SUMMARY: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions

From: William Bulley (web@merit.edu)
Date: Thu Oct 03 1996 - 15:58:49 CDT


And the winner is: MAGMA! (by overwhelming acclaim)

My original message:

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> To: sun-managers@ra.mcs.anl.gov
> From: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 18:22:59 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> I've exhausted my local resources and my WWW search didn't turn
> up anything of much use. I am looking to purchase a faster serial
> S-bus single-width card for a SPARC 1/1+/2 class machine. The A
> and B serial ports on the mother board only run to 38,400 baud
> (without a driver patch which won't solve my problems). I tried
> to contact a used Sun hardware supplier and he was clueless... :-)
>
> Seems to me this should be fairly easy to solve (but the Sun Manager's
> FAQ didn't have any useful info on this, hence the posting). I am
> looking for something that will cost in the $200 to $300 range (new
> or used), run upwards of 115,200 baud, have one or more serial ports
> (RS-232/RS-423 I don't need anything fancy or synchronous) and have
> adequate support in the kernel (either patches to 4.1.3 or modloadable
> drivers). This doesn't sound to me like too much to ask. But I'm pretty
> ignorant about such things these days. Any help or pointers would be
> much appreciated and, of course, I will summarize the results to the list.
>
> Regards,
>
> web...
>
> --
> William Bulley, N8NXN Senior Systems Research Programmer
> Merit Network, Inc. Email: web@merit.edu
> 4251 Plymouth Road, Suite C Phone: (313) 764-9993
> Ann Arbor, Michigan 48105-2785 Fax: (313) 647-3185

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Then in order of receipt at my site:

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> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Kim Culhan <kimc@w8hd.org>
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 19:20:44 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
> cc: sun-managers@ra.mcs.anl.gov
>
> I've had great success with magma s-bus boards.
>
> They're manufactured by:
>
> Mesa Ridge Technologies, Inc
> San Diego, CA
>
> 619-457-0769
>
> You can get a 4-port which is in your price range and does all you wanted.
>
> The one I have is a couple of years old, uses risc-based custom chips
> to operate the ports with very light interrupt load on your machine too.
>
> regards es 73
> kim
>
> --
> kimc@w8hd.org

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: Reto Lichtensteiger <rali@meitca.com>
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 19:21:46 -0400 (EDT)
> Waltham MA 02154 [USA]
> 617 466 8304
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> Several ... Sun (used to have?) has a thingie called an S/PC which was
> six or eight serial interfaces and a parallel attaching to an S-Bus
> module. Drivers were modloaded. I have one -- works "OK" <g>
>
> Aurora Technologies is reputed to have a better one: Try:
>
> http://www.auratek.com/
>
> Reto
> --
> R A Lichtensteiger rali@meitca.com -or- rali@world.std.com
> http://www.meitca.com/ITA/People/rali
> "Yes, you're doing things right, but are you doing the right things?"

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> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Ed Romascan <ed@magma.COM>
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 96 16:44:53 PDT
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> William -
>
> Take a look at www.magma.com
>
> We have 15 SBus products including fast serial ports that run on 4.1.3. Our
> lowest price board is our LC2+1 Sp that has two 128,000bps serial ports and
> a 20,000 character per second "Centronics" parallel port that costs $275.00.
>
> Regards,
>
> Ed
> ------------------------------------------------------------
> Ed Romascan email: ed@magma.com
> MAGMA Tel: (619) 457-0750
> 6725 Mesa Ridge Road #100, Fax: (619) 457-0798
> San Diego, CA 92121 Web:http://www.magma.com
> ------------------------------------------------------------

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: daves@adnc.com (David Schiffrin)
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 17:16:14 -0700
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> I know I've seen others, but this is the only manufacturer I can remember
> right now. Specialix at 800 423 5364 makes stuff like this. you might check
> out performance tech (www.pt.com) although I think they only do sync....
>
> good luck
>
> -dave

