Need recommendations on a terminal server setup

[Pete Turnbull]

On Nov 18 2005, 15:13, Wolfe, Julian  wrote:

> I'm getting ready to make my 11/23+ available online for people to
play
> with, but I'm a bit stumped as far as how I should attach the serial
lines
> to my Ethernet network.

At home, I have a Xylogics Annex terminal server with connections to
some consoles, including (when I sort out the cables) my PDP-8, 11/23+
and 11/40.  Most of those aren't switched on all the time, though.  It
also has a real VT420 and a Wyse 50, and a few other things attached.

Elsewhere, I have an Origin2000 and its MMSC which I'd like to be able
to talk to, and I thought of a similar sort of thing as you -- an old
laptop running Linux.  I also have a spare Racal Interlan terminal
server that would do the job, and I've seen Cisco 1000-series,
1600-series, and 2500-series boxes going cheap on eBay that would suit.
 Some ofthem support 8 or 16 serial lines.  However, I've found a
little Lantronix MSS1-T which is effectively a 1-port terminal server.

If you need several serial lines connected from one PDP-11, go for a
terminal server, mounted in the same rack as the PDP.  If you're
thinking of buying a Cisco or similar, make sure it's a terminal (or
console) server -- Cisco call them access servers.  The ones with one
or two WAN serial ports are not what you want.

-- 
Pete						Peter Turnbull
						Network Manager
						University of York