NIC - LOYTEC Network Interface Software 4.1.3
=============================================

Version String: Thu Nov 24 15:00:00 2011 - V4.1.3

NIC709 and NIC852 are LOYTEC products (www.loytec.com)
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1 Notes and Requirements
========================

This software package includes all needed drivers and tools to run and
develop applications on LOYTEC Network Interfaces.

The NIC Software can be installed on
- Windows XP,
- Windows 2003 Server,
- Windows Vista (32/64 bit),
- Windows 2008 Server (32/64 bit),
- Windows 7 (32/64 bit),
- Windows 2008R2 Server (32/64 bit).


2 Archive Contents
==================

File Name                  Description 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIC_Readme.txt             this file, installed with the Software
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NIC_4_1_3_setup_eng.exe    installer containing all necessary files
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please refer to the NIC User Manual for more information on the contents of the
installation.


3 Installation
==============

3.1 NIC Software and Driver Installation
----------------------------------------

You must be logged in as administrator to install the NIC Software. 
Then start the downloaded executable file 'NIC_4_1_3_setup_eng.exe' and follow
the instructions.

Refer to the NIC User Manual for more information on driver installation. When 
the NIC software is installed successfully, the following entries will be made 
in your start menu:

- NIC Readme (this file)
- NIC User Manual (Manual for installing and using the network interfaces)
- Developer Manuals (Manuals for developing ORION applications)
- LConfig (LOYTEC Configuration tool for NIC setup and software registration)
- NIC Legacy Driver (for LNS/VNI 3.x and MIP/LDV application support)
- NIC Driver Installer (re-installs all drivers in case of driver problems)
- Uninstall NIC (un-install the NIC software)

Additionally, a LOYTEC icon will appear in the system tray, which is used for
configuring the network interfaces as well as the LNS/VNI 3.x, MIP/LDV, and MNI 
support (NIC Legacy Driver). Please again refer to the NIC User Manual for more
information.


3.2 NIC Hardware Installation
-----------------------------

Please refer to the NIC User Manual on how to install the NIC network interface
hardware and connect it to CEA709 or CEA852 networks. 


4 Changes to Previous Releases
==============================

NIC 4.1.3 (2011-11-24)
----------------------

+ Fixed a problem with NIC-IP blocking new remote connections.

+ Added reset option in upgrade firmware dialog for remote devices.


NIC 4.1.2 (2011-03-10)
----------------------

+ Fixed problem with CEA-852 communication when changing system time backward.


NIC 4.1.1 (2011-02-03)
----------------------

+ Update to ORION stack 4.1.3, see OrionStack_Readme.txt.


NIC 4.1 (2010-08-06)
--------------------

+ Fixed a problem with NIC-USB, NIC852, and NIC-IP devices which did not work
  anymore on some Windows 7 64bit systems.

+ Added support for new remote LOYTEC devices (new LINX models).

+ Fixed a problem in the ORION stack which could potentially lead to application
  crash.


NIC 4.0.1 (2010-07-09)
----------------------

+ Fixed a problem where an error message would block all applications running 
  on a NIC.


NIC 4.0 (2010-02-02)
--------------------

+ Windows Vista (32/64 bit) support (check manual for supported NIC models).

+ Windows 2008 (32/64 bit) support (check manual for supported NIC models).

+ Windows 7 (32/64 bit) support (check manual for supported NIC models).

+ Windows 2008R2 (32/64 bit) support (check manual for supported NIC models).

+ ORION Stack 4.1.2.

+ Fixed a problem where NV updates could not be received for NVs without a
  selector table entry even if the disableSelectorFilter flag is set.


NIC 3.3 (2009-09-15)
--------------------

+ ORION function added to detect when a NIC-USB, NIC-USB100, or NIC-IP is
  not connected resp. cannot be reached anymore, see NIC Developers Manual.

+ Supported IDE is now Visual Studio 2008.

+ Fixed a problem in ORION stack with failed bindings after repairing a node.

+ Fixed a problem of corrupted NV interface after deleting dynamic NVs from
  unconfigured device.

+ Fixed a problem with ORION stack crashing when an NV config table entry
  with an invalid value is queried.

+ Input NVs can now be polled in the ORION stack.

+ Fixed a possible access violation when a NIC-USB100 comes out of standby.

+ Fixed a possible access violation when sending packets on a NIC-USB100.

+ Fixed a bug which can lead to application crash when NIC-USB or NIC-USB100
  gets disconnected (by mistake) while application is running.

+ Fixed a bug in the ORION stack where an asynchronous alias NV sends outdated
  information.


NIC 3.2 (2008-12-22)
--------------------

+ Older NICs without MNI support can be used as LDV devices again.

+ Fixed a bug which swapped NIC-USB and NIC-USB100 devices for LON1 support.

+ Fixed a problem where NIC Software cannot be started on some PCs.

+ Fixed occasional corruption of NIC-USB100 data stream.


NIC 3.1.1 (2008-10-09)
----------------------

+ Advanced support for Layer 2 MIP applications (CARE, etc.).

+ Removed OSSI functions from Proxy DLL and example since they are not needed
  for using the ORION stack under Win32 anymore.


NIC 3.1 (2008-09-04)
--------------------

+ Added NIC852-SW support (software-activated, no USB dongle needed).

