Madge RingUser help file
========================

                                               LSS 5.0(0), August 1996
                                               -----------------------


Contents for Madge RingUser Help
================================

Madge RingUser  tells you which computers  are using your  network and
what network drivers they are using.

To learn how to use Help, press F1.

General Information
-------------------
Window layout
Ring Poll Status
Printing the list of ringusers
Getting help

Configuring RingUser
--------------------
Keeping RingUser on top of other windows
Changing the font
Changing the colors
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the poll timeout
Changing the order in which ringusers are displayed
Restricting the display to certain ringusers
Saving RingUser's configuration
Configuration file - RINGUSER.INI

Commands
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Sort Menu Commands
View Menu Commands
Print Menu Commands
Help Menu Commands


The layout of the window
========================
RingUser displays the information about ringusers in 4 columns: Insert 
Address, Station ID, Product ID and Name.  Distinctive colors are used 
for  ring users that have recently joined or left the network. You can 
scrool the list with the scroll bars, or by using the  arrow  keys  or 
the Home, End, PageUp and PageDown keys.

Below  the  list  of  ring  users  is  the status bar.  This shows the 
following information:

*  The Ring Poll Status.

*  The number of ring users found on the ring (see Note below).

*  The number  of ring users being displayed (see  Note below).   This
   might be fewer than the number found on the ring if you are viewing
   only selected ring users.

*********************************************************************
Note: Both the numbers of ring users shown on the  status bar include
      those ring users that have recently left the ring.
*********************************************************************


See also
--------
Changing the font
Changing the colors
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the order in which ringusers are displayed
Restricting the display to certain ringusers
Ring Poll Status


Ring Poll Status
================
The Ring Poll Status appears in  the  status  bar  at  the  bottom  of 
the window, and is one of the following:

*  Ring ok
   RingUser has completed its most recent periodic poll of the network 
   successfully.  The list of  ring  users  displayed  is  up-to-date. 
   However,  there  might  be some ring users who joined or left after 
   the most recent poll, and that RingUser has not yet  picked  up  in 
   its monitoring of the network.

*  Polling ring
   RingUser is  conducting its periodic poll  of the network  to  make
   sure that it knows about all ring users on the network. The list of
   ring users displayed is updated as the poll progresses.

*  Problem with ring poll
   RingUser is not able to complete  its periodic poll of the network.
   This is probably because a node has  crashed and is not replying to
   RingUser's messages.  The  list of  ring users displayed  cannot be
   kept  up-to-date while  this  situation  persists.   RingUser  will
   continue indefinitely to try to conduct its poll.

See also
--------
Changing the poll timeout


Printing the list of ringusers
==============================
You can print out the list of ring users. The printout will be exactly
what appears in the RingUser window; that  is, it will use the current
sort  order  and  any  restrictions you  have  chosen  for  displaying
selected ring users.

To print the list of ring users
-------------------------------

1  Decide  which  ring users you  want the  printout  to  show.    See
   "Restricting the display to certain ring users".

2  Decide the order you  want the printout to use.   See "Changing the
   order in which ring users are displayed".

3  From the Print Menu, choose Print List of Nodes (ALT+P, P).

4  Choose the OK button.

See also
--------
Print Menu Commands
Changing the printer setup


Changing the printer setup
==========================
Use this command to select which printer you want to use and to select
printer options for your printout.

To change the printer setup
---------------------------
1  From the Print menu, choose Print Setup (ALT+P, S).

2  In the Print Setup dialog box, select the printer you require.

3  Select  the printer  options you  require.   The options  available
   depend on the printer you have selected.

4  You  can  configure  other  options  by choosing the Options button 
   (ALT+O).  When you have finished, choose the OK button to return to 
   the Print Setup dialog box.

5  Choose the OK button.

See also
--------
Print Menu Commands
Printing the list of ringusers


Getting help
============

Madge RingUser provides general help and context-sensitive help.

To obtain general help
----------------------

>  From the Help menu, choose Contents (ALT+H, C).  Or, just press F1.

To obtain context-sensitive help about a dialog box
---------------------------------------------------

>  Display the dialog box by choosing the appropriate menu item.  Then
   choose the Help button (ALT+H) or press F1.

To obtain context-sensitive help about a menu item
--------------------------------------------------

>  Highlight  the menu  item (by  hitting  ALT, then  using the  arrow
   keys).  Then press F1.

To search for help on a particular topic
----------------------------------------

>  From the Help menu, choose Search for Help On (ALT+H, S).

To learn how to use help
------------------------

>  From the Help menu, choose How to Use Help (ALT+H, H).

See also
--------
Help Menu Commands


Keeping RingUser on top of other windows
========================================
You may find it useful to keep RingUser's window always visible on top
of other windows even when you select another window.

