Sellam:
>In telco parlance this is what's called a
"hunt group"
Yes, thanks, I couldn't remember the right word for it.
One could use telnet from the outside to hit a specific port on the gateway
PC (105.27.33.33:2020 for example for the main line). Each port relates to a
specific path through the gateway to a classic machine or to a "random"
server. The routing software on the gateway wouldn't be trivial, but
wouldn't be too tough either.
I'm also thinking about dial-out from an exhibitor display to a BBS in
addition to a "dial-in" from the outside.
Time to hit eBay and search for a Panasonic 616 :-) Sold commercially, used
units go for $450. The 308 is about $300. I'm obviously looking to pay
less...
Rich
-----Original Message-----
From: cctalk-bounces at
classiccmp.org [mailto:cctalk-bounces at
classiccmp.org]
On Behalf Of Vintage Computer Festival
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2005 4:16 PM
To: General Discussion: On-Topic and Off-Topic Posts
Subject: RE: Analog modem emulator?
On Tue, 2 Aug 2005, Cini, Richard wrote:
I was talking about the VCF exhibit, where I believe
you would still
D'oh! Sorry.
need a modem bank. If I have two Apple II's each
with a modem plugged into
the PBX and I "dial" extension 101 which is the host PC, won't I get a
busy
when the second Apple dials "101"? I think
you do need a modem bank on the
host PC with the fallover feature on the PBX programmed properly. The PBX
is
simply acting as the "phone company" for
purposes of connecting the two.
In telco parlance this is what's called a "hunt group", where you have
multiple destinations in a group that all have the same function where it
doesn't matter which one you reach (for instance a customer support line).
So you have one number assigned to the entire group, and the PBX will pick
the first available extension based on some simple algorithm (hunt from
top down, bottom up, least used, etc.)
In the VCF exhibit, my thinking is that each exhibitor is assigned an
extension, and so people on the outside (or inside) can call into a main
number and then from there transfer themselves to a particular exhibitor's
extension. If there's a TCP/IP to telco gateway (what we are discussing
here) then the gateway PC would have a bank of modems connected into the
PBX and anyone coming in on a TCP/IP "call" would be randomly assigned a
physical modem, and from there they could dial into any available
extension. If the extension is busy, they try another (or get routed to
e-mail to leave a message ;)
--
Sellam Ismail Vintage Computer
Festival
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