January 6, 1994 NMPı Network Modem Program, Second Generation Network Products Corporation NMPı Introduction The NMPı is a high-performance software communication server that allows the sharing and pooling of MODEMs, serial connections to host computers, or other asynchronous communication devices on a network. Virtually any asynchronous serial device can be shared, thus saving the cost and difficulty of connecting a modem and telephone-line to every network workstation, or the cost and difficulty of providing a host connection to each network workstation. When multiple NMPıs are used, or when a multiport communication server is used, groups of asynchronous devices can be pooled permitting a user to choose from a group of devices without the necessity of specifying a particular device. Network Products Corporation Network Products Corporation (NPC) pioneered the field of asynchronous network communication servers. Formed in 1985, NPC is dedicated to developing products that provide essential connection capabilities between LANs and other devices. Network Products Corporation was the original OEM manufacturer and supplier of Novell's NACS/NASI communication server and Gateway Communications G-Asynch communication server. NCSI, an Industry Standard NCSI (Network Communication Services Interface), pronounced "NEX-see", is an industry standard terminate & stay resident program (TSR) manufactured by Network Products Corporation that interfaces the client workstation with the network communication server. NCSI provides network users with naming services that allow the pooling of asynchronous communication resources. NCSI's naming service permits assigning a descriptive name to a port or group of ports, thus greatly reducing confusion over a port's function. Additionally a NCSI user can either choose from a virtual pool of asynchronous devices, or choose a specific device. Similar devices can be pooled together, letting a user choose a resource by the type. NCSI can support up to 9 simultaneous connections on the client workstation allowing the user to run multiple communication sessions concurrently. NCSI also provides higher data transfer rates than many other network communication server interfaces. NCSI supports Novell's NetWare, Banyan Vines, and 100% compatible NetBIOS networks including Microsoft's Lan Manager, Windows-for-Workgroups, and IBM's PC Lan. NCSI is supported by a wide variety of communication application manufacturers and does not rely on a proprietary Network Products application for use. A list of supported applications is included in this archive. For an updated list, contact the NPC BBS at the number given below. NCSI provides the application designer with a standard interface for network asynchronous communication services. NCSI also supplies the application designer with primitives that allow server port parameters to be changed from within the application. Shareware NMPı The NMPı is shareware. If you use it regularly you should register it. Registration is accomplished by buying a retail copy, either directly from Network Products Corporation or from one of its resellers. Registered users get a professionally printed manual, the latest production software, and technical support. To purchase a copy of the NMPı from Network Products Corporation call (800) 638-7765 or (818) 441-6504. You may also contact NPC by fax at (818) 441-6894. The current retail price of the NMPı is $49.00. A shipping and handling fee, as well as any applicable sales tax, will be added to your order. The most current copy of the shareware version of the NMPı may be downloaded from NPC's BBS at (818) 441-6933. The EBBS supports v.32bis. Set your communication software for 8 data bits, 1 stop bit and no parity. This shareware copy of the NMPı is fully functional. It is complete and is not crippled in any way. The only limitation it has, compared to the commercially-sold version shipping as of the date listed at the top of this file, is that only one copy may be run on a single network. When copies are ordered from NPC, multiple NMPıs can be run on a network allowing virtual modem pools to be established. Getting Started 1. Format two diskettes. Change to the directory containing the DISK1.EXE and the DISK2.EXE files. Create the NMPı program diskette by typing: DISK1 where is the drive containing one of the newly formatted diskette. Label this diskette "NMPı Program Utilities". Create the NCSI program diskette by typing: DISK2 where is the drive containing the second newly formatted diskette. Label this diskette "NCSI Program Utilities". 2. Place the "NMPı Program Utilities" diskette in a drive. Change to that drive and at the root type "INSTALL". 