The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device
Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager


A Catwalk device contains electronic circuitry that allows both the console terminal and the Vantage equipment to access a resource. This circuitry enables Vantage to monitor a resource while a console terminal is still physically connected.
Information is available on the following topics:
· The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device
· Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager
Refer to one of the underlined phrases above to get information on the topic.
Refer to Configuring Resources to get information about defining the initial state of Catwalk when a resource is started.
The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device
The Catwalk device connects two pieces of equipment to the same RS-232 port. It allows both the console terminal and the Vantage system to see all of the characters being sent from the resource. It also contains the electronics that allows both the console terminal and the Vantage equipment to send characters to a resource.
Both Catwalk Version 2.2 and Version 3.0 provide the user with the ability to restrict which device can send characters to the resource. A Catwalk device can prevent either the Terminal port from sending characters to the resource, or it can prevent the COM port from sending characters to the resource. In addition, Catwalk Version 3.0 allows the Vantage software to control which equipment will be blocked from sending data to the resource's port.







The terminal icon has a hole in the plastic where the CRT would be. When the button inside this hole is depressed the state of the Catwalk unit is changed. The button may need to be depressed repeatedly until the LED's indicate the desired state.
NOTE: When the state is modified in this way the software is unaware of the change, so it will not be reflected on the Launch/Status Manager display.
Refer to Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager for information about how to change the state of the Catwalk using software.
Refer to Configuring Resources for information about defining the initial state of Catwalk when a resource is started.
For more detail contact ASP Technologies and request the white paper "Catwalk 3.0 Installation and Operation Manual".
See also Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager and Wiring Catwalk Version 3.0
Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager
The Catwalk Version 3.0 device allows the software to control access to the resource's RS-232 port. The electronics can also detect whether or not a console terminal is physically connected to the Catwalk device. Controlling and monitoring Catwalk 3.0 is most easily done from the Launch/Status Manager.
Reading the Catwalk Status
The Catwalk control in the upper right hand corner of the Launch/Status Manager reflects the Catwalk status of the resource selected in either the Active or Inactive Resource controls.
Clicking on a resource name in either the Active or the Inactive Resource controls initiate a refresh of the Catwalk control. When a resource is selected in this way the software immediately displays the last known Catwalk State and begins reading the Catwalk hardware to determine the current state. When the catwalk settings are determined the Catwalk control is updated. For some TCP/IP terminal servers reading the state may take several seconds.
The meanings of the Catwalk controls are described in more detail below.
Changing the Catwalk Status from the Launch/Status Manager
Catwalk control is performed by clicking on one of the three buttons in the Catwalk control. The lights nearest the icons are actually Motif buttons which toggle the state of the Catwalk.
Detecting the presence of a Dumb Terminal
The Catwalk electronics can detect whether or not there is a console terminal connected to the Terminal port. If the console terminal is turned off, or if there is no terminal connected to the Terminal port, the Catwalk device will set itself to the Normal State. The result of the detection is shown in the Catwalk control in the right most button.
Detection of a console terminal must be initiated by clicking one of the Catwalk buttons. How this works is outlined below.
Detecting the absence of a console terminal requires that all of the following be true -
· There must be a Catwalk Version 3.0 unit connected; AND
· Switch number 6 in the Catwalk unit must be set to ON; AND
· Switch number 4 in the Catwalk unit must be set to OFF; AND
· The console terminal must be turned off, OR the console terminal's TxD pin must be physically disconnected from the Catwalk unit; AND
· The button at the far right in the Catwalk control must have been depressed, OR one of the other buttons in the Catwalk control was depressed but the change of state was unsuccessful.
Refer to Configuring Resources to get information about defining the initial state of Catwalk when a resource is started.
For more detail on the switch settings inside the Catwalk device, contact ASP Technologies and request the white paper "Catwalk 3.0 Installation and Operation Manual".
See also The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device and Wiring Catwalk Version 3.0
The Catwalk Version 3.0 device is wired between the Vantage terminal server and the resource's RS-232 port. It has a third connection for a console terminal.
The following describes how the physical connections are made.
Port label -
COM ---- to Vantage Terminal Server
RESOURCE ---- to Managed Resource
TERMINAL ---- to Console Terminal
Default Pin-Outs
The default pin-outs were selected so that a cable would connect directly from a Catwalk port into a Central-Data terminal server port. The default pin-outs for all 3 ports are the same looking into the connector from the outside of the Catwalk device.
Pin |
Name |
Direction |
DB-25 |
DB-9 | |||
1 |
RTS |
<- |
4 |
7 | |||
2 |
DSR |
-> |
6 |
6 | |||
3 |
DCD |
-> |
8 |
1 | |||
4 |
RxD |
-> |
3 |
2 | |||
5 |
TxD |
<- |
2 |
3 | |||
6 |
Ground |
7 |
5 | ||||
7 |
DTR |
<- |
20 |
4 | |||
8 |
CTS |
-> |
5 |
8 | |||
The cable between the Catwalk COM port and the Vantage Terminal Server must have all 8 wires in order to support Version 3.0 capabilities. Category 5 10Base-T patch cable is recommended.
Terminal and Resource Port Connections
The cable between the Catwalk port and the other equipment may have as few as 3 wires in order to function. RxD, TxD, and Ground are required. Adding the DTR line can help provide some of the electronic power that the Catwalk unit needs in order to function. Category 5 10Base-T patch cable is recommended.
There are loop-back connections that are made in the default configuration. These are pins 1-3, and 2-7-8. The loop-backs or any pin-out arrangement can be changed within the Catwalk device using the DIP switches and jumper blocks provided.
Lantronix Pin-Out Connections
The default pin-out selected will connect directly into Central Data/Digi terminal server ports. The Lantronix terminal server ports have a different pin-out.
A special adapter board is provided in order to re-arrange the pin-out so that it will connect directly into a Lantronix port. Changing the Catwalk to Lantronix is done as follows:
1. Remove the Catwalk enclosure's cover,
2. Remove the adapter board from the set of pins just behind the COM port,
3. Set all 8 of the exposed dip switches for the COM port to OFF,
4. Place the adapter board so that it covers both rows of pins for the COM port,
5. Replace the Catwalk enclosure's cover.
When this is done the pin-out is changed to the following looking into the connector from the outside of the Catwalk device.
Catwalk
Pin Name Direction
1 - RTS <-
2 - DTR <-
3 - TxD <-
4 - Ground
5 - Ground
6 - RxD ->
7 - DSR ->
8 - CTS ->
DCD does not exist.
Refer to The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device for Catwalk hardware functionality.
For more detail contact ASP Technologies and request the white paper "Catwalk 3.0 Installation and Operation Manual".
See also The Catwalk Version 3.0 Device and Catwalk Status on Launch/Status Manager