Using Serial Port Manager

When to Use Serial Port Manager

Use Serial Port Manager to configure serial port software for use with terminals or modems. You can use Serial Port Manager to configure one or more ports on a local or remote system.

With Serial Port Manager, you can

• Add a service
• Modify a service
• Initialize a port without configuring the service
• Disable a service
• Delete a service

Requirements for Using Serial Port Manager

The requirements for using Serial Port Manager are:

• A bit-mapped display monitor
• Ability to use the OpenWindows environment
• Access privileges as described in Chapter 1, "Administration Tool Overview"

Alternatives to Using Serial Port Manager

When you configure a serial port for use with a modem or terminal, you have a choice between two tools:

• Service Access Facility--a collection of background processes and administrative commands used from the command line to configure and administer port services and monitors.
• Serial Port Manager--an Administration Tool application that provides a graphical user interface and the functionality of the Service Access Facility's pmadm command, a port monitor administration tool.

For more information about the Service Access Facility and when to use the Service Access Facility or Serial Port Manager, see Peripherals Administration.

Where to Find Specific Task Information

This table contains references for Serial Port Manager tasks.

Table 11-1

Task	Location
How to Start Serial Port Manager	page 63
How to Add a Terminal	page 64
How to Add a Modem	page 66
Initializing a Port Without Configuring	page 69
How to Disable a Port	page 71
How to Delete a Port Service	page 72

Window, Menu, and Command Descriptions

Serial Port Manager Main Window

The Serial Port Manager main window lists the existing services that have been configured on your system. It also contains menu buttons that help you modify or delete a service.

The main window contains the Edit, Goto, and Help menus.

Edit Menu Commands

The Serial Port Manager Edit menu commands are described in Table 11-2.

Table 11-2

Command	Use This Command To ...
Modify Service	Modify a service
Delete Service	Delete a service

Goto Command

The Goto command enables you to manage serial port information on another system. To configure the port services on another system, you need administrative privileges for that system. See Chapter 2, "Name Service Management," for more information on Administration Tool security.

Help Menu Commands

Use the Help menu command to access an online handbook that describes the functions of and requirements for the Serial Port Manager application. See "Using the Help Viewer" on page 9 for more information.

Serial Port Manager Edit Menu

Modify Service Window

When configuring port information, choose Modify Service from the Edit menu to bring up the Modify Service window.

The descriptions of each item in the Modify window are listed in Table 11-3.

Table 11-3

Detail	Item Name	Menu Type	Description
Basic	Port	Menu	Lists the port or ports you selected from Serial Port Manager's main window.
	Service	Field	Specifies that the service for the specified port is turned on (enabled).
	Baud Rate	Menu	Specifies the line speed used to communicate with the terminal. The line speed represents an entry in /etc/ttydefs.
	Terminal Type	Field	Shows the terminal type abbreviation, for example, wyse50, ansi, or vt100. Similar abbreviations are found in /etc/termcap. This value is set in the $TERM variable.
More	Option: Initialize Only	Menu option	Specifies that the port software is initialized but not configured.
	Option: Bidirectional	Menu option	Specifies that the port line is used in both directions.
	Option: Software Carrier	Menu option	Specifies that the software carrier detection feature is used. If the option is not checked, the hardware carrier detection signal is used.
	Login Prompt	Field	Shows the prompt displayed after a connection is made.
	Comment	Field	Shows a text description of the service, if any.
	Service Tag	Current setting	Lists the service tag associated with this port--typically an entry in the /dev/term directory.
	Port Monitor Tag	Menu	Specifies the name of the port monitor to be used for this port. Note: The default monitor is typically correct.
Expert	Create utmp Entry	Check box	Specifies that a utmp entry is created in the accounting files upon login. Note: This item must be checked if a login service is used. See the Service item.
	Connect on Carrier	Check box	Specifies that a port's associated service is invoked immediately when a connect indication is received.
	Service	Field	Shows the program that is run upon connection.
	Streams Modules	Field	Shows the STREAMS modules that are pushed before the service is started.
	Timeout (secs)	Menu	Specifies the number of seconds before a port is closed if the open process on the port succeeds and no input data is received.

Template Menu The template menu provides a list of templates that help you quickly set up a port service. Table 11-4 describes the template menu.

Table 11-4

Template	Is Used To ...
Terminal -- Hardwire	Connect an ASCII terminal
Modem -- Dial In Only	Connect a modem with dial-in service, allowing users to dial in to the modem but not dial out
Modem -- Dial Out Only	Connect a modem with dial-out service, allowing users to dial out from the modem but not dial in
Modem -- Bidirectional	Connect a modem with bidirectional service, providing users with both dial-in and dial-out capabilities
Initialize Only -- No Connection	Initialize the port only; does not provide connection service

Choose the template that most closely matches the port configuration you want. You can then change values in the Modify window to meet your needs.

Baud Rate Menu The baud rate menu provides a list of common baud rates. These entries are also listed in the /etc/ttydefs file.

38400 19200 9600 2400 1200 300 auto Other

To specify a baud rate not listed, choose Other. The Baud Rate window is displayed.

To specify a valid baud rate, enter a value from the /etc/ttydefs file and click on Apply.

Port Monitor Tag Menu The port monitor tag menu lists the default tag--zsmon--and Other. To specify a tag other than zsmon, choose Other. The Port Monitor Tag window is displayed.

Timeout Menu The timeout menu provides a list of common timeout parameters. If no input data is received within the timeout parameter, the port will be closed.

Never

30

60

120

Delete Service Window

To delete a service on a configured port, select the port that has a service you want to delete. Choose Delete Service from the Edit menu. The following window is displayed asking you to confirm the deletion:

Files Modified by Serial Port Manager

Table 11-5 describes the files that are modified by Serial Port Manager.

Table 11-5

System File	Description
/etc/saf/_sactab	The Service Access Facility's administrative file that contains configuration data for the port monitors it controls
/etc/saf/pmtag/ _pmtab	The port monitor's administrative file that contains port monitor-specific configuration data for the services it provides
/var/saf/pmtag/ log	The port monitor's log file logging service states: successful initialization, failure, enabled, or disabled