An IEEE 802.5 MAC-layer-based Token Ring Network Manager
by Andy Yuen

The TRMGR.ZIP file contains the manuscript of the article and all
source files necessary to build the programs described in the
article.

If you want to make the executables yourself, you need Symantec's 
Zortech C++ V3.0 Compiler with its C++ tools class library, and
Microsoft's Macro Assembler V5.1. However, to save you from such
troubles, executables are included in the zip file.

The files in TRMGR.ZIP are divided into
categories. Here is a brief description:

Manuscripts:

README.TXT:- the file you are reading.

Executables:

1.   TRAGN.EXE:- Token Ring Agent

2.   TRAEM.EXE:- Token Ring Agent Emulator

3.   TRMGR.EXE:- Token Ring Manager

4.   TRMGR.HLP:- Token Ring Manager online help

TRAGN source files:

1.   DLCCONST.H, DLCPTBLS.H:- token ring API constants
     and structures

2.   TRAGN.C:- source file for the network management
     agent

3.   TRUTL.H, TRUTL.C:- a set of utility functions

4.   TRDIR.H, TRDIR.C:- a set of functions to access the
     token ring API's direct interface

5.   TRAPP.H, TRAPP.ASM:- assembly module to setup API
     appendages.

6.   TRMSG.H:- message definitions

7.   TRAGN:- make file

TRMGR source files:

1.   TRMGR.H, TRMGR.C:- Gpf-generated Windows GUI
     skeleton

2.   TRMGR.EXT:- Gpf-generated header file

3.   TRMGR.IDS:- Gpf-generated resource identifiers

4.   TRMGR.RC, TRMGR.ICO:- resource and icon files

5.   TRFNS.H, TRFNS.C:- functions to handle all Windows
     events that TRMGR is interested in. 

6.   TRSMT.H, TRSMT.CPP:- this is the only C++ module. It
     provides services to TRFNS.C and accesses TRAGN via
     TRMSG for the management of the LAN. Most of the
     intelligence of the network manager is embedded in
     this module. It does not handle or call any Windows
     functions.

7.   TRMSG.H, TRMSG.C:- message layer which interfaces to
     TRAGN via DPMI.

8.   TRMGR:- make file

9.   TRMGR.L, TRMGR.DEF:- link response file and definition file


Other files:

The following are needed only if you want to re-build TRMGR. I
included them here only for completeness. They should not be 
freely distributed.

1.   GPFPARMW.H:- Gpf header file

2.   GPFW3C.LIB:- Gpf library file


Installation notes:

1.   check if you have installed the token ring API
     support by simply running TRAGN. It either displays
     a message saying that the TSR has been installed
     successfully or that it has failed to install due to
     the absence of token ring API support. If it is the
     former, go to 3.

2.   If you are using an IBM token ring adapter card,
     check if the device drivers DXMA0MOD.SYS and
     DXMC0MOD.SYS have been included in CONFIG.SYS. An
     alternative to installing the token ring support as
     device drivers is to load the TSR TOKREUI.COM (see
     note) in your AUTOEXEC.BAT. These two different
     methods of installing the token ring support are
     mutually exclusive. In general, if you can access
     the network, you probably have the token ring
     support installed already. Refer to adapter card
     vendor documents for installing token ring support
     if you use a non-IBM card. Go back to 1.

3.   start Windows 3.1 and run TRMGR either in the RUN
     menu or install it in an application group and click
     on its icon. TRMGR will terminate if TRAGN has not
     been loaded. So, it is a good idea, if you use TRMGR
     frequently, to start TRAGN from your AUTOEXEC.BAT.
     If you want information on how to use TRMGR, just
     invoke its help facility from its Help menu.


For readers who don't have a token ring LAN but would like to
have a look at TRMGR, TRAEM (Token Ring Agent EMulator) can be
loaded in place of TRAGN. TRAEM simulates the functions of a
token ring LAN. Obviously, if you use TRAEM, you don't need to
load the token ring drivers.

Note: I tested TRAGN and TRMGR on a 33-Mhz 386 with an IBM
4/16 token ring adapter, DXMA0MOD.SYS/DXMC0MOD.SYS drivers,
and the Novell IPX/NETX LAN requester. One does not need the
Novell LAN requester to run TRMGR. Incidentally, TRMGR runs
better without the LAN requester. As described in the article,
Novell's LAN requester is one of those drivers that try to
insert the adapter back onto the ring automatically when it gets 
removed. This confuses TRMGR occassionally. If really you want to  
trouble-shoot your LAN, run TRMGR without activating the Novell 
LAN requester.


Andy Yuen
Oct 1993.
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