To keep RingUser on top of other windows
----------------------------------------

>  From the Configure menu, choose Always on  Top (ALT+C, T).  A check
   mark appears on the menu to indicate that Always on Top is active.

If you do  not want RingUser's window  to be on top,  choose Always on
Top again.  The check mark disappears.

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands


Changing the font
=================

You can  change the  font that  RingUser uses  to display  information
about ring users. You can also change  the style and size of the font.
Changing  the font  will  also  affect the  printout  of  the list  of
ring users.

To change the font
------------------

1  From the Configure menu, choose Configure (ALT+C, C).

2  In  the Configuration  dialog box,  choose the  Select Font  button
   (ALT+F).

3  In the Font dialog box, select the font, style and size.

4  Choose the OK button to return to the Configuration dialog box.

5  Choose the OK button.

For help  with the  Configuration dialog box,  choose the  Help button
(ALT+H) or press F1 while using the dialog box.

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Configuration dialog box
Changing the colors
Printing the list of ringusers


Changing the colors
===================

RingUser uses 3 colors to distinguish between ring users, as follows:

*  ring users that have recently joined the network (green by default)

*  ring users that have recently left the network (red by default)

*  all other ring users (black by default)

The default  colors are green, red  and black, respectively.   You can
change the first two of these colors, as described next.

To change the colors
--------------------

1  From the Configure menu, choose Configure (ALT+C, C).

2  In the Configuration dialog box, choose  the Select Color button in
   the appropriate box.

3  In the Color dialog box, select the color.

4  Choose the OK button to return to the Configuration dialog box.

5  Choose the OK button.

For help  with the  Configuration dialog box,  choose the  Help button
(ALT+H) or press F1 while using the dialog box.

**********************************************************************
Note: When  a ring user changes his or her Product ID, the old Product 
      ID will appear in the leaving color for  a  time,  and  the  new 
      Product ID will appear in the joining color for a time.
**********************************************************************

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Configuration dialog box
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the font


Changing the times for which different colors are used
======================================================
When  a  ring user joins or leaves the network, RingUser displays that 
ring user by using a distinctive color for a short time.  The  default 
time is 60 seconds, but you can change this, as described next.

To change the times for which different colors are used
-------------------------------------------------------

1  From the Configure menu, choose Configure (ALT+C, C).

2  In  the  Configuration  dialog  box, enter  the  new  time  in  the
   appropriate box.  The times for ring users joining  and leaving the
   network may be set differently, if required.

3  Choose the OK button.

For help  with the  Configuration dialog box,  choose the  Help button
(ALT+H) or press F1 while using the dialog box.

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Configuration dialog box
Changing the colors
Changing the font


Changing the poll timeout
=========================

RingUser  constantly  monitors the  network,  looking  for  ring users
joining and leaving the network.  It  also performs a periodic poll of
the network, just in case it misses  a ringuser joining or leaving the
network.  The status of the ring poll appears in the status bar at the
bottom of RingUser's window.  By  default, this poll takes place every
60  seconds.   You can  choose instead  to do  the poll  more or  less
frequently than this.

To change the poll timeout
--------------------------

1  From the Configure menu, choose Configure (ALT+C, C).

2  In the  Configuration dialog box,  enter the  new time in  the Poll
   Interval box.

3  Choose the OK button.

For help  with the  Configuration dialog box,  choose the  Help button
(ALT+H) or press F1 while using the dialog box.

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Configuration dialog box
Ring Poll Status


Changing the order in which ring users are displayed
====================================================

By  default,  ring  users are displayed in Ring Order, that is, in the 
order in which they were physically connected  to  the  network.   The 
computer  on  which  you  are  running  RingUser  is  at the top, that 
computer's upstream neighbour is immediately below it, and so on.

You  may  choose  instead  to order the display of ring users by their 
Insert Address, Station ID, Product ID or Name.

To change the order in which ringusers are displayed
----------------------------------------------------

>  From the Sort menu, choose Ring  Order, Insert Address, Station ID,
   Product ID or Name (ALT+S, then R, I, S, P or N).

See also
--------
Sort Menu Commands
Restricting the display to certain ringusers


Restricting the display to certain ringusers
============================================

By default, RingUser displays all the  ring  users  connected  to  the 
network. You may choose instead to display only certain ring users, or 
not  to  display certain  ring users.

To restrict the display to certain ringusers
--------------------------------------------

1  From the View menu, choose View Selected Nodes (ALT+V, S).

2  In the View Selected Nodes dialog box, enter the fields to indicate 
   how you want to restrict the display.  For more details, see  "View 
   Selected Nodes dialog box".

3  Choose the OK button.

For help  with the  View Selected  Nodes dialog  box, choose  the Help
button (ALT+H) or press F1 while using the dialog box.