3. The NMPı installation program guides you through the installation. Using The NMPı Load the NMPı server by going to the machine that has the modem attached you wish to share. Switch to the directory containing the NMPı server software and type: NMP The server will load in memory and stay resident. Be sure that the user running the machine hosting the NMPı does not run software that uses the same COM port that the NMPı is using. The NMPı may be removed from memory if it was the last TSR program loaded. Type the command SERV-REL. This will down the NMPı and remove it from memory if possible. Load NCSI.EXE, the client interface, on any workstation that will be used to access the NMPı by typing: NCSI on the workstation that is going to use the NMPı. NCSI is a TSR interface and can be removed from memory by running the program NCSI-REL. To obtain information on the command-line switches supported by NCSI, type NCSI /?. NCSI can be loaded high, but it is best to avoid memory-optimization programs, as most misinterpret NCSI's memory needs. After loading NCSI, load and run your NCSI-compatible application. The self extracting file that this README file was in includes a minimal communications utility named NTERM that is NCSI aware. The network versions of most major communications applications also offer support for the NCSI interface. There is also a variety of remote-control and special-purpose applications that also use the NCSI interface. If your favorite application is not on the list, contact your software manufacturer to check availability of a NCSI compatible version. A list of NCSI compatible applications is included in this package. A copy of the current list is also available for download from the NPC BBS. Follow the instructions given above to access the NPC BBS. NOTE: When using the NMPı and NCSI on NETBIOS and Vines networks you may not "see" the NMPı from the client workstation until both the NMPı and NCSI have been running for a minute. The NMPı server can also run as a dedicated communication server. This may enhance performance in some installations, but precludes using the communication server for any other task. To use the NMPı as a dedicated communication server, simply type: NMPD Testing The NMPı 1. Load the NMPı on the workstation with the modem that will serve as the communication server. 2. Load NCSI on the client workstation that will access the communication server. 3. Load BTTY and at the NCSI 1:1> prompt type CONNECT [PORT_NAME] where [PORT_NAME] is the general or specific name on the NMPı server. If the name was not changed during installation the command would simply be CONNECT PORT. 4. If the connection to the port is successful, BTTY will report it is connecting to the port and leaving the command interpreter. 5. If a modem is connected to the port type AT and press enter to see if the modem responds "OK" or "0". If not, try typing ATZ or AT&F. If these do not work, check that the modem is on, that cabling is good, and that the NMPı is configured to access the correct COM port. If a device other than a modem is connected to the serial port, check for a login or other prompt from the host. NMPı Named Ports NCSI searches for available ports by name. Each port on each communication server has a general name and a specific name. Any specific port can be used by specifying the specific name in the communication application accessing the server. When multiple servers or servers with multiple ports reside on the network, it is possible to simply use a port that is not in use, without knowing which are availble. When multiple ports share the same general name, and the general name is specified in the communication application for use, NCSI will search for an available port and attach to it. It is possible to establish naming useful conventions such as "MODEM" and "MINI" to allow users to use a generic type of asynchronous service. Users don't need to know if a certain port is available, just that they want to use a "MODEM". When configuring the NMPı communication server, either upon installation or when using CCONFIG, the port names will show in the Asynch Port Configuration window with the convention GENERAL_NAME:SPECIFIC_NAME. Utilities The NMPı comes with a set of utilities which provide great flexibility in the use of the NMPı. Major utilities provided include extensive on-line help that should assist with the use of the utility. The primary utilities are: CCONFIG, which configures the NMPı. Run CCONFIG.EXE in the same directory containing the NMP executables and configuration file. CCONSOLE, which allows the remote management and configuration of the NMPı server. The default supervisor password is the word "SUPERVISOR". NTERM, a limited NCSI-compatible terminal-emulation communication application. NTERM support VT-100 ANSI terminal emulation and XMODEM transfer protocols. NMPı/NCSI ports are chosen in NTERM's configuration menu. CLIST, lists NPC communication servers on the network. CLIST /A will show server ports on the network, their general and specific names and the status of the port. BTTY, a NCSI-compatible teletype emulator. Useful for testing the NMPı server because of its simplicity. Type HELP at the "NCSI 1:1>" prompt for help. Hitting the f10 