[net.lan] PC Ethernet terminal multiplexer?

johnl@ima.UUCP (01/20/86)

To: info-ibmpc at THINK/*USC-ISIB.ARPA, net.micro.pc, net.lan
To: net.dcom
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We have about 40 PCs around the office here connected by a 3com Ethernet.  
Some of them have modems for dial-out, but we would like to be able to dial 
out from a lot more of them.  One possibility is to buy a bunch of internal 
modem cards for the PCs, buy more analog ports for the PBX, and run them 
through the PBX.  Another possibility, I suppose, would be to get a data pbx 
and run RS-232 cable through the ceiling.  

Since all of the PCs are already on the Ethernet, though, what I would like is 
a box that plugs into the Ethernet on one side and RS-232 and/or modems on the 
other side, along with PC software to play VT-100 speaking over the Ethernet 
to the box.  I suspect that 4 modem lines or so on the box would be enough.  

I gather that Bridge Communications makes such a thing but it sounds kind of 
expensive.  Does anybody have any experience with the Bridge box or anything 
else that might do the trick?  I'd prefer something off the shelf, though I 
can roll my own if it would save a whole lot of money.  

John Levine, Javelin Software, Cambridge MA 617-494-1400
{ decvax | harvard | think | ihnp4 | cbosgd }!ima!johnl, Levine@YALE.ARPA

The opinions above are solely those of a 12 year old hacker who has broken
into my account, and not those of my employer or any other organization.

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