Copyright
Copyright 1993 - 1996 by SpartaCom S.A. All rights reserved. No Part of this publication or software may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated into any language in any form by any means, without the written permission of SpartaCom S.A.
Disclaimer
Information in this document is subject to change without notice.
Trademarks
SAPS and SpartaCom are trademarks of SpartaCom S.A.
All other company names and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective companies.



SpartaCom  USA
3425-D Corporate Way
Duluth, GA 30136
Phone: (770) 622 2820
Fax: (770) 232 9536
E-Mail: sales@spartacom.com
WWW: http://www.spartacom.com
Technical Support: 770 946 9149



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NOTE YOU WILL NEED THESE SERIAL NUMBERS AND KEYS DURING CLIENT INSTALLATION

		028 - 8200 014D 0F00 327F BEBA / 61B0 F3AD
		028 - 8200 014E 0F00 327F BEBA / 562A F3AD
		
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1 SAPS INTRODUCTION 

This documentation is to accompany the 28 day, 2 users 1 port with an  15 minute automatic diconnect version of SpartaCom Asynchronous  Port Sharing Software.
 
SAPS (SpartaCom Asynchronous Port Sharing) is a group of software products which allow peer to peer sharing of COM ports between LAN workstations.
Sharing COM ports means sharing resources like modems, ISDN adapters, X.25
PADs or in fact any device that connects to a COM port.
SAPS gives you completely transparent access to shared resources for outbound
communications and operates in most networking environments:
Windows NT, Windows 95, Windows 3.X and DOS.
SAPS supports all NetBIOS compatible protocols: TCP/IP, NetBEUI, IPX, etc.
SAPS also supports Microsoft LAN Manager and IBM LAN Server COM port sharing on OS/2 Servers.

The SAPS software consists of two parts: SAPS Server and SAPS Client.
The network station with one or more COM ports to be shared must have the SAPS Server software installed.
Each workstation that is to use shared COM ports must have the SAPS Client software installed.

Both the SAPS server software and the SAPS client software can reside on the same computer. SAPS does not require a dedicated server.
Once SAPS is installed and configured, the workstation users can run any Windows communications program to access the shared COM port resources, just as if the devices were attached to their own computer.

This User Guide applies to SAPS version 3 and its components :
 
	SAPS Server for Windows NT  
	SAPS Server for Windows (95 and 3.X)........SEE README.TXT file on Diskette
	SAPS Client for Windows NT 
	SAPS Client for Windows 95 
	SAPS Client for Windows 3.X
	SAPS Client for DOS..............................SEE README.TXT file on Diskette

Access security is provided through the use of passwords for each shared COM port.  Share level security is supported on the Windows SAPS server, and both User level and Share level security are provided on the Windows NT SAPS server. 
 
SAPS for Windows (95 and 3.X) is a Windows only product, and therefore does not support the sharing of COM ports by applications running under DOS, nor applications running in a Windows DOS shell.  However, the SAPS Client for Windows NT does support DOS applications using shared COM ports.

DOS applications using BIOS (Int 14h) are supported by the SAPS Client for DOS.

 
2 SAPS SERVER FOR WINDOWS NT

INSTALLATION 

SAPS Server for Windows NT should be installed and configured on each PC in the network running Windows NT, and which has one or more COM ports to be shared.
 
To install the SAPS Server for Windows NT: 
1. Log onto Windows NT as an administrator.
2. Insert the SAPS Server for Windows NT disk into floppy drive.
3. Go into File Manager (NT-3.51) or Windows Explorer (NT-4.0)
4. Click on Drive A: (or Drive B:).
5. Double click on SETUP.
6. Follow the self-explanatory prompts during installation.

NOTE: During installation you will be prompted to enter a serial number and key. YOU DO NOT NEED TO ENTER THIS NUMBER IF YOU ARE  INSTALLING THE EVALUATION SERVER.

Using the default installation settings, both the SAPS Server software and the Administration software will be installed.  The same SETUP program can be used to install the Administration software only. This will allow you to remotely maintain your SAPS Server(s) from any Windows NT or Windows 95 computer in the network.


