LANplex® 2500 Ver 5.1.0 Extended Switching Software Release Notes

Modified: 05/22/98

LANplex 2500

Extended Switching Software
Revision 5.1.0

Overview

These release notes describe revision 5.1.0 of the LANplex 2500 Extended Switching software from 3Com Corporation, dated December 20, 1995. This revision supersedes the earlier revision 5.0 dated October 14, 1995.

Release Highlights

This release contains:

· Bug Fixes --- several bug fixes have been implemented at this release.

For more information about this release, see the section Whats New at Revision 5.1.0?.

Before You Start

Prior to installing your new software, read these release notes in their entirety. Carefully read the sections System Issues and Known Problems.

Updating Your System Software

You can install a new software version from any host-running ftp server. The system software is distributed for both UNIX and DOS platforms.

The following media types are used to distribute software releases (the files are compressed on the media):

· UNIX tar format 31/2 inch double-sided, high-density 1.44 MB diskette
· DOS format 31/2 inch double-sided, high-density 1.44 MB diskette

To install or upgrade your system software, you must:

· Copy the software from the diskette to your UNIX-based or DOS-based computers hard disk.
· Uncompress the software
· Load the system software from your computers hard disk to flash memory.

Copying Software to a Hard Disk

You can copy software to either a UNIX-based or DOS-based hard disk.

Copying to UNIX

To copy software to a UNIX hard disk, follow the instructions below:

If the directory /usr/lp2500 does not exist on your computer, create the directory before proceeding. If your /usr directory is full, you can use a different directory. In this case, substitute the actual directory used for /usr in this and subsequent examples.

1 Insert the diskette containing the system software file into a disk drive (these instructions assume drive rfd0).

2 Copy the system software file to the lp2500 subdirectory of your computer using the following commands:

cd /usr/lp2500
tar xvf /dev/rfd0

3 Decompress the file using the following command:

uncompress lp2500.Z

Copying to DOS

To copy software to a DOS hard disk, follow the instructions below:

If the directory lp2500 does not exist on your computer, create the directory before proceeding.

1 Insert the diskette containing the system software file into a disk drive (these instructions assume drive B:).

2 Copy the system software file to the lp2500 directory of your computer using the following commands:

cd lp2500
copy b:lp2500.exe

The file lp2500.exe is a self-extracting archive. It decompresses and creates the loadable software file.

3 Decompress the file using the following command:

lp2500

This creates a file called lp2500, which you can then ftp into flash memory.

Updating Your Diagnostic Software

The diagnostics software, revision 3.0, runs internal tests on the system and option modules on system power up.

You can install a new diagnostic software version from any host running ftp. The LANplex diagnostic software is distributed for both UNIX and DOS platforms. The following media types are used to distribute software releases:

· UNIX tar format 31/2 inch double-sided, high-density 1.44 MB diskette
· DOS format 31/2 inch double-sided, high-density 1.44 MB diskette

To update your diagnostic software, you must:

· Copy the diagnostic software from the diskette to your UNIX-based or DOS-based computers hard disk.
· Load the diagnostic software from your computers hard disk to flash memory.

Copying Software to a Hard Disk

You can copy diagnostic software to either a UNIX-based or DOS-based hard disk.

Copying to UNIX

To copy diagnostic software to a UNIX hard disk, follow the instructions below:

1 Insert the diskette containing the LANplex diagnostic software file into a disk drive (these instructions assume drive fd0).

2 Copy the LANplex diagnostic software file to the lp2000 subdirectory of your computer using the following commands:

cd /usr/lp2000
tar xvf /dev/fd0

This creates a file called lpx2000S which you can then load into flash memory.

Copying to DOS

To copy software to a DOS hard disk, follow the instructions below:

1 Insert the diskette containing the LANplex diagnostic software file into a disk drive (these instructions assume drive B:).

2 Copy the LANplex diagnostic software file to the lp2000 directory of your computer using the following commands:

cd lp2000
copy b:LPX2000S.EXE

The file LPX2000S.EXE is a self-extracting archive. It decompresses and creates the loadable LPX2000S file.

3 Decompress the file using the following command:

LPX2000S

This creates a file called LPX2000S, which you can then load into flash memory.

Loading Software on the System

Before loading the system software, verify that the host machine, which has a copy of the updated system software, is connected to the system.

You can load the system software into flash memory while the system is operating. You do not need to bring the system down. After the flash install is completed, a quick reboot will put the newly-loaded software to use.

If you are loading software from a PC, the ftp server must be running on the PC before beginning this procedure.

Loading software into flash memory takes approximately three minutes to complete, depending on your network load.

To load the new software:

1 From the top level of the Administration Console, enter:

system softwareUpdate

You are prompted for the Host IP address, Install file name, User name, and Password. The current values are displayed in brackets [ ]. The password field does not display what you enter.

2 Next to Host IP address, enter the IP address of the host machine from which you are installing the software (such as a Sun workstation or PC). If the current value is already set to that host IP address, press [Return].

In the following example, the IP address of the host is 192.9.200.96.

3 Next to Install file name, enter the complete path and file name. If the current value is already set to that file name, press [Return].

At the Install file name prompt, you must use forward slashes [/] to delimit directories --- even if you are loading software from a DOS host.

4 Next to User name, enter your user name.

5 Next to password, enter your password. You must enter a value for this field.

If for any reason the flash install stops (no activity for more than two minutes), do not reboot the system; instead press CTRL-C. After the system prints out some trace information, it will prompt you for a login ID and password. Login and try the install again.

See the following screen for an example of a successful software installation.

