Changing IP address to Static in DOS 6.22 for SLIP connection for file transfer

[connor3]

I am looking to make a SLIP communication connection between a host PC (Windows 7) to 4 Industrial machines running on basic Dos. I have a 4 to 1 adapter on the back of my pc and RS 232 cables attached to each machine. I am looking to find/change the address of the machines so I can send a ping from the PC to the machines. I am not very familiar with the DOS commands of the machine. I am a student engineer working for the summer. I appreciate any help!

[Geek-9pm]

...
make a SLIP communication connection...
I have a 4 to 1 adapter on the back of my pc and RS 232 cables attached...

Welcome to the CH forum.
Please help us understand what SLP is.
What 4 to 1 adapter do your have?
RS232 is an older method used to interface with slow data rate devices. Typically 8600 baud or even much lower.  Also, all old DOS programs will be the 8086 real-mode program model.  The programs are often called "16 bit programs" because they are not compatible with the mode used in Windows 7.

I do not want to ruin your project. What I am here saying is you should consider the feasibility of using the hardware and software resources you have. Many industrial applications do not run on Windows 7, expect with a VM (Virtual Machine), which adds another level of complexity to want you want to do.

To get to my point. Find and old PC with older serial ports and an old version of DOS.
Older PCs run four RS-232  ports.
My comments are a general observation based on information you gave.
BTW: I did a little work on industrial  automation a long time ago.

[connor3]

Thanks for the response. I am sending the programs from a host PC to four identical machines. At the moment I am loading programs onto a floppy and physically transferring the data to each machine. We have a switchbox (A/B switch) as an opption but we are looking to create communication with 4 machines simultaneously. The adapter from the pc goes from one 25 pin port to four 9 pin ports. I can send and revceive files for a dedicated line. However, I am looking into a basic Serial Line IP instead of Point to Point Protocol because we don't need anything more from the link but straightforward small file sharing. I believe if I can change the static IP addresses of each machine I can link each to an individual connection witht he PC, I am just unfamilar with the DOS commands that would allow this connection. Thanks again.

Note: It might not be RS-232, I did have to short two wires from my null modem to match the adapter diagram from testing with a multimeter. But I have tested that the file transfers are correct.


-I am running virtual machines from another computer to other machines and I understand most of the compatability issues. This PC is simply for transferring the files to the machines.

[Geek-9pm]

Good. Now what hour are doing makes sense.
You have four machines that communicate directly with a host over some form of serial lines. Logically, some implementation of RS232 hardware. Or are you using an Ethernet cable? With network adapters?

But SLP is a software thing. It is not inherently part of RS232, a hardware lathing.
SLP, serial Line Protocol is defined here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_Line_Internet_Protocol

The Serial Line Internet (or, Interface) Protocol (SLIP) is an encapsulation of the Internet Protocol designed to work over serial ports and modem connections. It is documented in RFC 1055
 . On personal computers, SLIP has been largely replaced by the Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP), which is better engineered, has more features and does not require its IP address configuration to be set before it is established. On microcontrollers, however, SLIP is still the preferred way of encapsulating IP packets due to its very small overhead.

Notice the association with TCP/IP.  That is often RJ-45 hardware. But fom  my dim memory, X25 was used on serial devices with RS323 hardware.

This is now getting beyond my ability. Are you making the assumption that the serial ports have drivers that support SLP? I don't think so.

Hey anybody!
I need some help here.   

[foxidrive]

to the OP:  Do you have communication established from the serving PC to one of the industrial control machines using SLIP, and it works to send a file?
You really need to get that proof of concept before adding a serial hardware 1 to 4 splitter and attempting to get it all working at the same time.

The hardware device is sharing one serial port to 4 serial ports and that could complicate the situation.

[connor3]

Geek: I really appreciate your interest in my networking struggle. I am young and have not worked on these older machines and I am an Industrial Engineering major and my tech understanding in general is much under the general audience of this site.

 You raise a point that I have been struggling about myself when it comes to the serial ports not having drivers that support SLIP. I also have been curious of how that I will call to the different machines to send the files if I can get the communication lines running: is there software needed, or will I just send the files to the different addresses via command prompt on my PC? I have looked through the articles you have attached and I am continuing to explore my resources to attack the problem. I will keep you posted on my findings and solution. I found an article that talks about the use of the slattach tool to convert the serial line into SLIP mode but am unaware if this has to do with communication to a modem (which I will not be using).

http://k12linux.mesd.k12.or.us/nag2/x-087-2-slip.operation.html

A simple way to convert a serial line to SLIP mode is by using the slattach tool. Assume you have your modem on /dev/ttyS3 and have logged in to the SLIP server successfully. You will then execute:
# slattach /dev/ttyS3 &

This tool switches the line discipline of ttyS3 to SLIPDISC and attaches it to one of the SLIP network interfaces. If this is your first active SLIP link, the line will be attached to sl0 ; the second will be attached to sl1, and so on. The current kernels support a default maximum of 256 simultaneous SLIP links.

Foxidrive: I have connected to the machine from the back of any of the 1 to 4 splitters off the PC. I have both sent and received files without any issues. I am now ready to attempt to set the 4 lines up to run simultaneously.

[Geek-9pm]

Maybe  you have RS232 hardware

Many industrial control and telemetry jobs use a serial communication method slower that Ethernet, which is 10 to 100 Megabits. Rather that RS-232, a better interface, RS-422, is used with multiple devices.
I think you should use RS-422 hardware.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RS-422
As mentioned in the article, up to ten devices can tenon one twisted pair over a moderate distance

RS-422 (also EIA-422) is a technical standard that specifies electrical characteristics of a digital signaling circuit. Differential signaling can transmit data at rates as high as 10 million bits per second, or may be sent on cables as long as 1500 meters. Some systems directly interconnect using RS-422 signals, or RS-422 converters may be used to extend the range of RS-232 connections. The standard only defines signal levels; other properties of a serial interface are set by other standards...

It is a hardware protocol, not software.

[foxidrive]

Foxidrive: I have connected to the machine from the back of any of the 1 to 4 splitters off the PC. I have both sent and received files without any issues. I am now ready to attempt to set the 4 lines up to run simultaneously.

How?  Using a terminal program?  You just mentioned in the same message that you haven't done it using SLIP and then you mention what is apparently a Linux tool: slattach as /dev/tty3 is linux terminology.