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Conference irocz::terminal_servers

Title:Terminal Servers
Notice:See Note 2 for Directory of important notes. Please use keywords.
Moderator:LAVC::CAHILLON
Created:Tue May 14 1991
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3547
Total number of notes:12300

3420.0. "DECServer 900TM hangs" by JOBURG::NICOP (Nico Pretorius) Mon Jan 27 1997 07:57

One of our resellers is having a problem with a DECserver 900TM.

The DECServer hangs when more than 16 devices are connected. It 
is not when a specific port or device is connected, but when they
reach the magical number of 16. They have tried another 900TM 
which gives the same problem.

All devices are using RS232 at 9600bps and the cables average 
35m per point (UTP cat5). (NO LINE DRIVERS USED)

Devices connected include Esprit 103C terminals, Laser printers 
and Medical instruments. The DECServer 900TM is connected 
via ethernet to a DECRepeater 900TM.

The SW ver is 1.5.

I told the reseller to use line drivers on any line exceeding 
15m where they're using RS232 standard or use RS423 on devices 
that support it because in my opinion they're overloading the 
DECServer and not keeping to the maximum distance of 15m for the 
RS232 standard.

Does anybody else have any ideas or advise?

Thanks
Nico
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3420.1Upgrade the software, not the cablingIROCZ::ALBRIGHTShe bop-he bop-a-we bopMon Jan 27 1997 13:1011
    
    Off hand I don't know if this is a problem with V1.5 but you may want
    to consider upgrading to V2.0
    
    Refer to any DECserver 700/900 manual for recommended cable lengths. 
    At 9600 baud on CAT 5 cable 35 meters is not an issue.  A DECserver can
    drive much longer cables and this is most certainly not your problem. 
    Do not use external line drivers - They won't help and you'll just
    frustrate the customer.
    
    Loren
3420.2LAVC::CAHILLJim CahillMon Jan 27 1997 15:049
Does the server hang or all the ports?  What makes you think the server
hangs?  Do all the ports hang at the exact same time or gradually over
a period of time?

> Does anybody else have any ideas or advise?

Quick and dirty trick:  do a SHOW SERVER STATUS and see if one or more
of the ports are XOFFed.

3420.3Cabling problemsJOBURG::NICOPNico PretoriusMon Mar 17 1997 13:088
Just a follow up.

The cabling was changed to the recommended wiring from Digital 
(DEC Connect catalog and Terminal Server manual) and their problem 
went away.

Regards
Nico
3420.4thanks for the follow-upIROCZ::RRICHARDMon Mar 17 1997 13:514

  Thanks for taking the time to post a follow-up.