Chapter 3: Hardware Reference
The Battery
The adapter is fitted with a backup battery, which maintains cryptographic keys and the correct time when the
host computer is shut down, or when the adapter is otherwise disconnected from a power source.
The battery has an expected lifetime of ten years. It should not require replacement within the normal lifetime
of the adapter.
Testing the battery
You can use the utilities provided with the adapter to query the state of the battery. In SafeNet ProtectToolkit-C,
use
ctcheck -b batterystatus
to return a state of
Good
/
Low
. See the
Administration Guide
for your SafeNet
ProtectToolkit software for more information.
The RealTime Clock and memory retain their data as long as the adapter is in a powered system. The RTC
performs a daily battery check. If it detects a low-battery warning, the battery may need to be replaced. If the
adapter has been de-powered or removed from its system, the data in its memory is suspect. If the adapter has
been continuously powered, then the data in memory can be trusted and you can make a backup before
replacing the battery.
Port Specifications
The USB-to-serial cable provides an RS232 port with pin outs as shown in
"Adapter serial connector" below
.
This port can be used for connecting a smart card reader or another serial device.
Figure 6: Adapter serial connector
SafeNet ProtectToolkit 5.4 Installation Guide
007-013682-002 Rev. A 08 January 2020 Copyright 2009-2020 Gemalto
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