Epson Equity 386SX PLUS Dimensions

EPSON

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Proper Method for Running Benchmark and Diagnostics Programs

Date: 06/04/93 PSB No: S-0158

Page(s): 1 of 1 Originator: MWT

This bulletin describes the proper method for running any benchmark or diagnostics

programs. This applies to any computer system.

In most cases, the computer should be started using an MS-DOS boot diskette

that’s ‘clean’ -

in other words, one with no CONFIG.SYS or AUTOEXEC.BAT files.

The appropriate executable can then be run, either from diskette or hard drive.

There will be some exceptions to the above rule. In attempting to benchmark or

troubleshoot any add-on that requires a device driver (CD-ROM, local area network,

etc.), obviously the necessary device driver(s) must be loaded. Also, some

programs will require a minimum number of FILES or BUFFERS to be defined in

the CONFIG.SYS file. Such programs will usually display this requirement if they

are run without the necessary CONFIG.SYS file.

For the most consistent results, use the absolute minimal boot configuration that’s

allowed by the hardware being tested.

EPSON

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Equity Series SIMM Compatibility

Date: 12/4/91

Page(s): 1 of 1

PSB No: S-0136

Originator: JAD

Due to the influx of third party SlMMs on the market, there are some that are not

compatible with Epson products. This bulletin is intended to be an aid in ensuring

that only compatible SlMMs are chosen for use in Epson’s Equity Series of

computers.

The SlMMs in question were SEIMENS, CUMULUS and KINGSTON. Installing these

SlMMs in Epson products may cause the following errors:

Parity Check 1

18FFFE 0000 202 Memory Address Error

164 System Options Not

Set

1500 E000 201” DOS RAM Address Error

It was thought that the chips used in these SlMMs were of poor quality.

Epson Portland evaluated the SlMMs in question and found that this was not true.

The problem is caused by the SIMM circuit boards (ITE and TECAP circuit boards)

used to manufacture the SIMM modules. The dimensions of these boards are not

compatible with industry standard SIMM sockets. This may result in incomplete

contact between the SIMM assembly and it’s socket. This is caused by insufficient

size of the contact surfaces in these products. Also enlarged holes in the TECAP

product allow the component pin to pass entirely through the hole without making

contact.

It is recommended that only SIMMS meeting industry standard contact surface

specifications be used in Epson Equity computer products.

Some recommended SlMMs that were tested and found Compatible are:

Toshiba

Matsushita

CDC Enterprises

Samsung

Aculogic

For more information contact Technical Support.

EPSON

Product Support Bulletin

Subject:

The Equity 386SX PLUS Diskless Workstation - lnstalling Optional

Equipment

Date: 3/7/91

PSB No: S-0134

Page(s): 1 of 3Originator: APA

WORKSTATION INSTALLATION SUMMARY

Install an 3 or 16-bit network interface card (NIC) with a auto-boot ROM in an

option slot.

Load the remote workstation boot files onto the file server. Typically, this is

done at another attached workstation, using a floppy drive to load the

necessary boot files. Instructions for this procedure can be found in the

section of your network documentation that addresses this type of installation.

Attach the diskless workstation NIC to the network using the appropriate

cable.

When the workstation is booting, and a local hard drive with a bootable

partition is present, the system will ask if you want to boot from the network. If

“N” is selected, the local hard drive will be used to boot. If ‘Y’ is selected, the

system will look for a file server. If no file server can be found, it will display

an “Error finding server” message, and will make additional attempts every few

seconds until a server is found.

FLOPPY DRIVE INSTALLATION

Floppy disk drives are inserted into the drive bays, without FDD guide rails,

using four screws to secure each drive.

Two floppy drive cables are included. A read/write cable (standard seven wire

twist) and a read-only cable (identified by heat shrink tubing located near the

connector that connects to the main board).

Install the standard diskette drive cable, if you want the system to be able to

both read and write data to a diskette inserted in the drive.

PSB No: S-0134

Page: 2 of 3

FLOPPY DRIVE INSTALLATION (continued)

Use the write-protected cable if you do not want users to be able to write data

to any diskette inserted in the drive. This cable prevents users from copying

data from the network server (or any other drive they can access) onto a

diskette in either the A or B drive. If an attempt is made to write to a floppy

diskette, a ‘Write protect error” will occur. However, data can still be read

from a diskette and copied to a local hard drive or other network drive.

