Black Box PI750A, Manual

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CHAPTER 3: Hardware Installation
3.3 Copying the Software Diskettes
Before proceeding with the software installation, we recommended that you
make a backup copy of the included software diskettes. Install from the
backup copies and store the originals.
Under DOS, you can use the DISKCOPY or COPY commands to make the
backup diskettes. Under Windows, you can use the Windows File Manager (in
the Main program group) to make the copies: From the File Manager’s Disk
menu, choose “Copy Disk,” then follow the instructions on the screen. If
necessary, refer to your DOS or Windows manual for instructions.
3.4 Installing the Hardware
Make sure to turn off and unplug the Multiport Spooler VIII, as well as the
PCs and peripherals you want to attach to it, before you install the MPS-VIII.
Refer to the included Easy Installation Guide for specific information about
port connections in the default setup of your unit. The guide shows that every
fourth port (4, 8, 12) is an output port. Use appropriate cables (see
Appendix
A ) to connect printers, plotters, or other peripherals that receive data to these
output ports. By default, the other ports are input ports (or bidirectional, if
your MPS-VIII model has serial ports). Use appropriate cables (see
Appendix
A
) to connect the computers, which mainly send data, to these input ports.
Do not plug in or turn on any of the peripherals or PCs you connect until
after you have configured the MPS-VIII.
It is important to make sure that you connect parallel ports on peripherals and
PCs to
parallel
ports on the MPS-VIII, and
serial
ports on peripherals and PCs to
serial ports on the MPS-VIII. The MPS-VIII’s parallel ports are DB25 female
connectors and its serial ports are DB25 male connectors, as shown below.
Keep in mind that the MPS-VIII’s serial ports are bidirectional, and can be
used as either input or output ports without your having to specially configure
the MPS-VIII.
DB25 Male Serial Ports DB25 Female Parallel Ports