GE GFK-1004B What is the GSM?, Why Does a Station Have to be Configured and Downloaded?

3

What is the GSM?

The GEnet System Manager (GSM) is a menu-driven software package that runs on a user-provided personal computer (PC). The GSM is used to perform management func- tions for LAN Interfaces. The GSM software operates under the MS-DOS environment.

The primar y GSM functions are:

HConfigure Station Parameters

Access is provided to one or more LAN Interface Configuration Editors. The Configuration Editor is used to examine and modify the configuration information for each LAN Interface on the network. There is a unique Configuration Editor for each type of LAN Interface. The Configuration Editor is supplied with your LAN Interface Software, and is integrated with the GSM during installation. Station configuration is performed off-line on the PC and results in a configuration file on the hard disk unique to each station.

HDownload the Configuration and Communications Software to a LAN Interface

This function is used to download initial or revised configuration parameters or LAN Interface software. The download can occur either over a local serial cable or over the network.

HAccess the Station Manager software on a LAN Interface

For this function, the GSM becomes a simple terminal emulator that connects to the LAN Interface Station Manager either over a local serial cable or over the network.

The GSM also provides the following support functions.

HList All Configured Stations

HChange GSM Password

HSet Download and Station Manager Communication Modes (Local or Network)

Why Does a Station Have to be Configured and Downloaded?

LAN Interfaces consist of a circuit board with processor and Ethernet circuitry, loaded with configuration information and communications software.

The power-up diagnostics and loader software reside in Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM) on the board, and cannot be changed without physically disassembling the LAN Interface.

Some very basic parameters, known as Soft Switch Parameters, are stored in another kind of memory, Electronically Erasable PROM (EEPROM). In the future, other configuration parameters may be stored here.

3-2 TCP/IP Ethernet Communications User's Manual ± January 1996 GFK-1004B