HARD DRIVE INSTALLATION

One IDE drive cable, with two drive connectors, is supplied with the system.

Only standard drive types 0-63 can be specified in the ROM setup program

(refer to drive table on pages 2-24 & 2-25 of the user’s manual). The drive

types are identical with the standard Equity 386SX Plus).

If the standard Equity 386SX PLUS SETUP program is used to specify a user-

defined drive type (or modify other settings), the “Diskette boot control” option

will be disabled upon exiting and updating..

If the ROM setup program is used to re-enable the boot control, the standard

drive type specified by the ROM SETUP program will also be saved, thus

overriding the user-defined settings.

The ROM SETUP program allows an incorrect drive type (for example: 37) to

be set and saved. Therefore, care must be taken to use a correct drive type.

The following is a list of some common IDE drives and the drive types that

should be used:

MODEL DRIVE SIZE TOTAL BYTES

TYPE

(to nearest MB)

(per CHKDSK)

Conner CP-344

41 MB

42,496,000

Conner CP-3104

100 MB 104,515,584

Seagate ST-157A-1 14

42 MB

4u=,=

Seagate ST-1201A

or Imprimis/CDC 54 153 MB

160,055,296

94354-200

PSB No: S-0134

Page: 3 of 3

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

If you desire access to the local hard drive while using the network, ensure

that the DOS downloaded from the file server can support the local hard drive

partition(s). For example, if a large 4.01 MS-DOS primary partition (>32MB) is

present on the local hard drive, and 3.30 DOS is used to boot from the file

server, the local hard drive will be inaccessible. (An error similar to “Invalid

drive specification” will occur when attempting to access the drive).

The DOS versions used should also be matched to allow the use of version-

dependent DOS utilities from the local hard drive.

EPSON AMERICA, INC.

EPSON

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Introducing the Equity 386SX PLUS Diskless Workstation

Date: 8/7/91

Page(s): 1 of 4

PSB No: S-0133

Originator: APA

INTRODUCTION

This system has been designed to be a diskless workstation node on a local area

network. There are no disk drives supplied with this model. Cables are included to

install floppy drives and/or hard drives as the need arises. Standard procedures for

installing a diskless workstation are used and can be found in your network

installation documentation.

The user’s manual is the same as the one supplied with the standard Equity 386SX

PLUS, and contains a user’s guide update “slip-sheer that describes the

differences between the standard and the diskless models.

Differences between the standard model and the diskless model are summarized

as follows:

Does not include disk drives, DOS, video drivers or other software.

Includes drive cables for installing optional drives.

Setup utility is modified and is contained in ROM. New options include

extended memory and boot control.

User or Administrator mode is set by jumper J1 on the main board. The

control of this mode along with the system key lock protect the system

configuration resulting in added security.

Only supplied in a 1 MB configuration. Use instructions in the user’s

manual that pertain to the 1 MB model only.

IDENTIFICATION

Both the standard and diskless models have the same logo plate on the front of the

CPU; “Equity 386SX PLUS”. The “CODE" number can be used to identify the

diskless model, and is located on or near the serial number label attached to back

of the CPU:

CODE: A038590

PSB No: S-0133

Page: 2 of 4

ITEMS INCLUDED

Equity 386SX PLUS CPU with 1MB (soldered), power cord.

101 key enhanced keyboard (6-pin mini DIN).

User’s manual, slip-sheet and warranty card.

One key, used for locking the top cover of the CPU.

Three drive cables:

Read/write floppy cable.

Read-only floppy cable, identified by heat shrink tubing located near the

connector that connects to the main board.

IDE Hard drive cable with connectors for two drives.

SETUP NOTES

Setup is only available on boot-up (RESET or warm boot), and only when in

‘Administrator” mode (jumper J1 is set to “B”). When the computer completes

its power-on diagnostics, two beeps will occur (this is not a SETUP error) and

the following prompt will appear:

Press F10 to run Setup

After 5 to 8 seconds if F10 is not pressed, the computer will continue to boot.