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: jeffw@smoe.org (Jeff Wasilko)
> Date: Mon, 30 Sep 1996 20:26:42 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> Better yet, take a look at Central Data's scsiTerminal Servers
> (www.cd.com). They sit on the scsi bus and provide 2-16 ports.
>
> I bought their 2 port model when I was doing a ISDN connection
> with a BitSurfer and I just loved it. I've since switched to a
> Ascend router for other reasons.
>
> Serial port add-ons aren't cheap for the Sun. I think the
> 2-serial/1 parallel box from CD is around $500. Try emailing
> their sales dept. and ask about buying a 'demo' or 'show' model.
> That's what I did, and I saved over $100.
>
> Jeff

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: Stephen Harris <sweh@mpn.com>
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 07:25:17 +0100 (BST)
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> -----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
>
> Check out Magma. I bought the 8Sp a couple of years ago for my
> SunOS 4.1.3_U1 Sparc 2. The manual claimes "transfers data at rates up
> to 115.2Kbps". I'm not sure if that's in total over 8 ports, or each
> port...
> They also do a 4 port DMA version where they claim 128Kbps.
>
> Takes 1 SBus slot. They can be reached on 619 457 0750 (San Diego)
> according to the back of the manual.
>
> rgds
> Stephen
>
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> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Herbert Wengatz <hwe@uebemc.siemens.de>
> Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 08:57:11 +0200
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
> Cc: hwe@uebemc.siemens.de
>
> Try www.antares.com !
>
> They have what you want ! :-)
>
> But on the other hand: If you relly intend to use fast serial ports (maybe
> lots of them ( >=16 )) in such an old and slow machine like the Sparc1 - 2,
> you will suffer severe performance losses!
>
> Reason: You will have a *VERY* high interrupt rate, when these ports are
> running at full stroke. This will even slow your Sparc1/2 even more down,
> than you can imagine.
>
> If you want to have a _performing_ machine, try to use an external
> Terminal Server ! (via TCP/IP) - You will have all the high interrupt-load
> external and only need to be fast on the ethernet. :-)
> The ususal port should be fast enough. :-)
>
> Regards,
>
> Herbert
> _____________________________________________________________________
> Herbert Wengatz, 81375 Munich |Disclaim: This Mail is my own opinion,
> Office :hwe@uebemc.siemens.de |not that of my company.
> Private:hwe@rtfact.muc.de | http://www.muc.de/~hwe/rtfact
> --- "Excellence is a moving target." ---

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: rtrzaska@uk.mdis.com (Ray Trzaska)
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 11:59:23 +0100
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> there is an sbus card, but I would prefer to use a small terminal server.
> terminal servers are built to ddo things to serial lines.
>
> ray.

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: dennis.evans@amp.com (Dennis Evans)
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 08:03:11 -0400
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> web,
>
> Try Aurora, we had a "low end" sparc with an Aurora board and octopus
> cable on it once. I don't remember the specfics.
>
> -dle
>
> +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------+
> | Dennis L. Evans | Email: dennis.evans@amp.com |
> | Systems Analyst |-----------------------------|
> | EMCS, Americas Region | Phone: (717) 540-2898 |
> | AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pa | Fax: (717) 540-2922 |
> +---------------------------------------+-----------------------------+

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> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Cameron Humphries <cameron@daedalus.com.au>
> Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 23:46:46 +1000
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
> Organization: Daedalus Integration Pty Ltd
>
> Hi William
>
> Try
> http://www.magma.com
> http://www.antares.com
>
> I have used both suppliers with much success to set up dialin servers.
>
> Examine the differences between the Magma serial and Magma DMA serial
> very closely to see which is more suitable for your case.
>
> I haven't used them in a 1 or a 1+ but I wouldn't foresee any problems.
>
>
> -Cameron
> Daedalus Integration Pty Ltd