To view all ring users
----------------------

>  From the View menu, choose View All Nodes (ALT+V, A).

See also
--------
View Menu Commands
View Selected Nodes dialog box
Changing the order in which ringusers are displayed


Saving RingUser's configuration
===============================

When  RingUser  is  first  installed,  it  is  configured  to save its 
configuration each time it exits and to use the same configuration the 
next time it is run.  This prevents you having to reconfigure RingUser 
to your preferences each time you run it.  The configuration  consists 
of the following:

*  The position and size of RingUser's window.

*  The colors used for ringusers that have recently joined or left the
   network, and the times for which those colors are used.

*  The font used to display ring users.

*  The time between RingUser's periodic polls of the network.

*  The order in which RingUser displays the list of ringusers.

*  The criteria used for displaying selected ringusers.

*  Whether or not RingUser saves its configuration on exit.


If you do not want RingUser to remember its configuration
---------------------------------------------------------

1  From the Configure  menu, choose Save Settings on  Exit (ALT+C, S).
   The  check  mark on  the  menu  disappears  to indicate  that  Save
   Settings on Exit is no longer active.

2  From the Configure menu, choose Save Settings Now (ALT+C, N).  This
   is so that the next time you run RingUser, Save Settings on Exit is
   not active.

If  you  want RingUser  to  remember  its configuration,  choose  Save
Settings on Exit again.  The check mark reappears.

To make RingUser save its configuration now
-------------------------------------------

>  From the Configure menu, choose Save Settings Now (ALT+C, N).

See also
--------
Configure Menu Commands
Configuration file - RINGUSER.INI


Configuration file - RINGUSER.INI
=================================

Madge RingUser stores its configuration  information in a special file
named RINGUSER.INI.  The first line is always [Madge RingUser].  Other
lines tell RingUser about its configuration, as follows:

Window=
-------
The coordinates of RingUser's window.

Joining Period=
---------------
The  time  (in  seconds)  for which  nodes  joining  the  network  are
displayed in a distinctive color.

Joining Color=R,G,B
-------------------
The Red, Green and Blue components of  the color used to display nodes
joining the network.

Leaving Period=
---------------
The  time  (in  seconds)  for which  nodes  leaving  the  network  are
displayed in a distinctive color.

Leaving Color=R,G,B
-------------------
The Red, Green and Blue components of  the color used to display nodes
leaving the network.

Font=
-----
Information about the font that RingUser uses.

Poll interval=
--------------
The time  interval (in seconds)  between RingUser's periodic  polls of
the network.

Save Settings on Exit=
----------------------
Whether  or not  RingUser saves  all  the settings  described in  this
section when you quit RingUser.

Sort by=
--------
The order in which RingUser displays the list of ring users.

View Selected Nodes=
--------------------
Whether or not RingUser is displaying only certain ring users.

Filter by=
Display State=
--------------
The options selected in the View Selected Nodes dialog box.

IA nnn=
SID nnn=
PID nnn=
Name nnn=
---------
The lists  of Insert  Addresses, Station  IDs, Product  IDs and  Names
selected in the View Selected Nodes dialog box.

See also
--------
Changing the font
Changing the colors
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the poll timeout
Changing the order in which ringusers are displayed
Restricting the display to certain ringusers
Saving RingUser's configuration


Configure Menu Commands
=======================

Always on Top
-------------
Causes RingUser's window to appear on top of other windows, so that is
not  hidden behind  other  windows, even  when it  is  not the  active
window.

Configure
---------
Displays  the  Configuration dialog box. This box allows you to change 
various colors, fonts and timeouts used by RingUser.

Save Settings on Exit
---------------------
If  checked,  tells  RingUser to save its configuration when it exits. 
This prevents you having to reconfigure RingUser the next time you run 
it.

Save Settings Now
-----------------
Makes RingUser save its configuration now.

Exit RingUser
-------------
Quits RingUser.

See also
--------
Keeping RingUser on top of other windows
Changing the colors
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the font
Changing the poll timeout
Changing the order in which ringusers are displayed
Saving RingUser's configuration


Sort Menu Commands
==================

Ring Order
----------
Displays  ring  users  in  the  order  in  which  they were physically 
connected to the network.

Insert Address
--------------
Sorts ring users by Insert Address.

Station ID
----------
Sorts ring users by Station ID.

Product ID
----------
Sorts ring users by Product ID.

Name
----
Sorts ring users by Name.

See also
--------
Changing the order in which ring users are displayed.


View Menu Commands
==================

View All Nodes
--------------
Displays information about  all  the  ring  users  connected  to  your 
network (and those that have recently left the network).

View Selected Nodes
-------------------
Displays  the View  Selected Nodes  dialog box. This box allows you to
display, or not to display, selected ring users.

