Boy That's Small, But That's Not All

Boy That's Small...But That's Not All Patton's unique design capabilities helped to deliver a server that is Fast, Flexible and Small

It's just been a week since Patton Electronics. announced the new MiniSERV (Model 2125) print server. Most of you were caught by surprise, and the reaction from our customers is the same around the world: "How did you make it so small". Some of you also wanted to know a little more about the EPROM and other miscellaneous issues about the server design.

Hardware Issues
First of all, the MiniSERV employs fine pitch Surface Mount Technology to pack processing power in a connector sized enclosure. Distance between IC pins is as small as 20 mil (0.020 inch). The hardware design incorporates the same type of components that are used in PCMCIA production. For example, the 10Base-T filter on the twisted pair side is in a tiny PCMCIA package. In addition, a Programmable Array Logic (PAL) is used to consolidate five chips worth of glue logic into one tiny IC. MiniSERV's logic circuits run at a fleet 32 Mhz to coordinate activity between the Ethernet IC and the decision making microprocessor. MiniSERV was also designed so that emissions are minimized without resorting to metalized cases or other types of expensive shielding. Unlike some other print servers, the 10Base-T RJ45 port is shielded so that Mini SERV can be used on 10Base-T networks that are wired via Shielded or Unshielded Twisted Pair.

Memory's No Problem
MiniSERV has two types of memory: (1) 128kB Flash EPROM: This memory is used to store the unit's operating code and configuration data. If it becomes necessary to upgrade the unit's operating system (i.e., if support for new protocols is added) this upgrade may be easily achieved by transmitting the new operating system to the unit over the network. Once transmission is complete, this new code is permanently stored in the MiniSERV's FLASH memory. Novell users accomplish the upgrade using the PESETUP.EXE configuration utility which is supplied with the unit. TCP/IP users upgrade via FTP (2) 512kB PSRAM: This memory holds the print file before transferring it to the printer. PSRAM looks like easy to use static RAM, but is actually Dynamic RAM logic. DRAM can hold more memory than static RAM because it requires fewer transistors to contain one memory bit, increasing memory density.

OK. Great. Now, What Does The Software Do?
TCP/IP uses the idea of "sockets" as the method for transmitting data over the network. The MiniSERV listens for connection attempts on a number of predefined socket numbers (i.e. for lpr, ftp or Telnet). When the MiniSERV receives a request, it knows that a file server is attempting a connection. The socket is then used between the MiniSERV and the file server for sending and receiving network packets. After the required communication is complete, both ends will "unplug" their sockets and then begin listening again for future connection attempts.

Novell operation is slightly more abstract as the MiniSERV code is able to use the Novell libraries to service print queues. After power up, The MiniSERV sends login requests with its Print Server I.D. to any Novell File Servers present on the network. After the login request is accepted by the fileserver, the MiniSERV does an on-line scan through the library on this server looking for all serviceable print queues. When print queues are found, the MiniSERV attaches to them, reads the print job into its 512kb memory, strips off the addresses, and forwards the raw data to the parallel printer.

The MiniSERV offers a few extra facilities that are not normally found on a Novell print server. For example, it can specify which file servers should be logged onto rather than simply logging on to as many as it can find; it has the ability to continuously search the network for new file servers and log onto these as they become active; and it also has the ability to automatically log back on to file servers that have been temporarily removed from the network.The MiniSERV also supports the full range of Novell notify and error reporting options.

Because the MiniSERV offers both Novell and TCP/IP support, it must be able to inform the user if the Print Server is currently in use by a different protocol. If the unit is processing a TCP/IP print from either ftp or lpr and the user attempts to send a Novell print, then the Novell File Server will actually take care of this problem for us. The MiniSERV simply does respond to the print queue and hence the print job simply remains queued at the file server until the TCP/IP task is complete. If the unit is currently printing from Novell and the user attempts to print via lpr or ftp to it, the MiniSERV responds with negatively to the user, preventing file transfer until the Novell print job is complete. Telnet and Ping may be used anytime regardless of what printing, if any, is currently in progress.

What's Next?
Future enhancements to the MiniSERV will include support for additional protocols and HP Bitronics parallel interface. In the weeks ahead, expect a 10Base-T Print Server as well as a slew of other new networking products from Patton Electronics.

For those of you who are more inquisitive, now you know how Patton's engineer's provided the MiniSERV with the smarts to accomplish such a big tasks in such a little package.

This week we are running two special offers for our print server. These offers will let you try or buy units before the rush. We trust that you will take advantage of one of these offers. If you have further questions about this product or if you would like more information, please call our Sales Department.