                RadiSys EPConnect/VXI for DOS and Windows 3.1
                        Release 4.10:  December 1994

RadiSys Corporation                            Phone:     +1 503-646-1800
15025 SW Koll Parkway                            FAX:     +1 503-646-1850
Beaverton, Oregon, USA  97006-6902               BBS:     +1 503-646-8290
                                       Internet mail: support@radisys.com
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This file describes the EPConnect/VXI for DOS and Windows Release 4.10
software product.

In this file is a summary of the software components, the installation
process, and what has been changed for this release.  For more complete
information, refer to the EPConnect/VXI for DOS & Windows User's Guide. 


SOFTWARE COMPONENTS
-------------------

The EPConnect/VXI for DOS and Windows 3.1 Release 4.10 software
incorporates the following components:

     *  BusMonitor
     *  BusProbe
     *  Configurator
     *  Start Up Resource Manager (SURM)
     *  BusManager (DOS and Windows versions)
     *  Bus Management API
     *  Standard Instrument Control Library (SICL) API

The following RadiSys software is also included with EPConnect:

     *  Sample programs
     *  Hardware diagnostic programs


DOS/WINDOWS INSTALLATION
------------------------

Follow these steps to install EPConnect/VXI for use in DOS and/or
Windows:

1. If you are in Windows at the present time, then insert the diskette
   labeled "EPConnect/VXI 4.10  Disk 1" in the floppy drive and use the
   Program Manager's File->Run menu to execute the following command:

                         a:setup

2. If you are in DOS at the present time, then insert the diskette
   labeled "EPConnect/VXI 4.10  Disk 1" in the floppy drive and make the
   floppy drive the current drive by typing the following command at the
   prompt:

                         a:

   The setup application will automatically start Windows for you and
   launch itself by typing the following command:

                         setup

The setup application will allow you to install either the Windows, DOS,
or both components of EPConnect/VXI in addition to allowing selection of
the destination directory and whether to install diagnostic programs and
sample source code. 

If you plan to write or use EPConnect/VXI for Windows applications
(which includes the use of BusProbe and BusMonitor) then you should
install the EPConnect/VXI Windows components. 

DOS INSTALLATION
----------------

Follow these steps to install EPConnect/VXI for use in DOS only:

1. Insert the diskette labeled "EPConnect/VXI 4.10  Disk 1" in the floppy
   drive and make the floppy drive the current drive by typing the
   following command at the prompt:

                         a:

   Then run the installation program by typing the following command:

                         install

The DOS-only install above will load the Windows drivers and utilities,
but will not make any of the necessary modifications to the Windows
configuration files.  It is up to the user to do this when Windows is
installed (or reinstall EPConnect with A:SETUP). 


REFERENCES
----------

The following documents will help you use the EPConnect software.  These
are included with EPConnect/VXI 4.10 for DOS and Windows.

 *  EPConnect/VXI for DOS and Windows User's Guide

 *  Bus Management for Windows Programmer's Reference Guide

 *  SICL for Windows Programmer's Reference Guide

 *  Bus Management for DOS Programmer's Reference Guide

 *  SICL for DOS Programmer's Reference Guide

Also helpful is the "EPC Hardware Reference Manual" included with your
EPC. 


CUSTOMER SUPPORT
----------------

If you have any problems installing or using EPConnect, contact RadiSys
Customer Support. 

World-wide, the RadiSys Customer Support telephone number is +1
503-646-1800.  Customer Support is also available using the RadiSys FAX
line: +1 503-646-1850, the RadiSys BBS: +1 503-646-8290, or via Internet
mail using the E-mail address: support@radisys.com. 

If you purchased this software from another source, you should contact
that party for support.

All VXLink support issues should be directed to Hewlett-Packard at 
(800) 452-4844 in the United States, or your sales office if you are 
outside the US.


WHAT'S NEW IN THIS RELEASE
--------------------------

The EPConnect/VXI for DOS and Windows 3.1 Release 4.10 provides the
following new features:

  [1]  Support for VXLink in Windows and in the SURM.  The DOS 
       BusManager does not support VXLink.

  [2]  Support for the RadiSys EPC-8 in a B-size VXI system.

Release 4.00 provided these new features, which are also included in
4.10:

  [1]  EPConnect/VXI Windows applications no longer use the real mode
       DOS BusManager but rather the new VXD based Windows BusManager.

  [2]  A new interface library now exists to support user applications
       written for the Microsoft Windows environment that use the
       BusManager.  This library is documented in the Bus Management 
       for Windows Programmer's Reference Guide and implements an 
       entirely new EPConnect API (Applications Programming Interface).
       This new API offers more consistency and functionality than the 
       older API.

  [3]  For older EPConnect Windows applications, a compatibility library
       now exists that allows these applications to run unmodified on the
       new EPConnect.  This allows these applications to be used until
       they are ported to the new API.

  [4]  Message Delivery System (MDS) has been removed.  The SICL API
       is now the preferred interface for instrumentation control
       programming.  Users' MDS code should either be ported to SICL,
       or used with EPConnect/VXI 3.11 (the final MDS release).

  [5]  SURM can run without a DOS BusManager installed on the
       EPC-7.  SURM will use a BusManager if one is loaded before
       SURM is run.

Small miscellaneous improvements have been incorporated throughout the
software system.  The following components have been upgraded from the
previous release:

    *  BusMonitor
    *  BusProbe
    *  BusManager

Both BusMonitor and BusProbe have been modified to work in the new
Windows environment.  BusProbe now uses SICL for communication with VXI
devices. 

EPConnect/VXI 4.10 for DOS and Windows is only supported on the EPC-7
and EPC-8.  This release also supports VXLink under Windows, but not DOS.
The Start Up Resource Manager (SURM.EXE) supports VXLink without the aid
of the DOS bus manager.  

EPC-2 users should continue to use EPConnect/VXI 3.11. 

Two versions of the BusManager now exist.  The DOS BusManager operates
as in previous versions of EPConnect/VXI but now disables itself when
Windows is started.  This paves the way for the new Windows BusManager
and Bus Management DLL (Dynamic Link Library).  Note that if you do NOT
plan to write or use DOS EPConnect applications, then the DOS BusManager
is not needed and the memory it normally consumes can be freed by
uninstalling it.  The new Windows BusManager/DLL operate completely in
protected mode and offer better performance and protection than in
previous versions. 

Two versions of the SICL API now exist.  SICL for DOS is largely the
same as in the previous EPConnect/VXI release.  SICL for DOS complies
with version 3.5 of the SICL specification.  SICL for Windows complies
with version 3.8 of the SICL specification, and runs on the new Windows
BusManager.  These two SICL APIs have different libraries and include
files.  Moving applications between these SICL APIs will require
recompiling. 

