altos 580

128 Pages·2016·6.79 MB·English

COMPUTER SYSTEMS
ALTOS 580
Computer System
Operators Guide
Part Number: 690-13890-003 January 1984
ALTOS 588 COMPUTER SYSTEM
OPERATOR'S GUIDE
Altos Computer Systems
2641 Orchard Parkway
San Jose, CA 95134
THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS SUBJECT TO
CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. NEW EDITIONS OF THIS
DOCUMENT WILL INCORPORATE CHANGES AS THEY ARE
PUBLISHED.
Copyright ©1984. All rights reserved. Altos Computer Systems.
ALTOS Manual Number: 698-13898-883 January 1984
ACKR01fLEDGBIlBRTS
ALTOS is a registered trademark of Altos Computer
Systems.
CP/M is a registered trademark, and MP/M II is a
trademark of Digital Research, Inc.
OASIS is a trademark of Phase One Systems, Inc.
Z80 is a trademark of Zilog, Inc.
FEDERAL OOIIIlURICATIOliS COIUlISSIOli lIO'.rICB
WARlIIlIG
This equipaent generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency
energy and, if not insta11ed and used in accordance with the
instructions aanua1, aay cause interference to radio co• •u nica
tions. It has been tested and found to coap1y with the 1iaits
for a C1ass A co.puting device pursuant to Subpart J of Part 15
of FCC Ru1es, which are designed to provide reasonab1e protection
against such interference when operated in a co• •e rcia1 environ
aent. Operation of this equipaent in a residentia1 area is 1ike1y
to cause interference in which case the user, at his own expense,
wi11 be required to take whatever aeasures aay be required to
correct the interference.
VIDEO 1I01IIma IB'.tBRFERBRCB lIOTICB
If you are not using an A1tos teraina1 with your 5-1/4 inch A1tos
Co.puter Syste., disk errors can occur when the teraina1 is
p1aced within 12 inches of the disk drive unit. Signa1s gene
rated by so.e 10w cost ter.ina1s so.etiaes cause these errors.
This is an industry-wide prob1ea and is not unique to A1tos'
co.pater syste.s.
Tbe prob1e. is easi1y s01ved, however, siap1y aove your ter.ina1
at 1east 12 inches away froa the disk drive unit. Data fi1es can
be restored by f0110wing your operating syste.·s backup and
restore procedure.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
PREFACE:
ABOUT THIS MANUAL
USING THIS MANUAL v
DOCUMENTATION CONVENTIONS viii
CHANGING INVALID DATA ix
OTHER INFORMATION AVAILABLE x
Altos Family of Related Manuals x
Other Vendor Manuals x
INTRODUCTION:
1. ABOUT YOUR ALTOS COMPUTER
INTRODUCTION 1-1
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTOS 580 1-2
What the Altos 580 Does 1-2
How the Altos 580 Works 1-2
BASIC HARDWARE 1-3
What Is a CPU? 1-3
What Is a Terminal? 1-4
What Is a Printer? 1-5
Putting It All Together 1-6
UNDERSTANDING COMPUTERS 1-7
2. ABOUT SOFTWARE
SOFTWARE CATEGORIES 2-1
SYSTEM VERIFICATION (DIAGNOSTICS) 2-2
OPERATING SYSTEMS 2-3
TWO CATEGORIES OF OPERATING SYSTEMS 2-4
SINGLE-USER ONLY OPERATING SYSTEMS 2-4
Control Program Monitor (CP/M) 2-4
MULTI-USER OPERATING SYSTEMS 2-4
Multi-Program Monitor (MP/M II) 2-5
OASIS 2-6
UTILITIES 2-7
LANGUAGES 2-8
COMl-1UNICATIONS 2-8
APPLICATION PROGRAMS 2-8
3 • ABOUT OPTIONS
DESCRIPTION OF THE OPTIONAL UPGRADE
KIT (UK-10) HARD DISK UPGRADE 3-2
KIT (UK-40) HARD DISK UPGRADE 3-2
