READ.ME file for the IBM Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter
==========================================================================
CONTENTS:
1) Supported computers and Card and Socket Services
2) Using IBM TCP/IP for DOS with the Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter
3) Access Point configuration notes
4) LAN Support Program installation notes
5) Lantastic installation notes
6) Windows for Workgroups configuration notes
7) Starting the IRUTILS.EXE Program
==========================================================================
1) Supported computers and Card and Socket Services
The Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter is fully compliant with the Card
and Socket Services Standard, versions 2.0 and 2.1. It should
therefore work with any Card and Socket Services that are also
fully compliant with the 2.0 or 2.1 Standards.
The following table illustrates those computer and Card and Socket
Services configurations that have been tested and are known to work
properly. Note that while the adapter will work on each computer
without the presence of Card and Socket Services, this configuration
is not recommended.
The following Card and Socket Services are represented in the
table:
- IBM DOS Card Services
- Phoenix PCMPlus
- Award CardWare with Award PC ENABLE
- SystemSoft CardSoft with SystemSoft Card Services Allocation
Utility
Machine/ | NO IBM Phoenix Award SystemSoft
Card | C&SS C&SS PCMPlus CardWare CardSoft
--------------|------------------------------------------------
Acer V386SL | OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
AST PowerExec | OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
Data General | OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
IBM TP 500 | OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
IBM TP 710T | OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
IBM TP 720 | OK OK* OK* OK* OK*
--------------|------------------------------------------------
IBM TP 750 | OK OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
Intel ExCA | OK OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
NCR 3170 | OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
NEC Ultralite | OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
PS/Note | OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
Toshiba T4500 | OK OK OK OK OK
--------------|------------------------------------------------
Zenith 425L | OK OK OK
---------------------------------------------------------------
* The Micro Channel version of Socket Services is required for
this machine.
==========================================================================
2) Using IBM TCP/IP for DOS with the Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter
For users running IBM TCP/IP for DOS V2.1.1 we recommend obtaining the
corrective service diskette (CSD) for program temporary fix (PTF) UB10718
to upgrade to V2.1.1.2. This upgrade will improve your performance and
reliability when running IBM TCP/IP for DOS over the IBM Infrared Wireless
LAN Adapter.
This and future CSDs for this product may be obtained electronically
from the following sources;
i) With anonymous FTP from SOFTWARE.WATSON.IBM.COM
Look in the pub\tcpip\dos directory
ii) From the NCSBBS bulletin board at 1-919-517-0001
Set your modem settings to: none,8,1
==========================================================================
3) Access Point configuration notes
3.1) Ethernet Access Point
Performance of the access point is affected by the amount of Ethernet network
traffic that it must examine. A faster PC or a faster Ethernet adapter may be
required in situations where the Ethernet network traffic is heavy, or
computationally intensive applications run in the foreground.
3.2) Token-Ring Access Point
The performance of the Token-Ring access point is also affected by the amount
of Token-Ring traffic that it must examine. However, the Token-Ring access
point only has to examine a very small number frames from the Token-Ring. The
performance of the Token_Ring access point will mostly be affected by
computationally intensive applications running in the foreground.
3.3) Running Protocol Stacks on IR Mobiles
This section contains tips on configuring various protocol stacks to operate
on the IR mobiles. Note that the Token-Ring access point software expects
the IR mobiles to use the 802.3 frame format regardless of the protocol
stack being used. Be sure to configure all protocols to use 802.3 frames
(sometimes referred to as IEEE frames). Some protocol stacks, e.g. PC3270
for DOS, will also require you to install 802.2 protocol drivers
(e.g DXME0MOD.SYS from LSP) if they are not part of the program package.
Conversely, other protocol stacks, e.g. DOS TCP/IP, bundle their own
802.2 drivers. Be sure to read the documentation supplied with the
communication package you will be installing on the mobile PCs.
TCPIP
-----
Be sure to specify the 802.3 frame type during installation. Set the MTU
size to 1492 or smaller. For IBM TCP for OS/2, this is done through the
TCP Configuration icon. For IBM TCP for DOS, you will need to change the
MTU parameter in the \tcpdos\etc\tcpdos.ini file and the
\tcpdos\bin\tcpstart.bat file to 1492.
SNA/NETBIOS
-----------
There is no special set up required for these protocols othr than the
regular configuration for Ethernet based nodes.
