Chapter 1
Installation

Installation

The LCS Expansion Subsystem has 12 slots providing 10 additional positions for QL Series bus-based boards, or 8- or 16-bit I/O boards. The subsystem has a 250 watt power supply and a high-capacity cooling system.

To install the LCS Expansion Subsystem (Figure 1-1), simply insert a high-speed interface board in the File Server Subsystem or any slot driven by a Cubix Bus Controller board. Insert another interface board in the Expansion Subsystem. Then connect the boards with the 100-pin cable.

The interface boards detect the system's I/O ports and memory allocations, eliminating setup software and switch toggling. This smart interface does not limit you to a specific address range.

These installation instructions assume the File Server Subsystem is the host computer, although any segment driven by a Cubix Bus Controller board could perform this function.

1. Turn OFF power to the LCS, and unplug the power cord.

2. Remove the covers from the File Server Subsystem and the Expansion Subsystem.

3. Install the A2770 high-speed interface board in slot P1 in the Expansion Subsystem. (Slot P1 is the first slot on the side opposite the power supply.) Be sure to tighten the mounting screw.

4. Install the A2760 high-speed interface board in a slot in the File Server Subsystem (Figure 1-2). Be sure to tighten the mounting screw.

5. Open the LCS rear panel.

6. Connect one end of the 100-pin cable to jack P2 on the File Server's interface board.

x. Connect the other end of the cable to jack P2 on the Expansion Subsystem's interface board (Figure 1-3).

NOTE - Caution: Do not connect the Expansion Subsystem to power until you have inserted all boards and replaced the covers on the subsystems. Never turn ON an empty Expansion Subsystem. The power supply requires a minimum of two boards plus the A2770 interface board as a load for proper operation.

8. Install other boards in the Expansion Subsystem.

9. Connect the power cord to the receptacle on the back of the Expansion Subsystem.

NOTE: To boot the network, turn ON the Expansion Subsystem simultaneously with or before powering up the host computer. To shut down the network, turn OFF the Expansion Subsystem simultaneously with or after> powering down the File Server Subsystem.

Important Notes

* Ensure proper ground continuity by firmly securing the interface boards in their Expansion Subsystem and host computer slots and installing the grounding screws on the end brackets.

* Turn ON the Expansion Subsystem simultaneously with or before turning ON the host computer.

* Turn OFF the Expansion Subsystem simultaneously with or after turning OFF the File Server Subsystem.

* Make sure that the File Server Subsystem is connected to the Expansion Subsystem to ensure the proper power-up sequence.

* Use I/O-driven peripheral device boards in the Expansion Subsystem. In addition to Cubix's QL Series boards, the Expansion Subsystem supports most I/O-driven boards or boards that have small memory buffers. Most video, mouse, COM, LPT, ARCnet, and Ethernet boards also run in the Expansion Subsystem.

Note: Cubix has successfully tested the Expansion Subsystem with 8- and 16-bit I/O boards. However, no guarantee of compatibility with boards not manufactured by Cubix Corporation is implied.

* Use 8- or 16-bit boards in the Expansion Subsystem. Both PC-bus (8-bit) and AT-bus (16-bit) boards are supported simultaneously.

* NEVER place memory boards in the Expansion Subsystem. As a rule of thumb, keep these type boards in the host computer and move I/O device boards to the Expansion Subsystem.

* NEVER turn ON an empty Expansion Subsystem. It must contain a minimum of two boards (in addition to the A2770 interface board) before power is applied.

* NEVER shut down the Expansion Subsystem while the host computer is running. This can cause the computer to fail and adversely affect the hard disk. If this occurs, power down the host computer.

* NEVER place boards that activate the zero-wait state on the bus in the Expansion Subsystem. These are typically memory and bus-master boards.

This document, and all Web contents, Copyright © 1997 by Cubix Corp., Carson City, NV, USA.