Host IP address [192.9.200.14]:192.9.200.96
Install file name [/usr/lanplex/lanplex]:
User name: ronnyk
Password :

Programming flash memory block 1...
Programming flash memory block 2...
Programming flash memory block 3...
.
.
.
Programming flash memory block 14...

Installation complete.

The system menu reappears.

6 To reboot the system to use the newly loaded software, enter:

system reboot

You are prompted with the following message:

Are you sure you want to reboot the system (n,y) [y]:

7 At the prompt, enter y (yes).

If the LANplex executable software image stored in EPROM is corrupted (for example, when a power failure occurs while you are updating software), contact 3Com Technical Support or your service person.

User Documentation

This version of software is compatible with the documentation revisions listed below. These release notes describe only the changes and additions to this documentation.

The following documents comprise the LANplex 2500 documentation set.

· LANplex 2500 Getting Started (Rev. 02, Part No. 801-00244-000, shipped with system)
· LANplex 2500 Planning Your Site (Rev. 02, Part No. 801-00243-000, shipped with system)
· LANplex 2500 Operation Guide (Rev. 02, Part No. 801-00245-000)
· LANplex 2500 Administration Console User Guide (Rev. 02, Part No. 801-00246-000)
· LANplex 2500 Extended Switching User Guide (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00249-000)

These additional documents are shipped with the individual modules:

· Ethernet RJ-21 Module Installation, 2500/2016, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00118-000)
· Ethernet RJ-45 Module Installation, 2500/2016, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00094-000)
· Ethernet 10BASE-FL Module Installation, 2500/2016, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00095-000)
· Ethernet 10BASE-2 (BNC) Module Installation, 2500/2016, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00217-000)
· Ethernet 10BASE-5 (AUI) Module Installation, 2500/2016, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00218-000)
· FDDI DAS MIC (MMF)Module Installation Guide, 2500, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00096-000)
· FDDI DAS MIC (SMF) Module Installation Guide, 2500, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00153-000)
· TP-DDI DAS Module Installation Guide, 2500, (Rev. 01, Part No. 801-00265-000)

Whats New at Revision 5.1.0?

This section describes software corrections implemented at this release.

Software Corrections

The following software corrections are implemented at this release:

· AppleTalk ZIP (Zone Information Protocol) packets are now handled correctly when the network count is greater than actual zones.
· You can now configure a full range of IPX hop cost values (1-0FFFE). Previously it was restricted to 1-15. The default value is 1.
· Asserts are now eliminated when using IPX or AppleTalk with Roving Analysis
· The FDDI ring latency attribute is now correctly reported.
· The following Roving Analysis bugs have been corrected:
· Panic 6 eliminated
· Analyzer port status is now correctly reported
· Assertion at line 99 has been eliminated

System Issues

The following system issues are identified at this release:

· Packet filtering is not available on those ports that have an IP interface defined.
· Any time you define an IP interface for IP management on a system intended for switching only you MUST include all ports in that interface. When you define an interface, you assign IP addresses to ports. This defines the IP broadcast domain for frames sourced from the attached segment. Therefore, it is imperative that the IP broadcast domain be consistent across all ports to avoid unintentional filtering of IP broadcasts. Refer to the section Defining an Interface in the Administration console User Guide.
· If you are switching multiple subnets and IP addresses are assigned for management, an address within all subnets that will be switched MUST be assigned to all ports.

Known Problems

There are no known software problems identified at this release.

SNMP MIB Files

SNMP MIB files are shipped with the LANplex system software as ASN.1 files. Copies of ASN.1 files are provided for each of the supported compilers described at the end of this section.

Supported Versions

The SNMP MIB file names and the currently supported version of each MIB are listed below.

· bridge.mib --- Bridge MIB, RFC 1493
· ethernet.mib --- Ethernet MIB, RFC 1398
· fddiSmt7.mib --- FDDI SMT 7.3 MIB, RFC 1512
· lp.mib --- LANplex Systems MIB, version 1.2.0
· lpOpFddi.mib --- LANplex Optional FDDI MIB, version 1.2.0
· mib2.mib --- MIB-II, RFC 1213

Compiler Support

ASN.1 MIB files are provided for each of the MIB compilers listed below. Any warnings or exceptions related to a particular compiler are listed with that compiler.

· SMIC (version 1.0.9)
· MOSY (version 7.1)

For the MIB file lpOpFddi.mib, the MOSY compiler reports warnings for counter names that do not end in s. This has no effect on the output produced by the MOSY compiler.

· HP Openview (version 3.1)
· mib2schema (with SunNet Manager version 2.0)

The MIB file fddiSmt7.mib produces the following warning messages when compiled using mib2schema:

Translating....
Warning: The following INDEX entries in fddimibMACCountersTable not resolved:
fddimibMACSMTIndex
fddimibMACIndex
Translation Complete.
Schema file in fddiSmt7.mib.schema
Oid file in fddiSmt7.mib.oid

However, these warning messages have no effect on the ability of SNM to use the schema file generated with versions of SNM greater than or equal to 2.0.

Revision History

The following table provides a brief description of the previous releases of the LANplex 2500 software.

Table 1 Revision History for LANplex 2500 Software

Revision Number	Description of Release
5.0	New features: · AppleTalk Routing · IPX Routing
4.3.0	New features: · UDP Helper · IPX Snap Translation
4.2.0	New features: · IP Routing implemented · Support for the AUI and BNC Option Modules
4.0.1	Several bug fixes implemented
4.0.0	First release of LANplex 2500 system software

© 3Com Corporation