key exits the program. NCSI and Windows To use NCSI with a compatible Windows application, load NCSI prior to loading Windows. NCSI can be loaded in a DOS session in enhanced-mode Windows by supplying NCSI with the "-w" command-line switch. If using NCSI-compatible DOS applications while in Windows, place the VNCSI.386 file located on the NCSI Program Utilities diskette in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory and modify the SYSTEM.INI file so that the "network=" setting under "[386Enh]" section contains a comma after the last entry and then VNCSI.386. Windows COMM.DRV Replacement Many Windows applications that have not specifically been designed to operate with NCSI can also use the NMPı server. A replacement for the Windows COMM.DRV is contained in the same subdirectory that contains the NCSI utilities BTTY, CLIST, etc. NCSI must be loaded before starting Windows. Copy the current COMM.DRV file in the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory to a safe location and replace the file with the COMM.DRV supplied. Add a line to the WIN.INI file in the format: [NCSI] PORT="GENERAL_PORT" where "GENERAL_PORT" is the general port name of the NMPı server. If the name of the port has not been changed, the line would simply be: PORT=PORT Choose any COM port for the application in the application's setup. The port specified in WIN.INI will be used instead of utilizing that COM port specified in the application. When using NCSI in this fashion nearly any application, including many FAX software applications, can share the NMPı server. Using Third-Party Applications Third-party applications that are NCSI-aware require setup to use the NMPı. Some applications support NCSI in slightly different ways. In general, choose a NCSI or NASI (Novell's name for NCSI) service instead of a COM port and specify a service by it's name. For additional information on using specific applications, refer to your application documentation or contact your application manufacturer. Further Information For additional information on using the NMPı, you may wish to consider registering your NMPı. For information on registering, please contact Network Products. The Network Products Family of Gateways The NMPı is one of a family of modem sharing and network communications products available from NPC. Other products include the ACSı, a dedicated communication server offering exceptional performance available in 4, 16 or 32 port versions; the ACSı/SA, a self contained, 2 port, communication server that requires only a network connection site for operation, available in ethernet or arcnet for NetWare IPX, Microsoft's Lan Manager, and Windows-for- Workgroups networks; and the XCSı, an X.25 gateway that provides network workstations access to an X.25 packet-switched network. For more information about NPC products, call (800) 638-7765 or (818) 441-6504. You may also contact NPC by fax at (818) 441-6894. Developing for NCSI NPC supplies developer's with a developer's kit that includes sample source-code in C, Basic, & Assembly which can be cut and pasted into the developer's own application. Technical assistance, co-marketing arrangements, and other services are also supplied by NPC. Please contact NPC for more information. License and Trademark Information The NMPı name, software, and it's associated files are protected by the copyright laws of the United States and international copyright treaties. This software is a shareware version of commercial software available from Network Products Corporation and it's resellers and may be used only to determine suitability of the commercial software. You may reproduce and distribute copies of these files so long as all files including this README file are distributed together. No fee shall be charged for the copying or distribution of these files without written consent from Network Products. You may not receive any payment, commercial benefit, or any consideration for the reproduction, distribution, or use, either alone or in combination with any other software or hardware, of this software without written consent from Network Products Corporation. NMPı, ACSı, ACSı/SA, Network Modem Program, Asynchronous Communications Server, Second Generation, and Asynchronous Communications Server Second Generation/Stand Alone are trademarks of Network Products Corporation. NCSI and XCSı are registered trademarks of Network Products Corporation. IBM, NetWare, Novell, Lan Manager, Microsoft, Windows, Windows-for-Workgroups, and MS-DOS are trademarks or registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation, Novell, Inc., and Microsoft Corporation.. All other names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners. THE FILE OR THE FILES CONTAINED THEREIN MAY NOT BE DISASSEMBLED, REVERSE- ENGINEERED, NOR ALTERED IN ANY WAY. EXCEPT AS RESTRICTED BY LAW, THE SOFTWARE PROGRAMS CONTAINED IN THE FILE AND ALL ASSOCIATED FILES ARE PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.