KIT (MTU-6) NAGNETIC TAPE UNIT 3-2
4. CUSTOMER-SUPPLIED ITEMS
i
TABLE OF CORTElftS
SEftIRG UP:
5. SEftIRG UP
SELECTING A COMPUTER SITE 5-2
A COMPLETE ALTOS 580 SYSTEM 5-4
Items Purchased from Altos 5-4
The User Supplies 5-4
6. COBRBc.rIRG mE TBRllIIIAL
Connecting the Cable 6-1
Connecting to Power 6-1
Selecting Switch Settings 6-3
7. CONNBCTIRG mE PRIRTER
Connecting the Serial Printer
Cable 7-1
Connecting the Parallel Printer
Cable 7-2
Connecting to Power 7-2
Selecting Switch Settings on
Serial Printers 7-2
OPERATIRG
IRSmUc.rIORS:
8. mRRIRG OR YOUR SYSftll
PREPARING THE SYSTEM 8-1
TURNING ON POWER TO THE ALTOS 580 8-2
9. BARDLIRG FLOPPY DISKBftBS
Diskette Insertion 9-1
Diskette Write-Protection 9-2
Saving Original Diskettes 9-2
Labelling Diskettes 9-2
Storing Diskettes 9-2
Further Reading 9-3
11. ftSTIRG THB SYSTEII
SYSTEM TESTS 10-1
AUTOMATIC SYSTEM TESTING 10-2
OPERATOR TESTING 10-3
AN OVERVIEW OF THE DIAGNOSTIC PROGRAM 10-4
Summary of Diagnostics and
Utilities 10-5
11. mOIRG OFF YOUR SYSTBII
ii
MAIN'.rENANCE :
12. PREVEH'.rIVE MAIlITBNAIICB
13. TROUBLESBOO"l'IRG PROCEDURES
USER TROUBLE-SHOOTING PROCEDURES 13-1
TERMINAL 13-1
No Screen Display 13-1
No Cursor Display 13-2
No Response to Keyboard Input 13-2
POWER UP 13-3
No Fan 13-3
No Floppy Diskette Drive Light 13-3
PRINTER 13-4
No Response 13-4
Interruptions 13-4
DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES ERROR 13-5
OPERATING SYSTEM ERRORS 13-5
CLOSE-DOWN ERRORS 13-5
PROGRAM ERRORS 13-5
14. MONITOR ERROR MESSAGES
APPENDIXES:
A. SYS'.rEM SPECIFICATIONS
SYSTEM CONFIGURATIONS A-I
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE ALTOS 580 A-2
FEATURES AND CAPABILITIES A-3
POWER SUPPLY IDENTIFICATION
CONVENTIONS A-4
B. WARRANTY INFORMATION
WARRANTY B-1
SHIPPING DAMAGE INSPECTION B-3
REPAIR AND SERVICE PROCEDURES B-4
ALTOS FACTORY REPAIR PROCEDURES B-5
C. CABLES, TERKIBALS, ABD PRDI'.rER
INTERFACE CONFIGURATIONS
INTERFACE CONFIGURATIONS C-1
TERMINALS C-2
RS-232C Terminal Cabling C-2
Standard Terminal Connection C-4
SERIAL PRINTERS C-6
PARALLEL PRINTERS C-7
iii
TABLE OF CONTENTS
GLOSSARY
IRDEX
FIGURES
1-1 Typical Altos 580 'with
Terminal(s), Printer vi
5-1 Diagram of Computer Site 5-3
6-1 Altos 580 Front and Rear Panels 6-2
9-1 Diskette Handling 9-4
C-l Male Connector, RS-232C Cable C-3
TABLES
C-l RS-232C Pinning Instructions C-4
C-2 Altos to Anadex (Serial) C-6
C-3 Altos to Epson MX80 FIT (Serial) C-6
C-4 Parallel (Centronics) Interface
Connector C-7
iv
Preface:
About This Manual
USING THIS MANUAL
This manual introduces you to the Al tos 580 computer
system. It guides you through the steps for setting
up and installing your computer system. Other manuals
in this set will give you complete details of the
operating system and applications software, such as
the word processing package, business packages, and
communications.
To use this manual most effectively, follow these
steps:
1. Read this Preface to learn how to enter data and
make corrections from your terminal keyboard, and
for referral to additional sources of information.
2. Follow the instructions for setting up in Chapter
5.
3. Connect your terminal(s) in accordance with direc
tions in Chapter 6.
v