TCP program are also stored in a
protocol file called prot.tcp.
This is a text file that can be
listed using the ADAKOS list command, or viewed using a text editor.
The protocol is particulary useful if the text overflows the screen
or LED display, for example if you make directory listings.
Please note that with each call of TCP the previous
protocol is overridden, and you must make a copy before if you want
to save it.
TCP can be employed from DISNMR as well as from the
ADAKOS command level, and ADAKOS provides two timesharing regions, it
is possible that a data transfer is initiated from one region
while a tranfer is already in progress in the other region. This
would cause a conflict, and none of the tranfers would perform
correctly but return with an error. Please avoid such situations.
ADAKOS level) or
CTRL/K, CTRL/E, or CTRL/Q
(if started from DISNMR). The TCPLINK or \meg
unit will then become inaccessible during a period given by its
internal timout time (default 20 sec, see also the next section).
The next data transfer will not start before this time.
TCP ,
or when a file transfer is in progress, TCP will print out a
timeout error message and abort if the connection with the
TCPLINK
unit gets lost for one of the following two reasons. Firstly, the
communication path between the ASPECT and the unit could be disturbed by
a hardware or software error. Secondly, the communication of the unit
with the TCP network (or with a particular station on the network) could
have failed.
The first possible error can be easily verified. If the command
TCP N prints out the serial number, software version,
date, and time, the connection between the ASPECT
and the unit is working properly. If nevertheless a transfer fails due to
a timeout message, for some reason the TCP connection could not be
established (e.g. the station is down or the network is overloaded).
TCP waits for a connection to become established for a certain time
that can be controlled by the operator.
It is given by the first timout constant
(see also the section
Changing/printing default configuration parameters).
It is set to 30 seconds by default. If the
unit does not respond within this time, a timeout error
is produced.
A special situation arises if a file transfer with TCP is
aborted by typing CTRL/E (if started from ADAKOS) or
CTRL/K, CTRL/E, or CTRL/Q (if started from \dis). Then the internal
timeout time (default 20 sec) of the TCPLINK unit becomes valid.
Only after this time the unit will be ready again for data
transfers. You can already set up the next transfer by entering
the corresponding TCP command, but it will not
really start before this time has elapsed.
The internal timeout time of the unit is given by the second
timeout constant.
On heavily loaded Ethernet networks, or on
ASPECT disks with thousands of files causing long
ADAKOS directory search times it might be
necessary to set the two numbers to a larger value.
TCP results in a timeout error, re-boot
the unit (make sure the operation diskette is inserted). Such a
behaviour can occur if you have, for example, given the command
TCP FLOP:X del a:*.*. This means, you wanted to delete all
files from a DOS device. DOS generates a prompt message in such
a case (are you sure?), which makes the del command
an interactive command in this particular case. Remote command
execution, however, does not support interactive commands.
There is another critical situation:
TCP hangs while a transfer is in progress, or does not even start
the transfer.
After the timeout time, it returns with an error
message. If it does not do this, you can abort the
transfer with CTRL/E, CTRL/K etc. as already described, except
for one case: TCP encountered a disk dropout which is not in the
ADAKOS dropout list. In this case you must type CTRL/G
to force the program to continue.
Please check the following items if there are frequent hangups:
TCP often fails during a tranfer already in progress,
increase the timeout constants.
TCPLINK unit and retry. Make sure the operation diskette is
inserted while booting. Turn the power of the unit off for some
seconds before booting. In certain cases it might also be necessary
to turn the power of the ASPECT off for a few seconds.
Check also if the cable between the ASPECT and the unit
is plugged in properly.
Execute the command TCP N that should print the serial
number, software version, date, and time of the unit.
If you get a printout, the communication
between ASPECT and unit is established.
TCP ip, and the file is
larger than 512K data points, make sure that the program
extract is installed on the host computer
or that you install a memory extension in your unit
(see extra section in this manual on extract).
TCPLINK unit,
or the TCPLINK is not correct insert into the AAPECT I/O bus
connector.
