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Bailine Legacy (DOS) Specifications

Give this information to those helping you with the PC setup.
(Or you can give them this link: www.bailine.com/pc)

Refer to Bailine Windows Specifications for non legacy equpment

The office computer

You need a computer for Internet and office tasks, unless you are using a Windows computer for the Bailine program.

For office tasks you can use any computer running Windows, Linux or Apple with an internet connection and a virus program. There is no particular requirement to the computer or to the internet connection as long as the computer can be used in a sensible way.

Windows computer for running the Bailine BSP EMUX program

You should be able to use any modern Windows 10 laptop or desktop computer.

A newer fast Intel CPU with 4 cores is recommended. Some older CPUs and especially AMD CPUs will not work fast enough. (This is also because the emulation code the program uses is more optimized for INTEL than AMD CPUs).

You need an extra USB ports for one of more usb-to-serial port adapters plus one port for the Bailine USB dongle, as well as one for a printer. Alternatively you can use a POWERED USB switch if you run out of USB ports.

Most, if not all, Windows compatible printers can be used.

Please note that that currently (2021) The Windows BSP program can only operate a maximum of 4 simulators at the same time. To use a fifth simulator or more you need to use an additional computer.

Some older weaker laptops, in particular single og double core computers with AMD processors have problems operating more than one Bailine simulator at a time. (Using a higher quality USB adapter can however help with this problem)

If you have an older computer you can try if it is able to run the Bailine program. Anything below Windows 7 will need to run the Bailine BSP DOS program and will require hardware compatible with legacy DOS.

DOS desktop computer for running the Bailine BSP DOS program

Bailine HQ no longer supplies DOS hardware.

For running the program under DOS the requirements are much stricter and only particular types of DOS compatible printers can be used. Also you can not use USBtoSerialport adapters but have to use PCI extension cards with serial ports.

You need a computer with a printer to control the Bailine simulators.

For DOS you need to get a computer with a motherboard with built in legacy serial and parallel ports. If you can not locate such a computer you need to get someone to build such a computer for you.

Note that new motherboards with legacy ports are still available from many online computer shops, while prebuilt computers seldom have these kinds of ports.

Desktop computer (Pentium compatible, OS is optional, see 1)
with a PnP-compatible BIOS (UEFI or legacy) that supports memory sticks.

  • Legacy parallel and serial port on the motherboard, see 2)
  • An external CD/DVD or FD drive may simplify installing and backups see 3)
  • One available PCI slot for a Bailine simulator card, see 4)
  • Bailine dongle, see 5)
  • Printer (Parallell/PCL/DOS-compatible) and parallel cable, see 6)
  • Some sort of backup media, eg. USB memory sticks, see 7)
  • No particular requirements on monitor, CPU, RAM, HD, see 8)

Note 1) The computer must have a BIOS that supports PnP and the use of a memory stick. To get USB sticks to work from DOS you usually have to have the stick inserted into the computer before you turn the computer, Most if not all computers supports this but in some cases you may have to change options in the BIOS. (Click here for more information.) A UEFI BIOS must usually be switched to operate in legacy mode. (All UEFI motherboards supports legacy mode per 2014.)

Note 2) Motherboard with BUILT IN parallel and serial port. While it is possible to add these ports using a PCI card with the same ports the latter is tricky and will NOT always work. Some cards need DOS drivers or a SETUP program. Click here for information on using a Sunsway/ST Lab card.

Note 3) You need a memory stick, or a writable cd/dvd, or an external floppy disk drive,
to transfer backups to another computer if you are not installing Windows next to DOS.

Note 4) The free PCI card slot is to be used for a special multi port card supplied by Bailine.

Note 5) You need a Bailine dongle plugged into a parallel port (click here and scroll down for a picture of the dongle) in order to run the BSP program. (On a computer running Windows you
can use a Bailine USB dongle instead.)

Note 6) Click here for information on suitable printers, Note that a parallel cable should not be longer than 6 feet or 2 meters.

Note 7) You need a way to do backups. Click here for more information.

Note 8) The Bailine BSP program is a server type program capable of controlling and updating up to 64 Bailine simulators in real time. The program is CPU intensive but as it does not use any form of graphical GUI it can be run on almost any kind of hardware.

The server is run under DOS. It is simple, it does not need updating, and it never crashes!

Click here for information on how to install BSP under DOS and/or Windows.

For further information refer to www.bailine.com/faq or contact tech@bailine.com