1 Introduction.

     The host program is an unsupported routine used for serial link testing
     within SSD. It is not necessarily robust enough to be given to customers.
     Any bugs found should be reported to Alan Craven at SSD UK who may find
     time to repair them.

     It allows serial communication between an IBM PC or compatible and the 570
     range of products in ASCII format only. The protocol supported is the EI
     bisynch ASCII protocol as described in the EI bisynch communications
     handbook. It uses COM1 and the default settings are 9600 baud, even
     parity, 7 data bits and 1 stop bit.

     The host program has a set of commands that are recognised as described
     below.

     NOTE.  The HOST program is case sensitive.

2 Commands.

   2.1 BAUD

        Allows selection of the baud rate of the serial link. The following
        baud rates are supported :-
        110,300,600,1200,2400,4800,9600.

        Example.
        Host>BAUD
        Input required baud rate >2400
        Host>

        This will set the baud rate to 2400.

   2.2 FAST

        Allows a sequence of commands to be sent to a single drive and after
        the first message all subsequent messages will not be prefixed by the
        GID and UID of the unit. It is identical in use to the SEQ command
        except that the # command cannot be used.

   2.3 HELP

        This command dispays two help screens.

   2.4 LIST

        This allows a file to be opened into which all serial messages are
        recorded in a printable format.

        Example.
        Host>LIST
        Input filename>FILENAME.TXT
        Host>

        This will then record all future serial messages into the file
        FILENAME.TXT.

   2.5 LOAD

        This allows a sequence of commands to be loaded into memory for
        execution by the FAST or SEQ commands.

        Example.
        Host>LOAD
        Input filename >COMMS.DAT
        Host>

        This will load a sequence of commands from the file COMMS.DAT into
        memory.

   2.6 NOLIST

        This closes the file opened by the LIST command.

   2.7 REP

        This allows a single command to be repeated a number of times.

        Example.
        Host>REP
        rephost>SS50.0
        rephost - input repeat number >100
        Host>

        This causes the command SS50.0 to be sent 100 times to the current
        unit. The repeat number can be any number up to and including 999999.

   2.8 SAVE

        This is the oposite of load and saves a sequence of commands from
        memory into a specified file.

        Example.
        Host>SAVE
        Input filename >COMMS.DAT
        Host>

        This saves the current command sequence into the file COMMS.DAT.

   2.9 SEQ

        This is the command that allows a sequence of commands to be operated a
        number of times.

        Example.
        Host>SEQ
        Is sequence loaded ? [y/n]>N
        input sequence >SS50.0
        input sequence >WAIT 4
        input sequence >SS0.0
        input sequence >WAIT 4
        input sequence >END
        seqhost - input repeat number >10
        Host>

        This will cause the sequence of four commands to be repeated 10 times.
        The sequence of commands is now loaded into memory and may be
        re-executed by using the SEQ command and answering Y to the first
        question or they may be saved using the SAVE command. This command can
        be used to execute a sequence loaded into memory using the LOAD
        command.


   2.10 SYS

        This allows a dos command to be executed without leaving the host
        program.

        Example.
        Host>SYS
        Input command >dir
        Host>

        This will display a listing of the current directory.

   2.11 WAIT

        This is a command that simply pauses for a number of seconds. It is
        useful in sequences to allow time for a command to finish.

        Example.
        Host>WAIT 10
        Host>

        This will wait for 10 seconds and then continue. The maximum time
        allowed is 999999 seconds.


   2.12 #

        This repeats the last serial message sent to the current unit.

   2.13 *

        This changes the address of the current unit.

        Example.
        Host>*27
        Host>

        This changes the current unit address to 27.


   2.14 Setting parameter values.

        To set the SS parameter to 25.9 use the following command.

        Host>SS25.9
        Host>


   2.15 Enquire parameter value.

        To find out what parameter SS is set to.

        Host>?SS
        SS25.9
        Host>


   2.16 ACK

        This command sends a single ASCII ACK character 06 to the current unit.
        NOTE. This command cannot be used within a sequence.


   2.17 NAK

        This command sends a single ASCII NAK character 15 Hex to the current
        unit.
        NOTE. This command cannot be used within a sequence.