CONFIGURING SAPS SERVER FOR NT

After SAPS has been installed, you will need to configure SAPS to share the desired COM port(s) before other workstations can access the shared device(s).  To do this, you need to start the SAPS Server Manager: 
 
1. Go into the SAPS Program Group.
2. Double-click on the SAPS Server Manager Icon.
3. Click on the Shares icon (second from left).  The "Shares" window will display:
4. Click on New.
5. The "New Share" window will display:
6. Enter the "Share Name" and optional "Password".  Click on Help if you need assistance.  The Share Name will identify a single port during evaluation.
7. Select one port from the list on the left and click on Add. 
8. Click on OK
9. Click on OK in the Shares window to save the changes.  You do NOT need to restart the SAPS Server to make the changes effective.

NOTE: SAPS can share a COM port that is assigned for use by RAS (Remote Access Service).  However, you must be running Windows NT version 3.51, or greater. 
 
NOTE: To stop sharing a COM port, click on the  icon.  Select (high-light) the desired Shared port and click on Remove.  Also, all COM port sharing on the server may be stopped by stopping the SAPS Server (Click on the Stop button).
You may also pause the SAPS Server, which will prevent the server from accepting new connections. Existing connections will not be aborted.


STARTING SAPS SERVER FOR NT
The SAPS Server startup is automatic when starting the system.  However, the startup can be changed to Manual by using the Control Panel Services.  
SAPS can be Started or Stopped anytime by clicking on the Start or Stop button.

PAUSING SAPS SERVER FOR NT
To temporarily pause the SAPS server, click on the Pause button.  This will prevent SAPS from connecting any additional users to a shared resource, but will allow any existing connections to continue.  
To resume the SAPS server, click on the CONTINUE button.
 
NOTE: The Pause button is displayed only when the SAPS server is started. 

VIEWING CURRENT SAPS USERS 
To list the users currently connected to the SAPS server, click on the view users icon (third from left).
The "User Sessions" window will display, showing the connected users and the shared resources in use.

The content of the window is updated every two seconds.
Statistics on the number of bytes Sent and Received are displayed.
Two buttons allow the Administrator to force disconnection of users.

For each resource, a LED displays the status of  the port:
* gray: port not open
* red: port open, Carrier Detect signal is off
* green: port open, Carrier Detect signal is on

The "Connected Users"  field will be empty if no SAPS group of users has been created on the server).

UNINSTALLING SAPS SERVER FOR NT
SAPS may be removed from the system using the SAPS Server Uninstall application.

SAPS SERVER FOR NT AND RAS SERVER 
COM ports used by RAS Server can also be shared by SAPS.
When a SAPS Client requests one of the Server resources, the SAPS Server software
will ask RAS if the COM port is available.
If the COM port is not in use by RAS, SAPS will be allowed access to the requested COM port.  If the COM port is in use by a remote connection, SAPS will get an error.  Then, if the SAPS pooling mechanism is specified, SAPS will look for the next available port in the pool.

If RAS is installed after SAPS has been installed, you must reinstall SAPS, or use the Registry Editor (REGEDT32.EXE) to add the name "RasMan" to the "DependOnService" path in:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\SPSRVNT.

SAPS AND ZETAFAX SERVER 
COM ports used by the ZETAFAX Server can also be shared by SAPS.
When a SAPS Client requests one of the ZETAFAX Server resources, the SAPS Server software will ask ZETAFAX if the COM port is available.
If the COM port is not in use by ZETAFAX, SAPS will be allowed access to the requested COM port.  If the COM port is in use, SAPS will get an error.  Then, if the SAPS pooling mechanism is specified, SAPS will look for the next available port.

If ZETAFAX is installed after SAPS has been installed, you must stop and restart the SAPS Server for NT.

If you are using SAPS, RAS and ZETAFAX simultaneously on your NT Server, please keep in mind that ZETAFAX and RAS are not compatible, i.e. they cannot share the same COM ports. You will need at least two COM ports :
- one used by SAPS and RAS
- one used by SAPS and ZETAFAX.

