Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product SW178A Black Box
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SEPTEMBER 1998 SW178A SW179A Compact Bidir ectional Dual Bus Autoswitches 2 to 2 4 to 2 CUSTOMER SUPPORT INFORMATION Order toll-free in the U.S. 24 hours, 7 A.
1 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES TRADEMARKS USED IN THIS MANUAL Centronics is a registered trademark of GENICOM Corporation. DeskJet is a registered trademark of Hewlett-Packard. Zip is a registered trademark of Iomega Corporation. Windows NT is a trademark, and Windows is a registered trademark, of Microsoft Corporation.
2 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION AND INDUSTRY CANADA RADIO FREQUENCY INTERFERENCE STATEMENTS This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio freque.
3 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES NORMAS OFICIALES MEXICANAS (NOM) ELECTRICAL SAFETY STATEMENT INSTRUCCIONES DE SEGURIDAD 1. Todas las instrucciones de seguridad y operación deberán ser leídas antes de que el aparato eléctrico sea operado.
4 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 10. El equipo eléctrico deber ser situado fuera del alcance de fuentes de calor como radiadores, registros de calor, estufas u otros aparatos (incluyendo amplificadores) que producen calor .
5 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 1. Specifications SW178A SW179A Autoswitch Device Output Ports 2 2 Autoswitch Computer Input Ports 2 4 Cable Type Required Computer to Autoswitch DB25 M/M.
6 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 2. Intr oduction 2.1 Description The IEEE 1284 standard interface is found on most printers today. It enables bidirectional communication between the PC and the printer, allowing the printer to send information back to the host PC using its built-in microprocessor.
7 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 2.2 Function Descriptions 2.2.1 A UTO -L INK M ODE When powering the Autoswitch, you will see the LEDs of the Computer Input Port circularly scanned from LED A to D. The Printer Output Port LEDs will remain lit.
8 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES you want to set up. You can press the Printer button several times to cycle through the three level of available choices (PA, PB, or File Transfer).
9 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES two PCs send their jobs to the same output port, the first-come, first-serve rule will follow. 2.3.1 A N E XAMPLE OF S IMULTANEOUS O PERATION WITH THE SW178A NOTE PA is the print device on port PA. PB is the print device on port PB.
10 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 3. Quic k Star t Listed below are four easy steps to set up your Autoswitch. 1. Be sure to turn off the power to your computers and printers. 2. Using an IEEE 1284 straight-through DB25 M/M cable, connect your computers to the Autoswitch.
11 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 4. P eripheral-Sharing and File- T ransfer Setup DEVICE PA A Compact Bidirectional Dual Bus Autoswitch DEVICE PB BC PA PB DEVICE COMPUTER A D B C D DEVIC.
12 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 4.1 Auto-Link Mode The Autoswitch will constantly scan its input ports and send the job to the selected attached parallel device. The cycle goes from Port A, B, C, D, then A again. 4.2 Manual Mode The Autoswitch has a Select button for manual port selection (Device or Computer).
13 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES • One of the computers has been running parallel- device software that locks the port all the time. If you have any of these problems, try resetting the Autoswitch to default mode: 1. Turn off the Autoswitch.
14 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 4.4 Device Out Ports LED Indicator PA & PB LED Remain Lit Auto-Link Mode PA & PB LED are Lit OFF File Transfer Mode 4.
15 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 5. T r oubleshooting 1. Check all the cables. Use IEEE 1284 rated cables. 2. Check the computer BIOS. Make sure that the BIOS parallel setup is set to EPP or EPP/SPP mode for faster data transfer and bidirectional communication.
16 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES timeout to a higher value. This is because as the computer processes complex files, it will pause more often. If the pause is longer than the time out window, the Autoswitch will assume that the transmission is over and prematurely finish the job.
17 COMPACT BIDIRECTIONAL DUAL BUS AUTOSWITCHES 5.2 Shipping and Packaging If you need to transport or ship your Autoswitch: • Package it carefully. We recommend that you use the original container. • If you are shipping the Autoswitch for repair, make sure you include everything that came in the original package.
1000 Park Drive • Lawrence, PA 15055-1018 • 724-746-5500 • Fax 724-746-0746 © Copyright 1999. Black Box Corporation. All rights reserved..
An important point after buying a device Black Box SW178A (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Black Box SW178A yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Black Box SW178A - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Black Box SW178A you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Black Box SW178A will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Black Box SW178A, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Black Box SW178A.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Black Box SW178A. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Black Box SW178A along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
