AIX

Hi, I work for a company that supports and maintains IT equipment for a retailer, some of their stores are still in Token Ring. They use an IBM RS/6000 and also a 7318 serial hub, attached to this hub they have a cable connected to a dex port where the outside vendors come in and plug their handhelds so they can get paid for the orders delivered to the store. My question is, would be possible to create a device to run a test from the dexport all the way to the 7318 hub?sometimes we get called in to troubleshoot connectivity issues on the dexport and there is no way for us to determine what's wrong, because there is no way for us to talk to the 7318 hub or the IBM RS/6000 pc.
thanks in advance

I guess nobody knows . . .

Never heard of one of these but a quick google found:

US - IBM Serial Communications Network Server Model P10

Where it says:

Code:

 ROM-based diagnostics are run at power up and additional diagnostics are executable by attaching a terminal to a 7318 serial port or by running service aids from the RS/6000 system

So I guess you can run a terminal on one of the serial ports - laptop or similar - and / or run diags on the rs6k and use wrap plugs on the 7318 to test the ports.

HTH.

Thank you for replying back! do you know what would be the procedure to run a terminal and try to communicate with the 7318 or RS 6000?
thanks

I am not sure whether "Hyperterminal" is available on later versions of Windows. It certainly was on XP. You will need a 9 pin D type serial cable connected to the serial port on the laptop and the S1 (I believe this is the correct port) port on the RS/6000. It is best to try setting the serial connection properties to:

8, none, 1 with a port speed of 9600. If this gives nonsense on the screen then try 19,200 as the port speed.

I have just looked up the serial terminal for Windows Vista and Seven, for information follow this link:
HyperTerminal Alternatives for Windows 7

Thanks again!I am aware of how to make this connection because we use all the time (Service Processor diags), this procedure being done from the RS6000 doesn't really help me because there is nothing attached to the other end of the 7318 hub, remember I am interested in testing the port and the cable that goes on the 7318 hub. I want to create a way if possible, to "ping" the 7318 from a cable that is ran all the way to the back of the stores in receiving where they have a dex port. Through the dex port the vendors plug in their hand held and drop the orders and receipts in to the RS6000.

---------- Post updated at 09:09 AM ---------- Previous update was at 09:07 AM ----------

can I open a terminal from the dex port at the end of the cable?

"diagnostics are executable by attaching a terminal to a 7318 serial port"

I guess so...

It seems the 7318 gives you remote serial ports over lan so they should behave just like a local serial port, plug in your terminal / laptop and go for it...