Introduction
21
1.1What Is LINKUP?
LINKUP is a support program included with the
Code Operated Matrix Switch (COMS). It works
with either the older versions of the COMS (SW540
and SW540A-R2) or the current version (SW540A-
R3).
You don’t need LINKUP to operate the COMS.
However, it can be very useful when you need to
execute a COMS command (for example, to make
or break a link between two COMS ports). It’s
especially useful when you don’t have a terminal-
emulation program to perform these functions.
LINKUP is a user-friendly, menu-driven program
with a quick-help window and an on-line user’s
manual for the COMS. The program lets you
execute every COMS command, run diagnostic
tests, or enter a dumb-terminal emulation program
(so you can communicate directly with the COMS if
you wish).
With LINKUP, you can check to see whether a
shared device is in use by someone else. If it’s free,
LINKUP will help you create a link from your
computer to the device. Once you are linked
through the COMS, you can exit from LINKUP.
Your regular application programs can now use the
shared device as if it were connected directly to
your computer—for example, you can print to a
shared printer from your word-processing program.
Figure 1 shows how the menus in LINKUP are
arranged.
1.2Hardware Requirements
LINKUP runs on the IBM
®
PC family of computers,
including the PC/XT™ and AT
®
, and on any true
IBM compatible with a disk drive capable of reading
a 360K diskette. Since it’s a text-based program, it
runs on any 80-column monitor.
1. Introduction
