Date: Thu, 5 Oct 2006 12:08:22 -0700 From: Jeremy Chadwick <freebsd@jdc.parodius.com> To: freebsd-stable@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Recommendations for a serial port card you can actually BUY? Message-ID: <20061005190822.GA15547@icarus.home.lan> In-Reply-To: <20061005151925.GA1156@FS.denninger.net> References: <20061005151925.GA1156@FS.denninger.net>
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On Thu, Oct 05, 2006 at 10:19:25AM -0500, Karl Denninger wrote:
> Hi folks;
>
> Ok, one of my pet peeves is coming around to bite me again.
>
> {snip}
>
> I know serial I/O is passe for many, but some of us have applications that
> actually require it, and can't rationally be moved to anything else due
> to external hardware considerations.
This is in no way flame-bait, nor does it have any negative
implications -- as a fellow SA I'm just curious.
What exactly are you using serial cards for in this day and age?
A serial console server (a la Cyclades TS)? Or is there something
that's more mission-critical (for lack-of better term).
I guess my question is: what are you using these cards for, and
can whatever the goal is be accomplished by some alternate hardware
(serial-via-USB adaptors/hubs, serial-over-IP, etc.)?
BTW -- I completely agree with you about the cost of these cards,
especially so in 2006. There is absolutely no justified explanation
for such a card costing US$1500, or even US$500. These are ICs and
basic PCBs that at most cost US$20 per device -- the profit mark-up
is appalling.
--
| Jeremy Chadwick jdc at parodius.com |
| Parodius Networking http://www.parodius.com/ |
| UNIX Systems Administrator Mountain View, CA, USA |
| Making life hard for others since 1977. PGP: 4BD6C0CB |
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