bruce@graffiti.UUCP (Bruce Jilek) (02/20/86)
Pardon my ignorance, but....
Does anyone know of a device that will allow a computer with a
limited number of serial ports support a larger number of devices
by allocating ports based on a first come first served basis?
Example:
+-----+ +---+-----------------------------------------------> Term
| |--->|P E|------------------------------------------> Term
| | |o x|-------------------------------------> Term
| C |--->|r p|--------------------------------> Term
| P | |t a|----------------------------> Term
| U |--->| n|-----------------------> Term
| | | d|------------------> Term
| |--->| e|-------------> Term
+-----+ | r|--------> Term
+---+----> Term
4 Serial ---> 10 Serial Only 4 active at a given time, 10 available
Ports Ports for use to expand terminal locations.
Is this the domain of:
a) A multiplexier?
b) A smart swithcbox?
c) A PACX (whatever that is)?
d) A PBX?
e) The Bagwan Rajneesh?
What kind of cost is involved in doing something like this?pavlov@hscfvax.UUCP (840033@G.Pavlov) (02/22/86)
This is the function of a port selector. We have used port selectors from
Micom with good success for about 7 years, and the company makes a relative-
ly small model (the "standard" one can accomodate umpteen hundred lines/ports).
- a company called Equinox has an expandable model which may be closer in size
to your needs.
greg pavlov, amherst, ny.dave@lsuc.UUCP (David Sherman) (02/25/86)
In article <112@graffiti.UUCP> bruce@graffiti.UUCP (Bruce Jilek) writes: >Does anyone know of a device that will allow a computer with a >limited number of serial ports support a larger number of devices >by allocating ports based on a first come first served basis? Sure. These switches are commonly available, though they're not as cheap as one might expect. The ones I've seen have the smarts to allow you to choose what machine to connect to, as well as allow you to support lots of devices non-simultaneously on one machine. Two which I know of are the Gandalf PACX and the Develcon Develswitch. These are both Canadian products: Gandalf is in Ottawa and Develcon in Saskatoon, Sask. (thought they both have U.S. sales offices). At the time I was looking at these (we just ended up getting more and more ports on our Perkin-Elmer 3220), a "small" one was in the $12,000-$16,000 (Cdn) range. They're likely somewhat cheaper now. Dave Sherman The Law Society of Upper Canada Toronto -- { ihnp4!utzoo pesnta utcs hcr decvax!utcsri } !lsuc!dave