If you do not use ZETAFAX to receive incoming faxes, the above restriction does not apply.  You may install the SAPS Client for NT on your Server and configure ZETAFAX to use a SAPS COM port redirected to a shared RAS COM port.  Then, ZETAFAX will be able to send faxes using a RAS COM port.


3  SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS NT

INSTALLATION
To install SAPS Client for Windows NT: 
 
1. Log onto Windows NT as an ADMINISTRATOR
2. Go into Control Panel, then select Network. 
3. Click on Add Software
 
 Note: When applying an update to an already installed SAPS Client for 
 Windows NT, click on the Update button, instead of Add Software. 
 
4. Select <Other> Requires Disk From The Manufacturer from the Network Software list
5. Insert the SAPS Client for Windows NT diskette
6. Follow the instructions on subsequent screens to complete the installation

NOTE: During installation you will be prompted to enter a serial number and key.  This information is provided in the material packaged with SAPS. 

SAPS Client for Windows NT should be installed on each Windows NT station in the network which will be allowed to redirect one or more COM ports to a shared COM port(s).  The new SAPS COM ports will be assigned to non-existing COM ports, for use by your applications.  Example: If the computer is equipped with COM1 and COM2,  the four (4) new ports will be assigned to COM3, COM4, COM5, and COM6.  However, you can change the COM port assignments made by the installation procedure.

The port assignments are changed using the SAPS Ports Configuration screen:

To accept the default COM port name assignments, click OK. 
To change a default name assignment: 
 
1. Select (high-light) the port to be re-assigned 
2. Enter the new name (COMx) in the Port Naming section 
3. Click the Apply button

If all port assignments listed below the one being changed are to be reassigned sequentially, click on Automatically Enumerate Port Names.  Then, when you click the Apply button, the selected port and all ports below it will be assigned to sequential COM port names.

If you later desire to reassign the new ports: 
1. Go into Control Panel 
2. Click on Network 
3. Select (high-light) SAPS Port Redirector 
4. Click on Configure 
5. The SAPS Ports Configuration screen will be displayed 
6. Enter the new name(s) as described above 
 
Before leaving the "Network Settings" screen, you can select the protocol stacks to be used with the SAPS Client, or change the protocol stacks binding order.  Click on  Bindings... and select SPNetNT Interface to display the following screen:

In this example, the SAPS Client does not use the RAS protocol stacks.
This is the recommended setting.  

Note: Deactivating the Binding with RAS will allow a faster startup of the service.

Restart NT after completing the SAPS Client installation. 
 
A new serial device driver, supporting four (4) COM ports, has been added to the NT system.  These four (4) ports can be redirected to a SAPS server. 
 
 
CONFIGURING SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS NT

During installation, the SAPS Port Redirector icon was added in the Control Panel.  Double click on this icon to display the SAPS Port Redirector screen:

SAPS can be configured to redirect a COM port to a specific shared resource on a SAPS server, or can be configured to use COM port pools.  When using COM port pools, the SAPS Port Redirector will search for, and connect, the first available port in the pool.

Redirecting a COM port to a specific shared port. 
 
1. Select (high-light) one of the four (4) SAPS ports to be redirected. 
2. Click on Settings 
3. Enter the path to the shared COM port in the Network Path field.  
4. Example: \\server_name\resource_name 
5. Enter the password (optional) required to connect to the shared resource. Leave this field blank if you are running in User Security mode, i.e. you are a member of a SAPS group of users configured on the NT server. 
6. Click on OK. 
7. Click on OK. 
8. Exit Control Panel. 
 
Redirecting a COM port to a pool of shared ports.
Pools of COM ports are usually setup on the SAPS Server for NT, but you may desire to use several SAPS servers. To do this, you simply define a list of pools located on different servers.

