Date: Wed, 30 Jul 2003 13:22:19 -0400 From: stan <stanb@panix.com> To: clayton rollins <crollins666@hotmail.com> Cc: Free BSD Questions list <freebsd-questions@freebsd.org> Subject: Re: Best way to add serial ports to STABLE machine? Message-ID: <20030730172219.GA3499@teddy.fas.com> In-Reply-To: <Sea1-F49kRacUtI9dm50000f7b5@hotmail.com> References: <Sea1-F49kRacUtI9dm50000f7b5@hotmail.com>
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On Wed, Jul 30, 2003 at 04:37:07PM +0000, clayton rollins wrote: > On Tue, 29 Jul 2003 stan <stanb@panix.com> wrote: > > > >I've got a bunch of what I call "2nd generation" HP Vectras that I'm > >redeploying for an application that gets input for Serial RS-232 devices. > >At the moment the most input devices any 1 computer has to deal with is 2, > >and I thought I would be in good shape using the on motherboard ports (as > >I have done on the "first generation" Vectras). > > > >However, I just discovered that these machines have a 8250 serial chip > >instead of a (useful) 16550A chip. Even ruining minicom against this port > >locks the machine up :-( > > > > Someone should smack that engineer around a bit. :) > > > > >Now, I can easily disable this port in the BIOS. > > > >So, whats the best (most FreeBSD compatible way) of adding an extra "good" > >serial port or 2? > > > >I've had success in the past with ISA card serial port cards to add 3rd > >and 4th ports. But I'm wondering if I can even still buy something this > >old? > > > >Suggestions? > > > > It sounds like you've got the right idea, and being able to disable the > onboard crap really helps. > > I want to say this, though. I'm a FreeBSD newbie, and may be overlooking > bsd specific issues. (I do see a variety of serial controllers listed in the > hardware guide for 4.8, so I'd assume that this is fully possible. Try it > on a > single machine before you order all your serial cards...) > > About availabiliy, I was able to find a variety of cards on > http://www.pricewatch.com . So, they're out there. > > Good luck reviving those machines, > Clayton > Thanks. I was able to go to the local computer store & geta PCI card with 2 serial ports on it. Disabled the onboards, pluged it in, and it "just worked". Suprised me, to, since I was concerned when I took it out of the box, and found no way to set IRQ's etc. I guess PCI really is "a good thing". -- "They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin
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