MultiTech Intelligent Serial Interface Cards
Device Driver Version 1.04
Brief Installation Guide for Linux Kernel 2.4.x

Copyright (C) 2003, MultiTech Systems Inc.

 

 

Contents

 

  1. Introduction
  2. System Requirements
  3. Installation
  4. Un-Installation
  5. Port Reset Utility
  6. Release Notes

 

 

 

  1. Introduction

 

MultiTech ISI serial driver Version 1.04, supports the following hardware.

 

§               ISI4604-UPCI: 4 Port Intelligent Serial Interface Cards

§               ISI4608-UPCI: 8 Port Intelligent Serial Interface Cards

§               ISI5634UPCI / 4: 4 Port Modem Cards

§               ISI5634UPCI / 8: 8 Port Modem Cards

 

This driver and installation procedure have been developed upon Linux Kernel 2.4.x and tested with RedHat Release Versions 7.3 / 8.0 / 9.0, Fedora Core-1 and RedHat Enterprise Edition 3.x.

This version of driver can be installed as Loadable Module (Module driver). Refer to following sections for driver installation procedure. Before you install the driver, please refer to hardware installation procedure in the User's Manual.

 

 

  1. System Requirement

 

§               Hardware platform: Intel x86

§               Kernel version: 2.4.x

§               gcc version 2.72 or later

§               Maximum 4 boards can be installed in combination

§               This driver has only been tested with RedHat Kernel Version 2.4.x. It is strongly recommended that the user do a complete install of all components to ensure that this driver works correctly.

 

 

  1. Installation

 

3.1        Hardware Installation

Please refer to hardware installation procedure in the User's Manual.

 

3.2        Driver files and device naming convention

The driver files may be obtained from ftp, CD-ROM or floppy disk. The installation process involves, Building the driver, creating tty device names and Loading the driver Module (insmod). 

The user has the choice of manually building and loading the driver following the instructions detailed under sections 3.2.2 through 3.2.4 or by running the install script “make install” which will automatically build, load and create the tty devices. Section 3.2.1 describes the procedure for this kind of installation.

 

 

3.2.1        Driver Installation using the “make install” script

§               Create a temporary directory, "mkdir /mtsi_upci"

§               Copy the tar file to the temporary directory, "cp ISI_U_PCI_LINUX_V_104.tar.gz  /mtsi_upci"

§               Go to temporary directory “cd /mtsi_upci”

§               Untar the file, “tar xvfz ISI_U_PCI_LINUX_V_104.tar.gz”.  This will unzip the source files to "mtsi_upci_driver" directory.

§               Switch to the newly created directory, type "cd mtsi_upci_driver"

§               Run the "make install" script.

 

The script will take care of creating the driver module, creating the tty devices and modifying the rc files in order to load the driver automatically on system reboot.  Successful compilation and loading of the module is displayed on the screen.

 

 

3.2.2        Building the Driver

§               Create a temporary directory, "mkdir /mtsi_upci"

§               Copy the tar file to the temporary directory, "cp ISI_U_PCI_LINUX_V_104.tar.gz  /mtsi_upci"

§               Go to temporary directory “cd /mtsi_upci”

§               Untar the file, “tar xvfz ISI_U_PCI_LINUX_V_104.tar.gz”.  This will unzip the source files to "mtsi_upci_driver" directory.

§               Switch to the newly created directory, type "cd mtsi_upci_driver"

§               Run the "make" command. The files “mtsi_upci.o” and “resetport” will be created.

 

 

3.2.3        Creating the tty device names

 

This driver retains the traditional serial device properties. There're two special file names for each serial port. One is dial-in port, which is named "ttyMUxx" and for the callout port, the naming convention is "cumxx".  Xx refers to the card number and the port number

§               Run "./mknod_script" to create the tty devices.

The driver creates TTY device “ttyMU1a” to “ttyMU1h” and “cum1a” to “cum1h” under the “/dev” directory for card 1. Similarly ttyMU2a to ttyMU2h will be created for card 2.  This is assuming an 8-port card.  However if a 4-port card is detected TTY device “ttyMU1a to ttyMU1d” will be created.

 

 

3.2.4        Loading the driver Module (Insmod)

§               Run "insmod mtsi_upci.o" to load and start the driver. 

Users will have to run this command every time the system is rebooted, if the driver is required to load. It is advisable to run the alternative script listed below if automatic loading of the driver is required.

§               Run “rc.mtsi_upci” to load the driver and also update the “rc file” so that the driver is automatically loaded after system startup.

 

 

3.2.5        Verifying the successful loading of the driver

§               To confirm the successful loading of the driver execute the command "lsmod".  The driver "msti_upci" must be listed in the list of modules.

§               The tty devices “ttyMUxx” have be listed under the /dev directory.

 

 

 

  1. Un-Installation

§               Uninstalling of the driver can be achieved by executing the command "rmmod mtsi_upci".  (This removes the mtsi_upci module that has been loaded to the Kernel directory).

§               Upon executing the “lsmod” command, the “mtsi_upci” module should not be listed.

§               Alternatively the “make clean” or “make uninstall” script can be run.

(Note that the serial ports ttyMUxx have to be manually deleted)

 

 

 

  1. Port Reset Utility

The port-reset utility is provided to reset individual ports and internal modems in case of modem cards without having to reboot Linux. The DTR pin is asserted low for 1 second on the selected serial port, which resets the ports. Further the Reset pin is toggled for the modem cards.

§               Run “reset_port /dev/ttyMUxx” (xx Stands for card and port no. Respectively) to reset the port / modem. The toggling of LED on serial cards indicates this.

 

 

  1. Release Notes

           

1.04 – Version (04th May 2004)

           

-         Fixed problem when the system is headless and it is using the serial port as console.  Error reported that on executing shell commands on the serial console, exit to the prompt does not happen, after loading of the ISI_U_PCI driver.  This has been FIXED.

-         Removed the “xrmknod’ script file from the release package. This is no longer necessary

-         Directed the error logs to “err1” and “err2” log files.

-         Included / formatted the debug messages displayed on the console during Make Install / Un-install / Unload & Clean.

 

1.03 – Version (26th Feb 2004)

 

-         Error reported when trying to compile and Install on RedHat Enterprise Edition 3.x.  This has been fixed.

 

NOTE: - The fix made in the previous release 1.02 (Compile / Loading Problems on Fedora Core-1 distribution) has been undone.  The modification currently incorporated in this latest version will take care of both earlier as well as the current reported problem.

 

1.02 – Version (10th Dec 2003)

 

-         The Driver could not be compiled and Installed on RedHat Fedora Distribution.  This has been fixed.

-         The warning messages during compilation / loading of the driver are now directed to “err.log” file.

 

1.01 - Version (25th Nov 2003)

 

-         Changes affected to replace strings referring to EXAR with MultiTech.

-         Fixed the warning messages.

-         Updated the Release Notes and Installation Guide to reflect the correct Model Numbers.