1. From the SAPS Port Redirector screen, click on the Pools button.  The SAPS Pools and Resource Management screen will be displayed:
2. Add the desired Pool name in the Pools section. 
3. Add the resource path for all shared ports to be included in the Pool Resources section.  Example: \\Server_Name\Resource_Name 
4. After all shared resources have been added, Click on OK. 
5. Click on the Settings button on the Saps Port Redirector screen. 
6. Click on Use Pools. 
7. Select (high-light) the desired pool name from the list of defined pools. 
8. Click on OK, twice. 
9. Exit Control Panel. 
 
The redirected COM port can now be used by your applications.  Start the communications application and configure it to use the redirected COM port.  The connection to the shared COM port will be made when the redirected COM port is opened by the application.

DISCONNECT ON INACTIVITY 
SAPS Client for Windows NT can be configured to automatically disconnect from a shared COM port when no communications activity occurs for a specified length of time. On the SAPS Port Redirector screen, check the Disconnect on Inactivity button and enter the desired inactivity time in minutes.  Click on OK 
  
UNINSTALLING SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS NT 

Log on as an ADMINISTRATOR. 
Select Network from Control Panel. 
Select (high-light) SAPS Port Redirector in the Installed Network Software list. 
Click on the Remove button.

4  SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS 95

INSTALLATION

SAPS Client for Windows 95 should be installed on each Windows 95 workstation in the network, which will be allowed to redirect one or more COM ports to a shared COM port(s).
To install SAPS Client for Windows 95, or update an existing version, please use the diskette provided in the package.
The installation procedure will add one (1) COM port to the Windows 95 system. The new COM port will be assigned the first non-existing COM port number.  Example: if the computer is equipped with COM1 and COM2, the new port will be assigned to COM3.  For all programs that do not use UNIMODEM, the name of this new port will be "COMx".
For all programs that use UNIMODEM, the name of this new port will be the name of the redirection path : "\\SERVERNAME\RESOURCE (COMx)" or "POOLNAME (COMx)".

1. Click on the Start icon, move the mouse pointer to Settings, and click on Control Panel.
2. Double click on Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click on Install and insert the SAPS Client for Windows 95 diskette.
4. Click on Next.
5. Click on Finish to start installation.
6. Click on Next (on Welcome screen).
7. During installation you will be prompted to enter a serial number and key.  This information is provided in the material packaged with SAPS.  If you do not provide this information, SAPS will run in evaluation mode.  Click on Next.
8. In the 'Redirection type' window you will be prompted to select the type of redirection. You can either assign a specific shared port or a pool of shared ports to the new COM port. Select Use a Pool of Network Resources if you have several shared COM ports on your SAPS server(s) and you want to allow SAPS to connect to the first available port.
 
If you select Use a Network Resource:
a. Click on Next>, and enter the path to the shared COM port in the Network Path field. Example : \\server_name\resource_name.
b. Enter the password (optional) required to connect to the shared resource. This password must be the same as the one entered for the resource on the SAPS Server.
c. SAPS Client for Windows 95 can be configured to automatically disconnect from a shared COM port when no communications activity occurs for a specified length of time. Check the Disconnect on inactivity box and enter the desired inactivity time in minutes.
d. Click on Next> and follow the instructions on subsequent screens to complete the installation.

If you select Use a Pool of Network Resources:
Pools of COM ports are usually setup on the SAPS Server for NT, but you may desire to use several SAPS servers. To do this, you simply define a list of pools located on different servers.
a. Add the desired Pool name in the Pools section.
b. Add the shared resource path for all shared ports to be included in the pool in the Pool Resources section. Enter the required resource password (optional). 
c. After all shared resources have been added, click on Next>.
d. SAPS Client for Windows 95 can be configured to automatically disconnect from a shared COM port when no communications activity occurs for a specified length of time.  Check the Disconnect on inactivity box and enter the desired inactivity time in minutes.
e. Click on Next and follow the instructions on subsequent screens to complete the installation. 

MODEM DETECTION

Before using a shared modem, Windows 95 needs to detect it.
NOTE: You must have defined the COM port redirection (enter a network path to a shared port or pool) before running the modem detection.

