Date: Tue, 12 Jan 2010 16:29:03 +0000 From: Michal <michal@ionic.co.uk> To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Multiple serial consoles via null modem cable Message-ID: <4B4CA34F.1070508@ionic.co.uk> In-Reply-To: <20100112160816.GA99549@icarus.home.lan> References: <717f7a3e1001120714m37aada69gfaa35f0f9b17f435@mail.gmail.com> <20100112160816.GA99549@icarus.home.lan>
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On 12/01/2010 16:08, Jeremy Chadwick wrote: > On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 05:14:44PM +0200, Marin Atanasov wrote: >> Hello there, >> >> I'd like to ask you about the following - is it possible to have multiple >> serial consoles coming from a single host? >> >> What I am talking about is connecting multiple machines using a null modem >> cable - I know it is possible only to connect two machines and they need to >> be connected on sio0 (COM1). >> >> 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. >> >> This would make the first machine something like a cheaper kind of a >> terminal concentrator :) >> >> What do you think, have someone tried this and is it possible at all? > > What you're describing is basically the concept of a serial console > server, where a FreeBSD box contains a multi-port serial card that's > connected to multiple other servers. An individual would get on the > FreeBSD box with a multiport serial card (see below) and attach to the > serial port associated (wired to) whatever other box they want to log on > to. > > Yes this is possible with FreeBSD -- but you'll need to purchase a > multiport serial card that's supported natively by FreeBSD. The two I'm > familiar with are Cyclades and DigiBoard, but this would've been back in > the day of FreeBSD 2.2.x and I've no idea what people use present-day. > I'm certain others here can recommend stuff that works. <snip> You've actually mentioned one here, Digi. They make console devices and I've used, with great success. Ours had modems as well so we had a normal TCP and a phone line for DR. There is a range of sizes, SSH2 and some have 2 psu's. They have American as well as European providers, though I can't remember where we purchased ours from. We didn't use ours on servers however, they where just for switches, routers, load balancers et al so I can't comment on how well they worked with those, but I can't see it being any different. http://www.digi.com/products/consoleservers/digicm.jsp
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