MAC - SciNet (PTOP)
Software Installation & Configuration

• Installing the Software
• Dynamic configuration
• Static Configuration
• Installation Troubleshooting

Installing the Software

Follow this procedure to install the SciNet/LAN software:

1. Switch on your Macintosh computer.
2. Verify that the LANC/Mac board is connected to the network.
3. Insert SciNet/LAN Installer disk 1 in the floppy disk drive.
   The Finder displays the following window:
4. Double click the SciNet/LAN script icon,
   The installer displays a welcome message.
5. Click Continue to begin installation.
   NOTE: If the hard disk named is not the one on which you wish to install the SciNet/LAN software, click Switch Disk. Each time you click this button, the hard disk name changes.
   The Installer displays the Easy Install window.
6. Click Install.
7. If there are any open applications, let the Installer quit them.
   If you have any other open applications, the Installer displays this dialog to ask you if you want to quit them:
   Click Continue. The Installer automatically quits all the open applications.
8. Follow any on-screen instructions.
   The Installer starts to install all the software you need for SciNet/LAN and displays its progress with the following dialog:
   When the Installer asks you to insert a disk, insert it.
   To stop the installation at any point, click the Cancel button. The installer leaves your disk untouched.
   When the installation is complete, the Installer displays the following dialog:
   
9. Click Restart.
   The installer restarts your Macintosh. After the restart, the SciNet LAN software may display this dialog:
   
   Next, configure your Macintosh computer to be a station on the SciNet/LAN.

What Files are Installed

The table below describes where the Installer places the SciNet/LAN software. Note that the Control Panels, Extensions, and SciNet Files are folders within the System folder, and that Diagnostic is a folder within the SciNet Files folder.

Dynamic configuration

Whisper, PS/2, MAC stations on the Scinet will be automatically recognised by your ScinetSpanPro & Profile applications.

After installing the Scinet Boards and ScinetLan 1.3 for Nubus or ScinetLan 2.0 for PCI, Your MAC will automatically recognise the stations on the network and manage a dynamic list of Scinet stations. The dynamic configuration will be active only after Scinet Configuration control panel has been configured.

Scinet Configuration control panel

1. Enter the MAC station name in the station identity field
2. Enter the Subnet name in the Subnet Definition field
3. Press on the Start button to start file sharing for the Mac.

Static Configuration

Ripro Server, Brisque will be configured and recognised by ScinetSpanPro & Profile applications.

After Scinet Configuration control panel is configured and you gain access to the Scinet network, you might want to configure a Ripro Server or Brisque for your Mac to access.

The Ripro Server And the Brisque should be configured as static stations since no publishing of the station identity is done by them and a constant list should be maintained for this stations.


Scinet Station Control Panel

Active SubNet is automatically received by Scinet Station Control Panel from the Scinet Configuration Control Panel.

1. In the Station Name field type the remote station name.
2. In the TYPE field select type from drop down list.

Recommendation - configure only Ripro or Brisque as static in this Control Panel!

Installation Troubleshooting

PROBLEM

After restarting my Mac, I see the following message:

"SciNet: Subnet [subnet name]. This subnet cannot be used because no Ethernet connection was found. Please check that the board is connected to the network."

SOLUTION

• Make sure that the LANC board is properly installed in your Mac.
• Make sure that the Ethernet cable is properly connected to the LANC board.
• Make sure that the Ethernet cable is in good working condition.
• Run the LANC diagnostic application to verify that the LANC board is functioning properly.
• Reinstall the SciNet Installer, as there may be a defective Ethernet driver in the system.

PROBLEM

I cannot see any subnet name in the SciNet applications.

SOLUTION

• Verifv that the subnet name is configured properly in the SciNet Configuration control panel.
• If you are using an INIT manager--such as Startup Manager or INITPicker--make sure that all the files that the SdNet Installer installs on your Mac (see SciNet Files) are in the appropriate folders.

PROBLEM

I cannot see any stations in the SciNet applications, and SciNet-Look.

SOLUTION

• Make sure the other SciNet stations are switched on, and that the proper application is running on each station.
• Restart your Macintosh.
• Make sure your Macintosh is physically connected to the other SciNet stations (Whisper, PS/2* and other Macintosh computers).
• Make sure that the logical subnet name on all the SciNet stations is the same. Note
• Make sure you are not connected to your other SciNet stations through a router.

NOTE: The SciNet stations can be connected through hubs, switching hubs, bridges, repeaters, etc., but not through routers.

PROBLEM

I can see some SciNet stations, but can't see a specific one.

SOLUTION

• Make sure that the remote SciNet station is switched on, and that it is running the correct application.
• Check the configuration on the remote SciNet station.
• Make sure that your Mac and the remote SciNet station are not connected through a router.
• Check the cable which is connected to the remote SciNet station. Do this by trying to connect the remote SciNet station to another SciNet station, preferably one that your Mac is connected to.

IMPORTANT: Make sure that the logical subnet name is the same, both on your Mac and on the remote SciNet station.

PROBLEM

I cannot establish a connection from the PS/2* to the Macintosh to set an APR path.

SOLUTION

• On the Macintosh, open the SciNet Configuration control panel, and make sure that SciNet Sharing is On
• Make sure your logical subnet name is the same on the PS/2* and the Macintosh.
• Make sure that the Macintosh station name that you configured on the PS/2* (through sciutil) is the same name you gave to that Macintosh through the SciNet Configuration control panel on the Macintosh.
• Make sure your rS/2* is physically connected to the Macintosh, and not through a router.

PROBLEM

My Macintosh hangs when I work with the SciNet applications.

SOLUTION

• Restart your Macintosh. Open the Memory control panel and make sure that Virtual Memory is Off and that 32-bit addressing is On.

PROBLEM

I can see and connect all my SciNet stations, but I'm getting a very poor data transfer performance.

SOLUTION

• Close all open control panels, as well as any CPU time-consuming application.
• The load of the remote SciNet station--disk activities and CPU time--may affect the performance of data transfer.
• If you are using one segment of an Ethernet line (rather than a switching hub configuration), simultaneous data transfer on the same segment may significantly affect the performance.
• Defective hardware--bad cables, faulty hub repeaters, loose cable connections--even though you may be able to connect between the stations, can affect the data transfer rates.
• Disk access speed--use a disk utility package to check your hard disk access speed. A slow or very fragmented hard disk may cause poor file transfer performance.

NOTE: The SciNet applications are very friendly; for example , they can run in the background and can simultaneously copy more than one file using several SciNet applications. Because of this, any non-friendly open application may affect data transfer performance. For instance, any open control panel may cause the Finder to grasp a considerable amount of CPU time.

PROBLEM

SciNet/LAN crashes or Macintosh freezes. SciNet Span and Profile cannot run on a Macintosh with system labeled with a Z.. (for example, System Z-7.1).

SOLUTION

• Install a regular release of System 7.1 or 7.5.

PROBLEM

Quadra 840AV with regular System 7.1 crashes after SciNet/LAN installation. There is a bug in Apple 'System Enabler 088' file.

SOLUTION

• Replace 'System Enabler 088' file to a more recent enabler. You can get it from Apple with 'System Update 3.0.'

PROBLEM

SciNet/LAN stops working after loading System 7.5. SciNet Configuration control panel was moved from the Control Panels folder.

SOLUTION

• Re-install SciNet/LAN.