31 Jul
2022
31 Jul
'22
7:51 p.m.
On Sat, Jul 30, 2022 at 10:23 PM Ali via cctalk <cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
So I am wondering if there is a box that provides a telnet CLIENT to a
serial port device? I.E. a box smart enough that handles the telnet client,
LAN functions, and terminal emulations internally and then provides a text
based interface through a serial port that is compatible with my physical
terminal? That way my physical terminal would be connected to the RS232/LAN
bridge all the time and I could connected to not only the serial ports
connected to the console server but other telnet accessible services as all
the heavy lifting would be done on the bridge. I am ideally looking for a
ready to go, low power device, I can hide away as opposed to setting up a PC
of my own running some *nix flavor that I know can do this but is way over
kill. Oh yeah and if it is super cheap even better. Thanks!
You can do what I believe it is that you want with any Digi
PortServer. I just verified this with one of the original Digi
PortServer 16, 50000260 models. With that model you can configure a
port device type as a "term", and when a terminal is attached to such
a port it will connect to a command prompt. You can also configure a
port device type as a "prn", which can be a general purpose outgoing
port connection, not just a printer.
From a "term" port command line, you can open an outgoing telnet
connection to other hosts on the network, or to any other "prn" port
on the local PortServer. Other hosts on the network can open telnet
connections to the "prn" ports.
Newer PortServer models may have different names for port device
types, and different commands for connecting to ports on the local
PortServer, but should still have those capabilities.
If you look at an original PortServer, or PortServer II model on eBay,
make sure the power adapter is included. They use a triple voltage
5-pin DIN connector power supply, which you wouldn't want to have to
find separately. Newer PortServer models use single voltage power
adapters, which would be easier to replace. Some PortServer models
have built-in power supplies.
How many ports total would you like to have? A 4-port or 8-port Digi
terminal server can be found on eBay at reasonable prices in the US
($20 - $35 today for some models). You will almost always have to
supply your own RJ45 - DB9/DB25 cables at additional cost.