+ Permanent IP address resp. 'NIC Support Driver' not needed anymore for 
  running LNS/VNI applications.

+ Channel type in LNS/VNI applications now correct according to chosen 
  transceiver settings of used LOYTEC NIC.

+ NIC-USB100 devices are displayed before (older) NIC-USB devices in LConfig 
  tool.

+ Support of 10MHz, 20MHz, and 40MHz LOYTEC and 3rd-party RNI devices.

+ Only NIC852 devices that are enabled are taken into consideration for the 
  unique IP/port check.

+ Added compatibility mode for e.g. Nero Software below version 8.

+ Fixed a potential memory hole when scanning for IP addresses.

+ Added support for remote LINX devices with RNI / Remote LPA capabilities.

+ Fixed memory leaks on shutdown of NIC852.

+ Fixed multi-cast configuration client shutdown error of NIC852.

+ Raised maximum number of concurrent ORION devices to 512.

+ Fixed potential memory leaks in ORION stack.


NIC 3.0.1 (2008-02-21)
----------------------

+ Fixed a bug which could lead to a blue screen when the 'LON1' support is 
  enabled and older 3rd-party 'LON1'-drivers are installed at the same time.


NIC 3.0 (2008-01-31)
--------------------

+ Added 'LON1' support for older MIP/LDV applications.

+ Added Load / Save function in LConfig NIC852 configuration.

+ Remote LPA (L-IP) assignment removed from LConfig tool. Remote LPA devices
  are now directly assigned in the LPA software.

+ Added NIC-IP support for LOYTEC L-Vis (SNR 007907-XXXXXXXXXXXX and above) and 
  3rd-party devices.

+ Fixes a bug where NIC709-USB100 devices would not be recognized immediately
  in windows 2000 when the PC is started.

+ Fixes a bug where NIC-IP OEM devices could not be assigned in the LConfig
  tool.

+ Fixed a memory corruption problem related to asynchronous network varaibles.

+ Fixed a bug where ORION applications could receive poll requests for non-
  existing network variables.

+ MIP/LDV: Added correct setting of service type for incoming messages other
  than requests.

+ NIC709-USB100 network interfaces now work in VMware images.


NIC 2.8 (2007-07-27)
--------------------

+ Windows Vista is now supported.

+ Up to 512 L-IPs and 512 NIC-IPs can now be assigned.

+ Introduces Proxy DLL for easy application development, distribution, and
  NIC Software upgrade. See NIC Developers Manual for details.

+ New feature to keep the NIC852 registration even if the configuration server
  is not present on application start-up.

+ Transceivers can now be configured directly in the LConfig tool for all
  network interfaces. 

+ Support of 3.3V-based NIC709-PCI100 network interfaces.

+ Switched from old Winhelp to compressed HTML help, providing more detailed 
  information in the help system.

+ Increased OpenLDV compatibility.

+ NIC Software now uses Orion Stack 4.0, see change log of ORION Stack for more
  details.

+ No limit on number of concurrently open Orion instances.

+ Some bugfixes in CEA852 implementation.

+ Fixes a problem with deleting and re-adding a NIC852 from a configuration
  server.

+ Bugfix for NIC709-USB / NIC709-USB100, where several applications running
  on different MNI devices could crash the MniMaster.

+ Fixes a memory hole in the LDI module.

+ Fixes a bug where a NIC709-USB100 would not recover after an application
  crashes.

+ Fixes a power management bug which could lead to access violations.


NIC 2.7 (2007-03-22)
--------------------

+ Supports new LOYTEC NIC709-USB100 and NIC852 devices.

+ IP timeout for accessing remote devices (L-IPs, NIC-IPs, etc.) can be setup
  in LConfig tool.

+ Up to 8 devices per device class are now supported for NIC-USB, NIC-PCI,
  and NIC-852.

+ Fixes problem with updating between different language versions of the NIC
  Software.

+ Linux Kernel 2.6 is now supported (NIC-PCI only).

+ Fixes Problem where LConfig tool would freeze after a NIC-IP firmware upgrade
  or NIC852 interface test.

+ NIC-IP transceiver is changed automatically (as soon as the interface is 
  opened) when a different NIC-IP type is assigned to a certain NIC_IP_X 
  device in the LConfig tool.


NIC 2.6.5 (2006-11-27)
----------------------

+ Fixes a problem with NIC709-IP3E100 devices where the device could not
  be used with an LNS application.


NIC 2.6.4 (2006-10-25)
----------------------

+ Fixes exception in NIC Software if certain UDP packets were received 
  (e.g. port scans).

+ Fixes problems with some firewall configurations.

+ New generation of NIC-IPs as well as the new L-OPC devices are now
  supported.


NIC 2.6.3 (2006-02-08)
----------------------

+ Lowering the number of MNI devices for Legacy applications works correctly
  now.

+ Solves problem where NIC852 quits working with IPP error.

+ Redundant L-IPs are now supported.

+ Solves problem where MniMaster cannot be started (upon PC startup).

+ A PC (running the NIC Software ) behind a NAT router can now access NIC-IPs.

+ Solves problem with Linux PCI drivers (did not work on some PCs).

+ Linux driver now produces correct Node ID (on new NIC-PCIs models).


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This file is maintained by LOYTEC (www.loytec.com)