To perform Modem detection :
1. Go into Control Panel.
2. Select Modems.
3. Click on Add.
4. Click on Next> to start the automatic detection on every port.
5. If detection worked properly you will get a window similar to the one below, Click on Next>
6. Click on Finish.

 

CONFIGURING SAPS CLIENT FOR WIN 95

There are several ways to configure the SAPS Client for Windows 95 :
* from Modems in Control Panel
* from Modem Properties in any Win32 application (Hyperterminal, Dial-Up Networking, WinFax, etc.)
* from System in Control Panel
From the Control Panel  select Modem.
Select a modem from the list and click on Properties.
Select the Connection tab.
Click on Port Settings.

Select the SAPS Settings tab.
Proceed with modifications.

You can also change the configuration by selecting System from the Control Panel.
Click on the Device Manager tab.
Highlight Computer and click on Refresh.
Double click on Ports (COM & LPT). You should see a port in the port list with the name 'SAPS Port Redirector (COMx)'.
Click on 'SAPS Port Redirector (COMx).

Click on Properties.
Click on SAPS Settings tab.
Proceed with modifications.

UNINSTALLING SAPS CLIENT FOR WIN95

To remove SAPS Client for Windows 95 :
1. Click on the Start icon, move the mouse pointer to Settings and click on Control Panel.
2. Double click on Add/Remove Programs.
3. Select SAPS from the list of installed software.
4. Click on Add/Remove...
5. Select Uninstall SAPS Port Redirector in the SAPS Setup window and click on Next>.
6. Click on OK.

Always restart Windows after updating an existing installation.


5  SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS

INSTALLATION

To install SAPS Client for Windows: 
 1. Insert the 'SAPS Client for Windows & DOS' diskette into floppy drive.
2. Go to the Windows Program Manager and select File menu.
3. Select Run from the File menu.
4. Type A:\WIN3XCL\SETUP (or B:) and press Enter.
5. Follow the self-explanatory prompts during installation.
 
 NOTE: During installation you will be prompted to enter a serial number and key. This information is provided in the material packaged with SAPS.  If you do not provide this information, SAPS will run in evaluation mode. 
 
6. When the installation is complete, you will be asked if  Windows may be restarted.  Click on "Restart Windows". 
7. The SAPS Group Window will display  (If not displayed, click on the SAPS Group icon which was added during installation). 
8. Click on the "Read me" icon and review the document for additional information not included in this manual.  It is suggested that you print this document and keep it with the SAPS Users Guide. 
 
SAPS Client for Windows should be installed and configured on each station in the network which will be allowed to redirect one or more COM ports to a shared COM port(s).

CONFIGURING SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS

Once SAPS has been installed, you will need to configure SAPS to redirect one or more local COM ports to a shared port or pool before the redirected COM port can be used.
Click on the "Asynchronous Port Manager" icon in the SAPS Group Window.  The "Asynchronous Port Manager" window will display the available ports (COM1-9) and their current status. 
A toolbar is provided just below the menu bar, and can be used to quickly access the functions of the Asynchronous Port Manager.


AUTOMATIC CONNECT/DISCONNECT 

SAPS can be configured to provide automatic connection (transparent to the user) to a shared network COM port (or pool).  The connection will automatically be made when the communications application opens the local COM port.  Without the automatic connection, it is necessary to go into the Asynchronous Port Manager and manually establish the connection to a shared COM port before the local redirected COM port can be used. 
 
SAPS also provides for automatic disconnection from a shared COM port (or pool) when an application closes the local COM port, or when no activity has occurred on the COM port for a specified length of time.  Inactivity means that no data has been received or transmitted.  Once the shared COM port has been disconnected, it becomes available for use by another station on the network. 
 