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: "Nicholas R LeRoy" <nleroy@norland.com>
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 08:48:41 -0500
> Subject: Re: ~SM: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> William
>
> The $200 - $300 may be a problem. I'd look at ethernet terminal servers.
> They should do *everything* that you're asking for, and are much more
> widely available (everybody and their uncle builds them). Didn't get
> enough sleep last night, though, and can't think of a brand name off the
> top of my head. Do a net seach on 'terminal servers' or similar. Methinks
> you'll find lots of solutions. $200 - $300, though, may be a but of a
> stretch (but I may be wrong, too).
>
> -Nick
>
> --
> +--------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
> | /`-_ Nicholas R LeRoy | Linux -- What *nix was meant to be. |
> |{ }/ nick.leroy@norland.com | gcc -- What C was meant to be. |
> | \ * / Norland Corp +-------------------------------------+
> | |___| W6340 Hackbarth Rd | Escape the Gates of Hell with |
> | Fort Atkinson, WI 53530 | The choice of a GNU generation... |
> +--------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+
> | Hey -- These are my own ideas, not my employer's. Don't blame them... |
> +--------------------------------------+-------------------------------------+

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To: web@merit.edu
From: mike@trdlnk.com (Michael Sullivan)
Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 09:59:53 -0500
Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2

Magma has a card that fits your criteria.
We use a bunch of their serial cards and are happy with them.
See http://www.magma.com/ for details.

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Bill Krauss <billk@LANcomp.COM>
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 11:08:27 -0400 (EDT)
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
> Cc: Bill Krauss <billk@LANcomp.COM>
>
> The most respected third party serial card that I know of is from Magma
> Corp. You can get 4 x 115,200 baud, full modem/hardware flow control SBus
> board for ~$395.00. We could quote it for you or I can forward the
> contact info for Magma. I'm one of three people running that particular
> board within my company. It's easy to install and I've never had to look
> back at it since installation... My modem is connected to it so its
> used daily...
>
> They have a full line of product. I believe you can add an insane number
> of serial ports via a single SBus board with some of their other products.
> (Hundreds.)
>
> Let me know if you need more info...
>
> Bill Krauss - Senior Systems Engineer Email: billk@LANcomp.com
> Lan & Computer Integrators, Inc. Voice: 908-981-1991, Fax: 908-981-1858
> 242 Old New Brunswick Road --------------------------------------
> Suite 200 | Jer. 29:11-13
> Piscataway, NJ 08854 | NSS# 37089

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: CO Thomas Esser(101) <thomas@jetson.usi1.com>
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 1996 11:17:36 -0500 (CDT)
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> Hi,
>
> Try looking up Artecon on the web. I don't have any information readily
> available for you, but we use their serial cards and they work very well.
>
> Thomas \:)

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To: web@merit.edu
From: "Blabes: Doug Bloebaum" <blabes@msmail.datalytics.com>
Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 3:28pm
Subject: RE: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2

I like MAGMA's products. See www.magma.com.

- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

> To: William Bulley <web@merit.edu>
> From: Phi Truong <Phi.Truong@nmb.norwest.com>
> Date: Tue, 01 Oct 1996 16:02:59 -0500
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
> Organization: Norwest Mortgage Inc.
>
> look at
>
> http://www.gnp.com/
> http://www.magma.com/

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> To: web@merit.edu
> From: szh@zcon.com (Syed Zaeem Hosain)
> Date: Tue, 1 Oct 96 22:28:08 PDT
> Subject: Re: Wanted: S-BUS serial solutions for SPARC 1/1+/2
>
> Look at http://www.magma.com or send e-mail to info@magma.com for
> the products made by Magma. This is the best stuff available.
>
> Z
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------
> | Syed Zaeem Hosain P. O. Box 610097 (408) 441-7375 |
> | Z Consulting Group San Jose, CA 95161 szh@zcon.com |
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------

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So, I guess I'll be looking at buying some MAGMA products... :-)

Thanks to all those who responded!

Regards,

web...

-- 
William Bulley, N8NXN              Senior Systems Research Programmer
Merit Network, Inc.                Email: web@merit.edu
4251 Plymouth Road, Suite C        Phone: (313) 764-9993
Ann Arbor, Michigan  48105-2785    Fax:   (313) 647-3185



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