stui@caladan.wa.com (Stuart Burden) (09/23/90)
I'd like some feedback on NuBus MultiPort serial boards for the Mac. I haven't been following this type of hardware development at all and am curious about several things: o Is anyone making multiple port serial boards, and if so who? o Are they any good? o How does comm software interface with the board? o Do they work with Apples Communications ToolBox? o Are you required to install special inits or drivers other than CTB type drivers? o Any pricing would also be helpful Thanks in advance. Stu. -- stui@caladan.uucp stui@caladan.wa.com
leonardr@svc.portal.com (09/24/90)
In article <b.Y0HYYP@caladan.wa.com> stui@caladan.wa.com writes: >I'd like some feedback on NuBus MultiPort serial boards for the Mac. >I haven't been following this type of hardware development at all and >am curious about several things: > > o Is anyone making multiple port serial boards, and if so who? There are a number of companies making muliPort cards for the MacII/ Nubus including: Creative Solutions, Taniwha, Tara Systems, Applied Engineering, Xecom, DigiBoard, and Apple. I think that's all. > o Are they any good? I have used most of the above, and other than misc. bugs that have been correctly pretty promptly, they all seem to work just fine. > o How does comm software interface with the board? In the past, comm software had to be 'patched' to work directly with these cards either via an INIT, or a binary/resource related patch to let the program know that it existed. Also there was 'shadowing' which simply remapped output to the modem port to a port on the card instead. > o Do they work with Apples Communications ToolBox? All of the cards currently support the CTB, and this is the recommended solution to using the cards as it is now system support for such things. > o Are you required to install special inits or drivers other than > CTB type drivers? Each card comes with an INIT which simply loads the drivers into the device table and then registers them with the CTB. If you do not have the CTB, then there is more stuff for doing shadowing, etc. Leonard Rosenthol Software Ventures Disclaimer: I have tested and continue to use many of the above cards in my machines. I can say whatever I want about them, and let them do as they may ;-)
bkuo@nunki.usc.edu (Benjamin Kuo) (09/26/90)
There are at least two PROJECTS in the works for multi-port serial NuBus cards, specifically in the area of multi-line bulletin boards. I'd check with the creators of NovaLink, a multi-line (5+, I'm sure) BBS program for any NuBus Mac, and also Hermes (currently 2 line, with plans to expand to more). I don't have a contact for these people, but I hope this gives you a lead. Benjamin Kuo
alex@grian.cps.altadena.ca.us (Alex Pournelle) (10/02/90)
bkuo@nunki.usc.edu (Benjamin Kuo) writes: >There are at least two PROJECTS in the works for multi-port serial >NuBus cards, specifically in the area of multi-line bulletin boards. >I'd check with the creators of NovaLink, a multi-line (5+, I'm sure) >BBS program for any NuBus Mac, and also Hermes (currently 2 line, >with plans to expand to more). I don't have a contact for these people, >but I hope this gives you a lead. 'Tis a poor sort of memory that only works one way... I *think* that DigiBoard and National Instruments both make multi-serial port NuBus boards with software. Check 'em out. Alex -- Alex Pournelle, freelance thinker Also: Workman & Associates, Data recovery for PCs, Macs, others ...elroy!grian!alex; BIX: alex; voice: (818) 791-7979 fax: (818) 794-2297 bbs: 791-1013; 8N1 24/12/3