See also
--------
Restricting the display to certain ring users


Print Menu Commands
===================

Print List of Nodes
-------------------
Prints the list of ring users exactly as it appears in the window.

Print Setup
-----------
Displays a dialog box  that allows you to select which  printer to use
and  to  select  printer  options for  your  printout.    The  options
available depend on the printer you select.

See also
--------
Printing the list of ring users
Changing the printer setup


Help Menu Commands
==================

Contents
--------
Displays the Contents page for Madge RingUser Help.

Search for Help On
------------------
Displays a dialog box  that allows you to search for  a topic in Madge
RingUser Help.

How to Use Help
---------------
Displays Windows Help.

About Madge RingUser
--------------------
Displays the  version number and date  of your copy of  Madge RingUser
and the Madge copyright notice.

See also
--------
Getting help


Configuration dialog box
========================

Tells RingUser:

*  which colors to  use for ring users joining and leaving the network
   and how long to use them for

*  which font to use for the list of ringusers

*  how often to conduct the periodic poll of the network
 
The Configuration dialog box has the following items:

Joining Node box - Color Period
-------------------------------
Enter the time (in seconds) for  which  you  want  nodes  joining  the 
network to be displayed in a distinctive color.

Joining Node box - Select Color button
--------------------------------------
Choose this button to open a Color dialog box. The  Color  box  allows 
you to change the color that the program uses to display nodes joining 
the network.

Leaving Node box - Color Period
-------------------------------
Enter the time (in seconds) that you want nodes leaving the network to 
be displayed in a distinctive color.

Leaving Node box - Select Color button
--------------------------------------
Choose  this  button  to open a Color dialog box. The Color box allows 
you to change the color used to display nodes leaving the network.

Select Font button
------------------
Choose this button to open a Font dialog box. This will allow  you  to 
change the font that the program uses to display ring users.

Poll interval
-------------
Enter the time  (in seconds) between RingUser's periodic  polls of the
network.

OK
--
Choose the OK  button when you have  filled in all the  fields to your
satisfaction.

Cancel
------
Choose the Cancel button to cancel your selection.

Help
----
Choose the  Help button  to obtain help  for the  Configuration dialog
box.

See also
--------
Changing the colors
Changing the times for which different colors are used
Changing the font
Changing the poll timeout
Configure Menu Commands


View Selected Nodes dialog box
==============================

Tells RingUser  which nodes  to display and which not to display.

The View Selected Nodes dialog box has the following items:

Filter by
---------
Select one  of the  following to  indicate how  you are  selecting the
ring users to be displayed or not displayed:
        
        Insert Address
        Station ID
        Product ID
        Name


Display only these Nodes
Do not display these Nodes
--------------------------
Select  one  of  these options.  Then, to edit the list of nodes to be 
displayed or the list of nodes not to be displayed,  choose  the  Edit 
List button (see below).

Edit List
---------
Choose  the Edit List button to edit the list of nodes to be displayed 
or the list of nodes not to be displayed.   The  View  Selected  Nodes 
dialog box expands, displaying these additional items.

Add
---
Choose  the  Add  button to add the item that you have selected in the 
right box to the list in the left box.

Remove
------
Choose the Remove button to remove the selected  item  from  the  left 
box.

OK
--
Choose the OK  button when you have  filled in all the  fields to your
satisfaction.

Cancel
------
Choose the Cancel button to cancel your selection.

Help
----
Choose the  Help button  to obtain  help for  the View  Selected Nodes
dialog box.

See also
--------
Restricting the display to certain ringusers
View Menu Commands


Madge RingUser Glossary
=======================

Insert Address
Name
Product ID
Ringuser
RINGUSER.BIA
Station ID


Insert Address
==============

A node's Insert Address is the MAC address the node uses as the source 
address in the frames it sends out.


Name
====

When RingUser  discovers a  node's Station  ID, it  searches the  file
RINGUSER.BIA  for  information  based  on   that  Station  ID.    This
information is displayed in the Name column.


Product ID
==========

A node's  Product ID is  reported by the node  in response to  a query
sent  by RingUser.   This  is normally  the  name and  version of  the
network driver being used by the node.


Station ID
==========

A  node's Station  ID  is the  MAC  address reported  by  the node  in
response to a  query sent by RingUser.   This is normally  the same as
the node's Burnt In Address.


Ringuser
========

A computer connected to the network.


RINGUSER.BIA
============

A  text  file  that  normally  tells  RingUser about the range of node 
addresses used for each type of adapter card.  If you  wish,  you  can 
edit it so that it conveys different information instead, for example, 
you  might  want  it to convey the names of individual workstations or 
servers.



                   ****** End of RINGUSER.TXT ******
