From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Tue Jul 29 10:48:51 2003 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.FreeBSD.org (mx1.freebsd.org [216.136.204.125]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 14CF637B401 for ; Tue, 29 Jul 2003 10:48:51 -0700 (PDT) Received: from mail3.panix.com (mail3.panix.com [166.84.1.74]) by mx1.FreeBSD.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id 2321543F85 for ; Tue, 29 Jul 2003 10:48:50 -0700 (PDT) (envelope-from stanb@panix.com) Received: from panix.com (brillig.panix.com [166.84.1.76]) by mail3.panix.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 56E9298684 for ; Tue, 29 Jul 2003 13:48:49 -0400 (EDT) Received: from teddy.fas.com (pcp01010374pcs.mplsnt01.sc.comcast.net [68.58.176.69]) by panix.com (Postfix) with ESMTP id 477B62AA3F for ; Tue, 29 Jul 2003 13:48:48 -0400 (EDT) Received: from stan by teddy.fas.com with local (Exim 3.36 #1 (Debian)) id 19hYab-00023A-00 for ; Tue, 29 Jul 2003 13:48:45 -0400 Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 13:48:45 -0400 From: stan To: Free BSD Questions list Message-ID: <20030729174845.GA7653@teddy.fas.com> Mail-Followup-To: Free BSD Questions list Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Disposition: inline X-Editor: gVim X-Operating-System: Debian GNU/Linux X-Kernel-Version: 2.4.21 X-Uptime: 13:40:20 up 4:13, 1 user, load average: 0.00, 0.00, 0.00 User-Agent: Mutt/1.5.4i Sender: Stan Brown Subject: Best way to add serial ports to STABLE machine? X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Tue, 29 Jul 2003 17:48:51 -0000 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 :-( 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? -- "They that would give up essential liberty for temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." -- Benjamin Franklin