Bi-directional
	      (set baud rate as
	       required.)

However, as the terminal connects via telnet on a ttyp?? port the vet software cannot specify settings that will differ from the main screen ansi. The quick work around would be to create a master.dev entry as follows:

i.p.address 99 -1 ABC .......

This entry will serve all devices connected to the Axel unit. Please see the section axttyd for another method for this.

Setting up the Serial Port as a Printer

Use the Setup option -> Aux Ports -> AUXx Port

	    Associated Service          rtty
	    Parameters        
	       TCP Port                 2048
	       NL=CR+NL                 As required

Use the netcat model file set to the above setting

Using the axttyd daemon

This is software that allows you to pre-define the tty number each of the devices will use. This method will allow Premvet 5 to differentiate between Serial terminals and the main screen.

If the file /usr/local/bin/axttyd is not present install the software from the floppy supplied with the Unit into the following locations:

   /usr/local/bin/axttyd
   /usr/local/etc/axfile
   /etc/rc2.d/S91axel       (edit to point at /usr/local/etc)
      (Copy of this file is in /usr/local/etc if PV CD installed)

Edit axfile to reflect the settings required e.g. for a terminal on serial port1 (IP=axel) set to ttyp20 use:

axel aux1 /dev/ptyp20 /dev/ttyp20

Run the S91axel program from the command line to start the daemon.

Use the Setup option -> Aux Ports -> Aux1 Port

	    Associated Service          tty
	    Parameters        
	       TCP Port                 2048
               Auto-reconnect           Yes

	    Operating Mode              Bi-directional
	      (set baud rate as
	       required.)

You will also have to add a line into: /etc/inittab similar to:

      tp20:234:off:/etc/getty ttyp20 o
              (update /etc/conf/init.d/sio as well)

enable the port for the login to appear.





Comments and suggestions always welcome - 
tom@tkrh.demon.co.uk