Novell
------
If you plan to use the Novell protocol stack, be sure to include the
following line to the TR_MGR.INI file for all Token-Ring access points:
NOVELL = 01
Lantastic
---------
Configure the Lantastic nodes to use IEEE frames. Be sure to install 802.2
(LSP) drivers and enable IPX routing.
Windows for Workgroups (WFWG)
-----------------------------
Be aware that WFWG nodes can not communicate with each other across a
Token-Ring to Token-Ring bridge.
==========================================================================
4) LAN Support Program installation notes
In the LAN Support Program installation section of the Infrared Wireless
LAN Adapter Installation and User's Guide, you are instructed to accept
the default settings in the Environment Information panel. Please be
aware that the default settings for this panel may differ, depending on
the version of the LAN Support Program you are installing.
==========================================================================
5) Lantastic installation notes
Please note that the installation guidelines provided in the Infrared
Wireless LAN Adapter Installation and User's Guide cover the installation
procedure for Lantastic V5.0. If you are installing Lantastic V6.0 please
refer to the Artisoft documentation included in the Lantastic package.
==========================================================================
6) Windows for Workgroups configuration notes
To obtain the maximum performance and reliability in Windows for Workgroups
using the IBM Infrared Wireless LAN Adapter, we recommend you make the
following configuration changes:
1) CONFIG.SYS file - Add the following lines or modify existing ones.
FILES=128
FCBS=25
2) PROTOCOL.INI file (which is in the Windows directory) -
In the [NETBEUI] section increase the values of SESSIONS and NCBS parameters:
SESSIONS=20
NCBS=40
3) SYSTEM.INI file (which is in the Windows directory) -
Add the following lines or modify existing ones in the [386Enh] section:
NetHeapSize=64
TimerCriticalSection=6000
EMMExclude=xxxx-yyyy (Where xxxx-yyy is the shared RAM space for the adapter)
NumHCBs=64
Add the following line or modify the existing one in the [Network] section:
MaintainServerList=Yes
Also, if after making the above modifications you are experiencing any
reliability problems running Windows for Workgroups over the IBM Infrared
Wireless LAN Adapter, we suggest you obtain the latest version of the
following two files from Microsoft:
a) VNETBIOS.386
b) NDIS2SUP.386
These files can be obtained through the Microsoft Software Library, either
on CompuServe or via FTP at ftp.microsoft.com.
a) VNETBIOS.386 - stored as WG0970.EXE in the Microsoft Software Library
Run WG0970.EXE, a self-extracting archive, to obtain VNETBIOS.386
Copy VNETBIOS.386 into the "system" subdirectory of your Windows directory
In the SYSTEM.INI file (in your Windows directory) change the Network=
entry as follows:
change
Network=*vnetbios,*vwc,vnetsup.386,vredir.386,vserver.386
to
Network=vnetbios.386,*vwc,vnetsup.386,vredir.386,vserver.386
b) NDIS2SUP.386 - stored as WG0971.EXE in the Microsoft Software Library
Run WG0971.EXE, a self-extracting archive, to obtain NDIS2SUP.386
Copy NDIS2SUP.386 into the "system" subdirectory of your Windows directory
==========================================================================
7) Starting the IRUTILS.EXE Program
When starting the IRUTILS.EXE program, one of the following messages
may be printed on the screen:
"E:0001"
This error message means that there is not enough memory free to
run the IRUTILS.EXE program. It needs at least 390K of conventional
RAM free. Press any key to return to DOS.
"E:0002"
This error message means that a critical file needed for the operation
of the IRUTILS.EXE program is missing. Press any key to return to DOS.
"W:0003"
This warning message means that files necessary for the installation of
the Access Point software are missing. The installation option will
not be present. Press any key to start the IRUTILS.EXE program.
==========================================================================
* * * * * * * * *
- Acer is a trademark of Acer Inc.
- AST is a trademark of AST Research, Inc.
- CardSoft is a trademark of SystemSoft Corp.
- CardWare is a trademark of Award Software Inc.
- CompuServe is a trademark of CompuServe Incorporated
- Data General is a trademark of Data General, Inc.
- IBM, Micro Channel, PS/Note and ThinkPad are trademarks of
International Business Machines Corporation
- Intel and ExCA are trademarks of Intel Corporation
- Lantastic is a trademark of Artisoft Inc.
- NEC is a trademark of Nippon Electric Company Limited
- PCMPlus is a trademark of Phoenix Technologies, Inc.
- Toshiba is a trademark of Toshiba Corporation
- Windows for Workgroups is a trademark of Microsoft Corporation
Copyright International Business Machines, 1994.