Linux SST Release Notes
-----------------------

This release package provides an installable version of the eqnx driver 
version 4.03 for Linux systems.  The driver will run on Intel (i386) and
Itanium (ia64) systems.

Installation
------------

Please refer to the installation notes (INSTALL.TXT) for a full directions
on installing and removing the eqnx product.  

These will usually be located at /usr/share/doc/eqnx-4.03/INSTALL.TXT.  
However, on some systems, the install notes may be located under a different
directory.

Installation notes are also available on the Equinox web-site: www.equinox.com.

Changes in 4.03
---------------

1. The RPM packaging was modified to conform to standard "good RPM practices".
   As a result, the RPM is now distributed as a source RPM.  The installation
   procedures have changed.  Refer to the install notes.

2. The ISA Memory slot address was incorrectly set to 0xb0000, which meant
   that ISA cards could only be used if 16K memory was unused and available
   at this address.  The address will now be determined dynamically by the
   driver in the range 640KB to 1MB.

3. The driver routine to locate an available 16K ISA memory slot (between 640KB
   and 1MB) was unreliable and would often report erroneously that no slots
   were available.  This has been corrected.

4. Provides a fix for ISA boards.  With the previous release, 4.01, the
   majority of the ports would be initialized incorrectly and would
   not operate correctly.

5. Additional checks were put in for the "Atmel state work-around" that 
   was implemented in relese 4.01.  Additional register checks and lmx
   product id consistency checks are done to validate that the board is
   in a stable state before going "online".

6. Provides a fix for MIM/CMX boards.  With the previous release, 4.01, these
   board pairs would not go online.

7. Removes a check in the open logic that disallows the use of standard
   serial devices for RS422 ports.  The standard devices are all that is
   available at this point and this test was useless anyway.

8. Under certain conditions, output hardware flow control could be incorrectly
   turned off.  This could happen if a port is opened, HW flow control is 
   enabled and then the port is reopened.

9. System validation and check is now done prior to the build/install on the
   target system:
	* kernel source must be installed (if not, exits with error)
	* version.h + config.h must be present (if not, exits with error)
	* kernel source version must match version of running kernel
	  (if not, a warning is printed)
	* SMP configuration from kernel source must match running kernel
	  (if not, a warning is printed)
	* MODVERSIONS configuration from kernel source must match running
	  kernel (if not, a warning is printed)
						        
10. When the external power supply to a port module(s) is turned off and on, 
    there may be a fluctuation of the Ring Clock On signal.  A "debounce"
    functionality was added to the driver so that port modules are not enabled
    until the fluctuation has terminated.  Otherwise, it is possible that port
    registers could be in an invalid state resulting in input/output errors.

11. The sstty commands to enable/disable hardware and software flow control
    ("sstty [-+]rts" and "sstty [-+]ixon") did not always work and even if 
    they did the termios flags were not modified to indicate the correct
    state.  As a result, a subsequent stty would erroneously report the
    state of "crtscts" and "ixon".

12. The "quiet" option (-q and +q) was added to the sstty command.  When the
    quiet option is enabled, ring configuration messages are suppressed (such
    as the messages displayed when port modules are added or removed).

Tested Systems
---------------

Installation testing and critical product checkout was done on the following:
         * RedHat 6.2                    (2.2.14 kernel)
         * RedHat 7.0                    (2.2.18 kernel)
         * RedHat 7.1                    (2.4.2  kernel)
         * TurboLinux 6.5 server         (2.2.18 kernel)
         * Suse 7.0                      (2.2.16 kernel)
	 * Suse 7.2			 (2.4.4  kernel)
         * Slackware 8.0 (note 1)        (2.4.5  kernel)
         * Debain 2.2    (note 1)        (2.2.17 kernel)
         * Debian 2.2r3  (note 1)        (2.2.19 kernel)
         * Mandrake 7.2                  (2.2.19 kernel)
         * Mandrake 8.0                  (2.4.3  kernel)
         * Caldera 2.4                   (2.2.14 kernel)
         * Caldera 3.1                   (2.4.2  kernel)
         * Suse 7.2 Beta IA64            (2.4.4  kernel)
													       
note 1: requires "--nodeps" option to RPM.               
