From owner-freebsd-stable@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jan 12 20:56:55 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 07861106568F for ; Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:55 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from jdc@koitsu.dyndns.org) Received: from qmta04.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net (qmta04.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net [76.96.62.40]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id A4EA88FC20 for ; Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:54 +0000 (UTC) Received: from omta21.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net ([76.96.62.72]) by qmta04.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net with comcast id UfK11d0091ZXKqc54kwuKN; Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:54 +0000 Received: from koitsu.dyndns.org ([98.248.46.159]) by omta21.westchester.pa.mail.comcast.net with comcast id Ukx61d0083S48mS3hkx7Tn; Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:57:07 +0000 Received: by icarus.home.lan (Postfix, from userid 1000) id A59ED1E301C; Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:56:52 -0800 (PST) Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:56:52 -0800 From: Jeremy Chadwick To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Message-ID: <20100112205652.GA6048@icarus.home.lan> References: <717f7a3e1001120714m37aada69gfaa35f0f9b17f435@mail.gmail.com> <44678539@bb.ipt.ru> <256197E6-FA13-491C-8F55-18D2F6A8B11A@bway.net> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline In-Reply-To: User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.20 (2009-06-14) Subject: Re: Multiple serial consoles via null modem cable X-BeenThere: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: Production branch of FreeBSD source code List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:56:55 -0000 On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 02:50:29PM -0500, Charles Sprickman wrote: > On Tue, 12 Jan 2010, Charles Sprickman wrote: > > >On Jan 12, 2010, at 12:04 PM, Boris Samorodov wrote: > > > >>On Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:14:44 +0200 Marin Atanasov wrote: > >> > >>>I'm thinking about the following situation - 1 system acting like a host > >>>with a serial port hub, each port of the hub is connected to a different > >>>machine on sio0, using null modem cables. > >> > >>Along with milti-io serial cards we use multi-usb serial > >>converters, such as SUNIX UTS7009P (7 USB to serial adapter): > >>http://www.sunix.com.tw/it/en/LinkCraft/UTS4009P_UTS7009P.htm > >> > > > >I need to look it up when I'm in front of a real computer, but > >there are a number of reasonably priced multport USB to serial > >converters out there. > > Here we go: > > http://www.usbgear.com/USB-Serial.html > > Some very cool stuff there. They also list the chipset used in some > of those so you have some idea if it will work with FreeBSD. I > think Vixie originally pointed me to this model: > > http://www.usbgear.com/computer_cable_details.cfm?sku=USB-16COM-RM&cats=199&catid=493%2C494%2C474%2C199%2C461%2C106%2C1009%2C601 > > If anyone has the lowdown on which chipsets generally work with > FreeBSD (especially with all the changes in 8.0), that would be > great. The same device appears here: http://www.serialgear.com/USB-16COM-RM.html http://www.allserial.com/usb_16com-rm.html Quite inexpensive compared to an actual serial console server! I had no idea such a device existed (well, USB-to-serial adapters, sure, just not ones which housed 16 adapters or was rack-mountable. :-) ). Decently sized FIFO buffers as well (128/384 byte Tx/Rx), at least compared to a classic 16650A (14/16 byte Tx/Rx). Usually larger FIFO == can handle higher bps without character loss. I've 5 questions about this device: * Does it work with/use hardware flow control (CTS/RTS)? * Have you tested it for character loss at 115200bps rates? * How do you configure each port (speed, flow, etc.)? * Does it work under FreeBSD 8.x (given that the entire USB stack was re-written)? * Do you have any idea what the power usage is on this device (in amps)? (Our MRV claims 1A max, but drives about 0.25A or so). > The above model works great on an old 4.11 box. It's an FTDI > chipset - at the very bottom of the page they even claim FreeBSD and > OpenBSD support. > > dmesg: > > uhub2: Genesys Logic USB Hub, class 9/0, rev 1.01/0.11, addr 2 > uhub2: 7 ports with 7 removable, self powered > ucom0: FTDI USB FAST SERIAL ADAPTER, rev 2.00/5.00, addr 3 > [...] > ucom11: FTDI USB FAST SERIAL ADAPTER, rev 2.00/5.00, addr 8 > [...] > uhub3: Genesys Logic USB Hub, class 9/0, rev 1.01/0.12, addr 9 > uhub3: 4 ports with 4 removable, self powered > ucom12: FTDI USB FAST SERIAL ADAPTER, rev 2.00/5.00, addr 10 > [...] > ucom15: FTDI USB FAST SERIAL ADAPTER, rev 2.00/5.00, addr 11 Very nice -- the fact they're using FTDI chips is good (from what I understand of USB-to-serial adapters). > > We have a 16 port model that's rack mounted and cost around $400. > >It works better many of the more expensive multiport serial cards. > >Paired with conserver, it's a really nice solution. Conserver's > >logging is great... > > > >I've used old dedicated terminal servers in the past and they can > >be a pain to deal with. The newer ones are probably nicer, but > >are also lots of money. Classic devices (like the Portmaster) are indeed a pain in the butt to deal with. I've no experience with Ciscos, but in the case of the PM, documentation vs. implementation mismatch galore. The MRV devices are thoroughly documented (it borders on overwhelming -- I'd say half of the configuration parameters are foreign to me), and I think the Cyclades TS devices are as well; it's the cost of the Cyclades which blows my mind (zero justification for it too, other than "enterprise cost mentality", e.g. charge as much as possible because large businesses will pay it). I think for folks who want a multiport serial console device that sits on Ethernet, the MRV or Cyclades device would be a good choice, since it's a standalone unit which doesn't need to be physically cabled to a "host" box (and often a good choice for those who want modem-based OOB access to devices, since it can house a v.90 modem). For those with less requirements and want to spend less, the above USB-to-serial device looks fantastic -- and at almost 1/4th the cost of our MRV. :-) As usual, thanks for the insights, Charles! -- | Jeremy Chadwick jdc@parodius.com | | Parodius Networking http://www.parodius.com/ | | UNIX Systems Administrator Mountain View, CA, USA | | Making life hard for others since 1977. PGP: 4BD6C0CB |