If it is desirable to allow automatic connection and/or disconnection to the shared COM port, do the following: 
 
1) Click on the "Change SAPS setup options" icon in the "Asynchronous Port Manager" window. 
2) The "Connection/Disconnection" window will display:
3) To allow the automatic reconnection of a local COM port to a shared network port (or pool): 
a) Click on the "Reconnect automatically" button.
b) Click on the "Parameters" button.
c) The "Reconnect Automatically Parameters" window will display.
d) To allow automatic connection to the last shared COM port (or pool) successfully used, click on "Last network port used".
e) To allow automatic connection to a specific COM port:
i) Click on "Quiet connection to network port".
ii) Click on the down arrow to the right of the "Network Path" dialog field, and the list of defined shared ports (and/or pools) will be displayed.
iii) From the list, click on the desired port (or pool).
iv) Enter the "User Name" (If required).
v) Enter the "Password" (If required).
vi) Click on OK.

4) To allow automatic disconnection from the shared COM port when the application closes the local COM port, click on "Disconnect automatically". 
5) To allow automatic disconnection from the shared COM port after a specified length of inactive time, click on "Disconnect on inactivity", and enter the inactivity time.
6) Click on OK.

* NOTE 1 : SAPS does not support redirection of COM ports to which a serial mouse is  attached.
* NOTE 2 : Redirection of a locally shared port is not supported.
* NOTE 3 : Redirection to a locally shared port is not supported. 

CONNECT TO A SHARED COM PORT

1) Select (high-light) an available port (COM1-9) from the list in the Asynchronous Port Manager window.
2) Click on the "Connect" icon.
3) The "Connect to Network Port" window will display.
4) If the "Use Port Pools" is checked, a list of defined port pools will be displayed.  Click on the desired port pool.  If there are also individual shared COM ports defined and you desire for them to be displayed, click on the "Use Port Pools" button to remove the port pool list.
5) To re-display the port pools list, click on the "Use Port Pools" button again. If the "Use Port Pools" is NOT checked, click on the down arrow to the right of the "Network Path" dialog field, and a list of previously defined shared COM ports will be displayed.  Click on the desired shared port. If no shared COM ports have been previously defined or one is to be added, enter the "Network Path" of the shared COM port.  The correct syntax for the "Network Path" is as Follows: \\Server_Name\Share_Name
6) Click on OK.
7) If the shared COM port requires a password, the "Connection" window will display.  Enter the password for the shared COM port.  The password is either the password as entered when logging onto the Windows NT or OS/2 server, or the resource password as defined on a Windows SAPS server. 
8) Click on OK.
 
DISCONNECT FROM A SHARED COM PORT
1) Click on the "Disconnect a shared network COM port" icon in the "Asynchronous Port Manager" window.
2) The "Disconnect from Network Port" window will display.
3) Click on the port(s) to be disconnected in the Connected Network Port(s) list.
4) Click on OK.
 
After completing the SAPS setup information, Exit (Quit) the Asynchronous Port Manager window. 

UNINSTALLING SAPS CLIENT FOR WINDOWS
1) Quit Windows 
2) During the installation, SAPS copies the SYSTEM.INI, and CONTROL.INI files into the working directory for SAPS as SYSOLD.INI and CTLOLD.INI.  If no updates to the original .INI files have occurred since the SAPS installation, restore these two files from the SAPS working directory.
 
  NOTE: When you restore these files, you will lose any updates to the files that occurred since SAPS was installed.  
 
  As an alternative to restoring these two files, do the following: 
  In the [BOOT] section of the SYSTEM.INI file, replace the line COMM.DRV=SPCOMM.DRV with COMM.DRV=COMM.DRV (or with the line saved in the SAPS.INI file) 

3) Delete the following files from the \WINDOWS directory:
 SAPS.INI and SAPSUSER.INI.
4) Delete the following files from the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory:  SPCOMM.DRV and SPNET.DLL
5) Delete all files from the SAPS working directory (specified during installation).  The SYSOLD.INI and CTLOLD.INI files are write protected and must be unprotected by entering  ATTRIB -r *.INI  before attempting to delete them.
6) Remove the SAPS working directory
7) Restart Windows
8) Delete the SAPS icon(s) that were added during installation


