98/01/28

                        ComOS 3.7.2c3 Interim Release Note


                Introduction

The new Livingston Enterprises ComOS(R) 3.7.2c3 interim software
release is now available for the PortMaster(R) 3 Integrated Access
Server.  This release note applies only to the PortMaster 3.  This
release is provided at no charge to all Livingston customers.

This release note documents commands and features added between ComOS
release 3.7.2 and 3.7.2c3 on the PortMaster 3.

Note - This interim release is recommended only for customers who are
experiencing the problems described and are unable to wait for the next
maintenance release.

Note - You must use PMconsole(TM) 3.5.3 when upgrading to ComOS
3.7.2c3; see "Upgrade Instructions" below.  If you are running
Microsoft Windows 95 or Windows NT 4.0, you must use PMconsole for
Windows 3.5.1.4.  ComOS 3.7.2c3 uses roughly the same amount of memory
as ComOS 3.7.  Read "Upgrade Instructions" thoroughly before
upgrading.


                Contents

Introduction
Bugs Fixed in ComOS 3.7.2c3
New Feature in ComOS 3.7.2c3
Limitations in ComOS 3.7.2c3
Upgrade Instructions



		Bugs Fixed in ComOS 3.7.2c3

During system startup, the Stac compression card on the PortMaster 3
sometimes failed to initialize.  This problem is now fixed.  This
release is recommended for any PortMaster 3 using the Stac compression
card.

When Redhat Linux incorrectly sends out-of-window TCP data on a Telnet
or rlogin session from the PortMaster, the PortMaster was temporarily
reporting a large window size that was confusing Linux.  The
PortMaster now properly advertises a window size of zero (0) until the
TCP window is emptied, for better interoperability with versions of
Linux that have this problem.

When the ISDN device driver runs out of receive buffers an error
condition occurs that causes an immediate system reboot.  This symptom
has been reported as "random reboots" and will generally always send
the console message "munich_next_rd: NO BLOCKS" just before the
PortMaster reboots.  Running out of receive buffers is now properly
handled, and no longer causes a reboot.

The modem code for the "True Digital 56K Card" has been improved.
A software condition that caused the modem to not generate initial
modem tones during the answer sequence has been fixed.
Interoperability problems with several V.34 modems have been fixed.
The occasional failure to properly complete self-test has been fixed.

A "No Tone" problem has been fixed.  For example, suppose a user
connected to port S0 allocates modem (DSP) M0.  The user on S0
disconnects, and at the same time another user dials in on S1. The
modem was already back in the ready state, S1 allocated M0.
When S0 ran its cleanup process it re-initialized the modem,
disconnecting the user on S1 before they hear any tones.  When this
happened the console printed an error message about "m_comio_save
!= NULL".

If m0 is active when "set m0 on" is entered on the command line,
the modem suspended service for a minute or two.  This problem is fixed.

The LAPM code in the modems has been improved with regard to the LAPM
timer and the Echo Canceller training.



		New Feature in ComOS 3.7.2c3

The following command has been added in ComOS 3.7.2c3.


	Lastcall Command

Use this command when you want to hot-swap a modem card without
disconnecting users.  If the modem m0 is active, you can enter the
command "set m0 lastcall" to force the modem into ADMIN mode as soon as
the user logs out.  This ADMIN mode is not saved, so a reboot brings it
back to normal operation.  The "set mX on" command will also return the
modem to normal operation.  The modem status displayed by the "show mX"
and "show modems" commands is ACT(LC) instead of ACTIVE, to show that
the modem status is Active (Last Call).

Note that if circuits are available to the PortMaster 3 but no modems
are available, the PortMaster 3 will send a user busy signal back to
the Telco when another call comes in, which gives the user a busy
signal, instead of forwarding them to the next line in the hunt group.
The Telco may be able to configure the line for "forward when busy."



		Limitations in ComOS 3.7.2c3

The number of Total Calls to a modem can be misreported by the "show
m0" command when data-over-voice ISDN calls are counted as calls but
not connections.  This happens when a data-over-voice ISDN call is
identified as analog and a modem is allocated to answer the call,
incrementing the Total Calls counter for that modem.  When the
PortMaster 3 detects the HDLC frame on the call, it releases the modem,
but does not decrement the Total Calls counter.  This behavior causes
no problem for the actual connection, but the "show m0" command will
report misleading numbers.

The "show mX" command on a K56flex modem sometimes displays invalid
numbers for "Connection Failures." These statistics are used only on
the old "True Digital V.34 Card", not on the "True Digital 56K Card",
and can be ignored.



                Upgrade Instructions

WARNING! YOU MUST USE PMINSTALL VERSION 3.5.3 OR LATER TO PERFORM THIS
UPGRADE! If you are upgrading using PMconsole for Windows, you must use
PMconsole for Windows version 3.5.1.4 or later.

If you are upgrading from ComOS 2.3 or 2.4 to ComOS 3.7.2c3, you must
first upgrade to ComOS 3.0.4, reboot, and then upgrade to ComOS 3.7.2c3.