If F10 is pressed, the Setup screen will appear. Press the F7 key twice to save

and reboot. Refer to page 3 of this document for a listing of the setup options.

If in “User” mode (J1 set to “A”), one beep will occur, no F10 option will

appear, and the system will continue booting.

Differences in Setup between the standard Equity 386SX PLUS and the

diskless version include the following:

Extended memory size can be specified (in 128K increments).

Diskette boot control. Choose “Disabled” to use the system as a

dedicated workstation network node. Choose “Enabled” if a diskette

drive is installed and you want to be able to boot the system from that

drive.

After Setup is run you may want to change jumper J1 to position A and lock

the computer cover with the key lock. This changes the operating mode to

user mode and protects the computer’s configuration.

PSB No: S-0133

Page: 3 of 4

SPECIFICATIONS

ROM-resident SETUP Utility

Permanent parameters:

Base memory

Coprocessor 640 KB

Not installed

User-defined parameters:

lime

Date

Power-on password

14:59:19

07-26-91

Not set (If desired, enter password here)

Diskette drive B

Diskette boot control

Speaker

Initial num lock

Keyboard repeat rate

Network server mode

Serial

Parallel

User-selectable parameters:

Hard disk type of drive 1

Hard disk type of drive 2

Extended memory

Display type

Processor speed

Diskette drive A

00 (Select 0-63)

384KB (Selectable in 128K increments)

EGA, MCGA, VGA, or other

CGA - 49 columns

Monochrome

High/Auto/Low

No drive installed or disabled

5 1/4” 360 KB diskette drive

5 1/4” 1.2 MB diskette drive

3 1/2” 729 KB diskette drive

3 1/2" 1.44 MB diskette drive

Same options as above

Enabled/Disabled

On/Off

Normal/Fast/Slow

Disabled (needs power-on

Enable password to enable)

Primary/Secondary/Disabled

PSB No: S-0133

Page: 4 of 4

COMPATIBILITY WITH NIC CARDS

System configuration:

BIOS: CTRTD-1, CTRT-2 (version 1.57)

DOS: MS-DOS 3.30

Video: built-in

The following cards have been tested successfully with the system used as a

workstation:

MANUFACTURER/CARD NOVELL NETWORK CARD SETTINGS

VERSION

Standard Microsystems Corp. 3.11

ARCNET PC110

8 bit, with Novell boot

S1: 2,3 off

S2: 2,6 & 9 on

JP3 on, JP1 & JP2 off

ROM (driver v2.11)

#881012 (IRQ2, I/O 2E0,

RAM D000:0)

Novell Inc.

Ethernet NE-1000A 8 bit

2.2

W1-W8: 2-3 (thin cable)

W9, W10 jumpered (l/O

300)/no boot ROM (IRQ3,

l/O 300, no DMA/RAM)

EPSON

Product Support Bulletin

Subject: Equity 386SX PLUS Questions and Answers

Date: 4/3/91

Page(s): 1 of 9

PSB No:

S-0131

Originator: DS/MT

GENERAL:

Q1.

What microprocessor does the Equity 386SX PLUS use?

The Equity 386SX PLUS utilizes the Intel 80386SX-16 microprocessor. Use of

this CPU gives you 386 performance and compatibility in a 16-bit based

computer architecture.

Q2.

At what speed does the Equity 386SX PLUS operate?

The Equity 386SX PLUS operates at either 16MHz or 8MHz. The speed can

be set by using the following keyboard commands:

CTRL ALT + = 16 MHz (High Speed)

CTRL ALT -

= 8 MHz (Low Speed)

CTRL ALT * =Automatic speed mode set (This is when the floppy

disk drive is accessed.)

There is also an

ESPEED

utility that can be run at the command prompt as

follows:

ESPEED /H = Switch to high speed.

ESPEED /L = Switch to low speed.

ESPEED /A = Enables Automatic speed switching.

lf you run

ESPEED

with no parameters the following message is displayed:

Epson Speed control utility Version X.XX

Usage: ESPEED [/H] [/L] [/A]

/H =

set

high speed (no auto speed)

/L = set low speed (no auto speed)

/A = set auto speed

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