TBBS 2.2 - Lockups Loading CONFIG.CTL at Start-Up

Contact:   eSoft, Inc. (Makers of TBBS)
           15200 E. Girard Ave., Suite 3000
           Aurora, CO  80014
           (303) 699-6565      Voice
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LOCKUPS LOADING CONFIG.CTL AT START-UP
--------------------------------------

INTRODUCTION

There are a variety of TBBS lock-ups which can occur while TBBS is loading the 
CONFIG.CTL file at system initialization. 

ALL of these lock-ups, without exception, occur due to various serial hardware 
problems.  These problems can be hardware conflicts, software conflicts, both, 
or simply misconfiguration of the system.  

IMPORTANT:  Lock-ups loading CONFIG.CTL are *ALWAYS* due to serial hardware 
problems.  Focus on this area of your system if you experience lock-ups.

PROBABLE CAUSES

Status port address wrong.  The status port address of the DigiBoard (set with 
the DS1 switch bank on 4-port and 8-port boards) does not match what you have 
put in CEDIT on the MULTI-PORT HARDWARE OPTIONS screen.  Make sure they match.  
If you set the DigiBoard to use status port 140, you need to make sure that 
the MULTI-PORT HARDWARE OPTIONS screen says "140" as the status port address 
on the corresponding IRQ.  NOTE: STEP THROUGH THE DIGIBOARD INSTALLATION 
INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AGAIN AND DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR WORK.  THIS IS USUALLY A 
SIMPLE ERROR IN CONFIGURATION.

Status port address conflict.  The status port address you have selected (or 
which has been advised by the TBBS manual) conflicts with another device in 
your system.  Using the DigiBoard manual as a guide, select an address which 
is not used in your system or on other DigiBoards.  Set the DS1 switch bank to 
match the address you selected.  Run CEDIT, access the MULTI-PORT HARDWARE 
OPTIONS screen, and set the status port address to match the one you selected.  
We recommend trying address 200 if address 140 fails to work properly.  
Contact eSoft Technical Support for assistance if you are uncomfortable making 
this change.

Interrupts are defined incorrectly.  In most cases under TBBS 2.2, the first 
32 lines on your system use IRQ3 and the second 32 lines uses IRQ4.  If you 
don't set your lines to match these, the system will lock-up.  In CEDIT, you 
set individual lines on the PORT/MODEM OPTIONS screen(s).  Make sure the IRQs 
are set properly.  NOTE: STEP THROUGH THE DIGIBOARD INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS 
CAREFULLY AGAIN AND DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR WORK.  THIS IS USUALLY A SIMPLE ERROR IN 
CONFIGURATION.

Two ports are using the same base I/O address.  This could occur in CEDIT or 
on the DigiBoard.  For example, in CEDIT, you may have configured line 2 to 
use base address 108, and line 3 to use base address 108.  This cannot work.  
You may also have configured two of the ports on the DigiBoard to use the same 
address.  This will not work either.  NOTE: STEP THROUGH THE DIGIBOARD 
INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AGAIN AND DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR WORK.  THIS IS 
USUALLY A SIMPLE ERROR IN CONFIGURATION. 

A regular (non-DigiBoard) com port is installed incorrectly.  If you use a 
regular com port in addition to your DigiBoard, it must be defined as the last 
line on your system.  For example, if you have an 8-port DigiBoard installed 
and you have configured 6 lines with it, and you wish to use a COM1 card, it 
must be line 7.  (If you later use more DigiBoard ports, you will have to 
"move" the line of the COM1 card up.)  In all cases, the non-DigiBoard com 
port must be used as the LAST LINE IN TBBS as set with CEDIT.  

Board ID set incorrectly.  You may have set the Berg jumpers on the DigiBoard 
to the wrong board ID.  For 4-port and 8-port DigiBoards, use this chart, and 
double-check your board against it:

        Card            Board Number    Jumpers
        -------------   -------------   -----------------------
        First           0               J9 is DOWN, J10 is DOWN
        Second          1               J9 is DOWN, J10 is UP
        Third           2               J9 is UP, J10 is DOWN
        Fourth          3               J9 is UP, J10 is UP

NOTE: STEP THROUGH THE DIGIBOARD INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AGAIN AND 
DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR WORK.  THIS IS USUALLY A SIMPLE ERROR IN CONFIGURATION. 

Ports are defined out of order.  The ports on the DigiBoard are not defined as 
lines in order.  For example, port 1 on the DigiBoard must be line 1, port 2 
must be line 2, etc., up to the maximum line count.  It does not work to 
define, for example, port 7 and line 8 and port 8 as line 7.  NOTE: STEP 
THROUGH THE DIGIBOARD INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY AGAIN AND DOUBLE-
CHECK YOUR WORK.  THIS IS USUALLY A SIMPLE ERROR IN CONFIGURATION. 



- END -
TBBS0002
Rev. 10/93

Copyright (C) 1994 eSoft, Inc., All Rights Reserved.  Permission granted
to distribute this file in its entirety, without modification, to any
interested party.  Any other use requires the written permission of
eSoft, Inc.

IMPORTANT:  The information herein is subject to change without notice.
Please call or write to confirm factual information of importance to you
or your organization.

