Jump to content.

IFX Group

A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE CAN CHANGE EVERYTHING.

   ::   www.IFXgroup.net > Information > Technical Notes > IPAD Model 2500 Original Hardware Details

IPAD Model 2500 Original Hardware Details

The information on this page is for the IPAD Model 2500 manufactured by eSoft, Inc. only. It is presented here without warranty or guarantee for accuracy or completeness.

Two different motherboards were used in eSoft production. The motherboards required manual changes from the factory default settings as described below. All BIOS level power management features must be disabled.


Motherboard TypeSpecial Settings
Asus Main Board
  • Legacy ISA on for IRQ 5, 7, 10, 11
  • Audio Disabled (if supported)
Intel Rhinestone Main Board
  • Used by ISA on for IRQ 5, 7, 10, 11
  • Plug and Play = Use ICU
  • Audio Disabled (if supported)

Memory: The IPAD-OS versions provided by eSoft supported a maximum of 16 megabytes of 72 pin EDO dynamic RAM. Even though the motherboard hardware would physically accept more memory, only the first 16 megabytes would be used by the software. Early model 2500 units shipped with 4 megabytes of RAM installed. Later units shipped with 8 megabytes of RAM installed.

There were three different riser cards used to connect the interface cards to the motherboard.

  1. Found most often in the model 1200. Has three ISA (black) slots, one on the side near the power supply and the remaining two on the side away from the power supply. Some rare cards had both ISA and PCI (white) slots on the side near the power supply, but the model 1200 PNP software would not always detect a PCI network card connected this way.
  2. The most common riser for the model 2500. Had one PCI (white) on the side near the power supply and the remaining slots away from the power supply were ISA (black) slots.
  3. Identical to type 2 (above) with the addition of one more PCI (white) slot on the side away from the power supply. This allowed using two PCI network interface cards.

The physical location of the interface cards in risers with PCI slots is important.

  • The LAN interface must be in the PCI (white) slot nearest the power supply.
  • The PROVIDER interface (if PCI) must be in the PCI slot away from the power supply.
  • All other interface options (ISA-PROVIDER, AUX) must be in the ISA slots away from the power supply. The traditional placement was to have the Provider interface in the top slot, and the AUX interface in the lower slot closer to the motherboard.

The hardware options for the feed (Provider) interface must be set to the following.

Feed TypeMake/ModelInterfaceMemory IO PortHardware IRQExtra Settings
Internal Modem US Robotics/3COM
Sportster Modem
Part# 005687-03		 ISA 3e8 7
  • IRQ should have one jumper enabled at 7.
  • COM should be set with jumpers A and C enabled, B disabled.
  • All dips (card back) set OFF (up) except for 3, 5, and 8
Internal ISDN US Robotics/3COM
Courier I-Modem
USA Part# 000698-13
Europe Part# ?		 ISA 2e8
COM4		 7
  • J28 with one switch enabled at 7
  • J29 with jumper 1 and 2 enabled, 3 disabled
  • Back of card: dip 1,2 ON/down and 3,4 OFF/up
Internal 56K Leased Line/V.35 Digiboard Sync/570i-56 ISA 280
Switches=280H
ON X X X   X  
OFF   X   X
  1 2 3 4 5 6
10
  • Remove 3 screws from bottom of main board and separate the two boards.
  • On the small board, change JP1 to all pins jumped to enable V.35 connections.
  • On the small board, the dip switches at SW1 should be 1 and 2 UP and 3 and 4 DOWN.
  • On the large board, all dip switches on SW1 should be UP except 4 and 6, that should be DOWN.
  • Reattach boards.
Ethernet Feed Intel EtherExpress PRO/100b
Intel Part: PCLA8560		 ISA 320 10
  • PNP=Off, Boot-ROM=Not installed.
  • Only works in RHINESTONE motherboards.
  • Motherboard BIOS must have:
       Used by ISA on for IRQ 5, 7, 10, 11
       Plug and Play = Use ICU
       Audio Disabled (if supported)
Token Ring Feed 3COM TokenLink Velocity
#3C319		 ISA A24 10 PNP=Disabled
Token Ring Feed 3COM TokenLink Velocity
#3C339		 PCI     PROVIDER slot=PCI slot away from power supply
Auxiliary Interfaces
RocketPort 6 Port Dial-up Expansion RocketPort 485/ISA
Part# 96550-3		 ISA 180 11
  • All jumpers on JB6 should be enabled.
  • On JB7, the IRQ set, only 11 should be enabled.
  • JB2, JB3, and JB8 should not be enabled.
  • JB1 should have jumpers on 2 and 3. 1 should be disabled.
  • JP1 should have the jumper enabled on the first to pins.
Ethernet AUX Intel EtherExpress PRO/10
Part# PCLA8220B		 ISA 310 11 PNP=Off
Token Ring AUX 3COM TokenLink Velocity
#3C319		 ISA A20 11 PNP=Disabled

Only one of any of the above feed (PROVIDER) interfaces may be installed in an IPAD model 2500 at a time. Installing more than one feed interface or a feed interface incorrectly configured may cause loss of data from the IPAD model 2500 performing a factory reset in an attempt to recover from the error. The best source for this hardware is the IPAD Owners Association that runs a list server populated by some of the most helpful and resourceful people in the industry.

BIOS Settings

Sample IPAD 2500 BIOS Screen. This may look slightly different on your IPAD. This is an image of the BIOS setup for an IPAD model 2500 on an Intel Rhinestone motherboard. You should notice that this motherboard does not have any audio ability reflected in the BIOS, but some motherboards may show this option. If it does, just change the audio settings to Disabled and it will help to prevent address or IRQ conflicts.


First published 2006-12-31. The last major review or update of this information was on 2011-04-07. Your feedback using the form below helps us correct errors and omissions on this page.

 


Copyright ©1988 - 2024, IFX Group. All rights reserved.