Java(tm) Communications Driver for OS/2 Warp Readme and Installation
Instructions
Version 2.0
Shawn Terry
Aquila Systems, Inc.
Sun MicroSystems, Inc.
Introduction
Enclosed in this package is the Aquila Systems OS/2 Warp driver for Sun's javax.comm
API's. This package must be used with the jcommapi.zip package contained within
it. The jcommapi.zip package contains the complete and unmodified javax.comm communications
API's from Sun MicroSystems. They are being re-distributed under item 1 of their
supplemental licensing terms. The OS/2 driver works with Sun's javax.comm package
to implement the javax.comm API on IBM's OS/2 Warp operating system. Please note
all the Aquila Systems files are in the directory you unpacked this archive into
and all of Sun's file are put in the commapi directory. The Aquila Systems portions
are offered on an AS-IS basis and may be distributed complete and unmodified. We
provide no warrantee either express or implied on the functionality, reliability,
or suitability of this package. The Sun MicroSystems portions are subject to their
licensing.
These API's are intended to be the standard JAVA API's for access to a wide variety
of hardware interface port types. JAVA applications written to this API can access
ports in a cross platform manner. This package provides a full implementation of
this standard for serial communications ports under OS/2 Warp. By providing a full
implementation it is hoped that a wide variety of JAVA based Communication applications
can be run unmodified under OS/2 Warp. We hope this package will extend the depth
and enjoyment for OS/2 users as communications has always been one of the most popular
uses for OS/2. This package is currently a beta and bug reports as well as JAVA
application functionality notifications would be appreciated.
Please send bug reports or notifications to: javacomm@aquilasys.com
Web site: www.aquilasys.com click on javax.comm
link in the menu.
System Requirements:
- An Intel processor compatible PC, 486 or higher
processor with 16MB+ of RAM
- OS/2 Warp V3 or V4 (has only been tested to
date on V4). Applied fixpaks recommended for either version
- The IBM JAVA VM 1.1.4 or greater (tested under
1.1.4 and 1.1.7). If you do not have this it is available free of charge from IBM.
see the web site above.
- A serial communications port or modem supported
by the OS/2 com.sys driver (must be NS16550 compatible).
- At least 3MB of free disk space on an HPFS
or JFS partition (needs long filename support).
Installation
If you are reading this you have probably already unzipped the archive to a directory.
If not create a new directory and unzip this archive into it.
Note: You must use unzip.exe from Info-Zip not pkunzip. If you do not
already have this goto the web site listed above.
Once you have unzipped this into a directory referred to below as xdir
on drive X then follow the instructions below:
- Read the licensing agreement for the Sun MicroSystems jcommapi.zip file, COMM2.0_license.txt. If you agree to the terms then
proceed.
- Open an OS/2 command prompt change to the X drive and xdir directory and type
unzip jcommapi to unzip Sun's javax.comm API.
- Add X:\xdir to the end of the LIBPATH= statement in the config.sys file. You
can alternately copy X:\xdir\os2serpt.dll to the \JAVA11\DLL directory.
- Add X:\xdir\commapi\comm.jar;X:\xdir\os2comm.jar to end of the SET CLASSPATH=
statement in the config.sys file.
- Copy the file X:\xdir\javax.comm.properties to the Y:\JAVA11\LIB directory (where
Y is the drive the JAVA VM is installed on).
- Restart your OS/2 Workstation
It is now ready to use any JAVA comm program that utilizes the javax.comm API. This
package includes some sample applications written by Sun see below.
Documentation
The Sun readme file contains documentation on
the API's for developers and information about the provided sample programs.
Notes
As mentioned previously we have tried to provide a full implementation that is as
bug free as possible. We believe this is very important with an API driver since
a large number of different programs will be used with it. If we did not implement
certain portions of the API or if it was buggy it would very adversely affect programs
that use it. To that end we have implemented all the functionality of the API except
for the framing mode and device sharing (see below). We hope to here from you regarding
applications you have successfully or unsuccessfully used with it and on any other
bugs. We will post on our web site a list
of the known applications that use javax.comm and their status.
- The framing mode (end reception on specific
character received) is not implemented. The enableFraming call will return UnsupportedCommOperationException.
- Device sharing (where multiple applications
using this API can pass a single COM port between them) is not supported. When you
open a port it must be exclusively available and it will be exclusively held until
the port is closed.
- The baud rate is limited to 57600 baud.
- When a port is opened we have asserted the
DTR line. We are not sure if this is a bug or a feature. We feel it is a feature
since many devices and links do not operate till DTR is asserted and at least the
samples from Sun do not assert DTR after opening the port. Give us your feedback
on this design decision.
- The port enumeration functionality will always
report the existence of eight COM ports COM1...COM8 even though you may have more
or fewer ports actually available. If you attempt to open a port that is not available
you will get a PortInUseException. We hope to modify this in the near future to
show only the ports that are available.
- It has currently only been tested with the
OS2 Warp COM.SYS supplied by IBM with OS/2. We have tested with drivers dated 8/5/97
and later. If you encounter communications problems and your COM.SYS is older obtain
a newer COM.SYS or apply the latest FixPak. We realize many OS/2 users use SIO.SYS
for reliability and performance reasons. It should work with SIO but has not yet
been tested. We will be testing it in the near future and posting the results on
our web site.
- The COM.SYS driver by default only installs
support for COM1 and COM2. If you wish to make more hardware ports available you
must configure them by editing the config.sys file. Type help com.sys from a command
prompt for information on how to do this.
- It has been tested under the IBM JAVA VM for
OS/2 versions 1.1.4 and 1.1.7. It will not work under JAVA 1.0. It hopefully will
work fine under later 1.1.X releases. We have not yet tested it with the JAVA VM
built into IBM's VisualAge for JAVA for OS/2 but plan to in the near future.
- Their is currently no support for parallel
ports.
Support
We do not offer free formal support to users attempting to utilize this package.
On an informal basis we will try to answer questions and address issues with no
guarantees on response or resolution timeframes. We will also post the newest release
on our web site available for download.
For organizations and developers who want formal support, source code, development
assistance, or custom feature development we do offer these services on a fee basis.
The fees will be quoted depending on the request.
Email support: javacomm@aquilasys.com
Copyright © 1998, 1999 Aquila
Systems Inc. , Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All Rights Reserved.