*** NOTE!  If the upgrade fails, do NOT reboot!  Contact Livingston ***
*** Technical Support without rebooting.                            ***

The upgrade process on the PortMaster 3 erases the configuration
area from nonvolatile memory and saves the current configuration into
the nonvolatile memory.  Never interrupt the upgrade process, or loss
of configuration information can result.

The upgrade does not otherwise affect your stored configuration in the
PortMaster. If you want to back up your PortMaster configuration before
upgrading, choose the Backup PortMaster button in PMconsole for
Windows, or run pmreadconf on UNIX.  The pmreadconf utility takes three
arguments: the hostname or IP address of the PortMaster, the
administrative password for the PortMaster, and the name of the file to
place the configuration in.  If you ever need to reload the
configuration, move the backup file into the /usr/portmaster/data
directory and run pminstall to reload it.  Here is an example:

cd /usr/portmaster
pmreadconf Pmname Pmpassword data/Pmname.conf
chmod 600 data/Pmname.conf

The installation software can be retrieved by FTP from
ftp://ftp.livingston.com/pub/le/software/System/Tarfile.tar.Z.
Replace System and Tarfile.tar.Z with the names of the files.  You
can retrieve the upgrade image at the same time. The following example
shows an administrator retrieving the SunOS pminstall and PortMaster 3
upgrade image:

umask 22
mkdir /usr/portmaster
cd /usr/portmaster
ftp ftp.livingston.com
 (Enter anonymous)
 (Enter your email address; it will not echo.)
  binary
  cd /pub/le/software/sun4
  get pm_3.5.3_sun4.tar.Z pm.tar.Z
  cd /pub/le/upgrades
  get pm3_3.7.2c3
  quit
uncompress pm.tar.Z
tar xvf pm.tar
rm pm.tar
mv pm3_3.7.2c3 data
pminstall

PMconsole 3.5.1.4 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0 is available on
ftp://ftp.livingston.com/pub/le/software/pc/pmw3514.exe in a
self-extracting file.  Transfer that file via FTP, run the file to
install PMconsole for Windows, move the upgrade file into the data
directory, run PMconsole for Windows, and click on the Upgrade icon.

PMconsole for the following operating systems can be found under
ftp://ftp.livingston.com/pub/le/software/

bsdi/pm_3.5.3_BSDOS_2.0.tar.Z           BSD/OS 2.0 and 2.1
sgi/pm_3.5.3_IRIX_5.2.tar.Z             SGI Irix 5.2
linux/pm_3.5.3_Linux.tar.Z              Linux 1.2.13 ELF
rs6000/pm_3.5.3_RS6000_4.1.tar.Z        RS6000 AIX 4.1
alpha/pm_3.5.3_alpha_T3.0.tar.Z         Digital Alpha OSF/1 T3.0
hp/pm_3.5.3_hp9000_10.01.tar.Z          HP 9000 HP/UX 10.01
sun4/pm_3.5.3_sun4.tar.Z                SunOS 4.1.4, 5.5.1 on Sparc
sun86/pm_3.5.3_sun86_5.5.tar.Z          Solaris x86 2.5.1
pc/pmw3514.exe                          Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0

The following upgrade image is available at
ftp://ftp.livingston.com/pub/le/upgrades/

ComOS           Upgrade Image   Product
_________       _____________   _____________________________________
3.7.2c3         pm3_3.7.2c3     PortMaster 3
 

        Copyright and Trademarks

Copyright 1998 Livingston Enterprises, Inc.  All rights reserved.

PortMaster, ComOS, and ChoiceNet are registered trademarks of Lucent
Technologies, Inc. PMconsole and IRX are trademarks of Lucent Technologies,
Inc. ProVision is a service mark of Lucent Technologies, Inc. All other
marks are the property of their respective owners.

        Notices

Livingston Enterprises, Inc. makes no representations or warranties
with respect to the contents or use of this publication, and specifically
disclaims any express or implied warranties of merchantability or
fitness for any particular purpose. Further, Livingston Enterprises,
Inc. reserves the right to revise this publication and to make changes
to its content, any time, without obligation to notify any person or
entity of such revisions or changes.

        Contacting Livingston Technical Support

Livingston provides technical support via voice, fax, electronic mail,
or through the World Wide Web at http://www.livingston.com/.  Please
specify that you are running ComOS 3.7.2c3 if you are reporting
problems with this release.

Internet service providers (ISP) and other end users in Europe, the
Middle East, Africa, India, and Pakistan should contact their
authorized Livingston sales channel partner for technical support; see
http://www.livingston.com/International/EMEA/distributors.shtml.

For North and South America and Asia Pacific customers, technical
support is available Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. U.S.
Pacific Time (GMT -8).  Dial 1-800-458-9966 within the United States
(including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, and the Caribbean, or
1-510-737-2100 from elsewhere, for voice support. Otherwise, fax to
1-510-737-2110, or send email to support@livingston.com
(asia-support@livingston.com for Asia Pacific customers).

