5130, 5130B and 5230 Excavators, 784B, 785B, 785C, 789B, 789C, 793B and 793C Off-Highway Truck/Tractors and 992G, 994 and 994D Wheel Loaders Vital Information Management System (VIMS) Caterpillar

Hardware

This manual describes the V2.0 and V3.0 versions of VIMS hardware. The original V2.0 VIMS hardware (main and interface modules) went into production in the third quarter of 1994. In the third quarter of 1996, V3.0 hardware began production. The interface modules have the same physical appearance. Part numbers are the only way to tell the difference. V2.0 main modules have the backup battery holder for stored data on the side of the module. In order to access the battery, a black "knob" needs to be unscrewed. V3.0 main modules have an "egg shaped" cover on the top of the module. In order to gain access to the battery, two screws must be removed. The battery is flat with four pin type contacts on the bottom. An L-shaped tool is required to pry the battery out.

VIMS onboard features are based on the hardware and the source software. This chart lists the combinations of the production hardware and the software classes.

All modules are backward compatible. However, the modules are not usually forward compatible. Refer to the product support group of the business unit for more information. However, 9.X software must be used with V3.0 modules to gain full benefits and features. As an example, a V3.0 main module can be used on a machine that was built with the V2.0 module. This combination of hardware will work. However, not all of the features that are available with the V3.0 hardware will not work.

Software

The VIMS main module is a dedicated computer. The computer is dedicated to the task that is described in this manual. The main module must be loaded with two basic sets of software:

• An operating system (similar to MS-DOS on a PC).

• An application program (similar to a word processing program on a PC)

The operating system software that is required by the main module is called source or source software. This software file may be identified on a PC with the file extension of "src". Features are determined by the on board class. The version of source software is considered to be generic because the same version of source software will eventually be used for most applications of VIMS.

The application program is called a configuration. Configuration software provides the main module with the specific parameters that are used by the machine. Some examples of the information that is provided in the configuration software are listed here: the engine speed which is considered as an overspeed, the system voltage that is considered too low and the basic guidelines for operator warnings.

VIMS Onboard Software Class History

VIMS on board features are based upon hardware and source software. A complete history of the VIMS source software classes ("change levels") that have been used are listed in Table 3. The 9.X class of software is the focus of this document. The 9.X class of software is also called later software (9.3X, 9.4X, ect.). The source software that was used prior to the 9.X class of source software is called earlier. THE CONFIGURATION SOFTWARE IS DESIGNED TO BE USED WITH A PARTICULAR PART NUMBER OF THE SOURCE SOFTWARE (CLASS) AND THE CONFIGURATION MUST BE USED WITH ONLY THAT PART NUMBER.

VIMS Hardware, Software, and Service Tool History

Total VIMS features are based upon onboard hardware, onboard software and the VIMS-PC software in the service tool. Table 3 lists the serviceable combinations of the hardware and software.