Re: Replacement for VT terminals

From: Wayne Sewell (wayne_at_tachysoft.com)
Date: 08/17/05 

Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 21:56:39 -0500

>From: William Webb <william.w.webb@gmail.com>
>X-Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
>Subject: Re: Replacement for VT terminals
>Message-ID: <8660a3a105081619042a6ff618@mail.gmail.com>
>Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 22:04:24 -0400

>On 8/16/05, Wayne Sewell <wayne@tachysoft.com> wrote:
>> >From: William Webb <william.w.webb@gmail.com>
>> >X-Newsgroups: comp.os.vms
>> >Subject: Re: Replacement for VT terminals
>> >Date: Tue, 16 Aug 2005 20:19:38 -0400
>>=20
>> >On 8/16/05, Dave Froble <davef@tsoft-inc.com> wrote:
>> >> William Webb wrote:
>> >> > On 16 Aug 2005 10:37:55 -0700, tomarsin2015@comcast.net
>> >> > <tomarsin2015@comcast.net> wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >>Hello
>> >> >>I am trying to replace all the VTs connected to the console port on =
>my
>> >> >>VAXes. I was thinking of buying a cheap pc and then adding
>> >> >>some more serial ports and using Powerterm/Hyperterm. I recall that
>> >> >>a long time ago someone connected the console port to a DECsever. An=
>y
>> >> >>thoughts/input would be nice.
>> >> >>phillip
>> >> >>
>> >> >>
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> > Why would you go for greater complexity and less-than-perfect VT emu=
>lat=3D
>> >ion?
>> >> >
>> >> > If the age of the devices is bothering you, Boundless Technologies
>> >> > took over the VT line from whichever owner dropped it.
>> >> >
>> >> > Or there's always Island Computer for less expensive spares with a g=
>uar=3D
>> >antee.
>> >> >
>> >> > WWWebb
>> >> >
>> >>=3D20
>> >> If you usually have physical access, and with console terminals this
>> >> seems reasonable, you can get switch boxes to connect multiple systems
>> >> to one terminal. Might need to do some custom cables.
>> >>=3D20
>> >> I prefer using a 'real' VT terminal for a console. Less potential
>> >> communication problems.
>> >>=3D20
>> >> Note that VAXstation 4000 systems don't like for the console device to
>> >> be disconnected, which a switch would do. They halt.
>> >>=3D20
>> >> --
>> >> David Froble Tel: 724-529-0450
>> >> Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc. Fax: 724-529-0596
>> >> DFE Ultralights, Inc. E-Mail: davef@tsoft-inc.com
>> >> 170 Grimplin Road
>> >> Vanderbilt, PA 15486
>> >>=3D20
>> >
>> >Well, to 'fess up, only one of our systems at work has a VT hanging off =
>of =3D
>> >it.
>> >Each data center uses a workstation with graphics console and we use
>> >CA-Unicenter TNG on 'em to reach out and touch all the other machines
>> >via serial consoles.
>> >
>>=20
>> My setup is kinda like that, except that I don't have serial lines runnin=
>g to
>> everything. They feed into decservers.=20
>
>Well, duh, if you have more than two systems to monitor!
>
>I figured that the DECservers were understood.
>
>I promise to be more explicit next time.
>

Sorry, I'm not familiar with these console consolidators. Thought it might
have some sort of hardware component that brought in the serial lines.

The only console consolidator I ever looked at was the original one from the
mid-to-late eighties. Don't remember what it was called, but it *did* have a
discrete serial line to every console, a hardware/software combo. Did it
deliberately, using fiber optics. IIRC, electrical isolation was the reason
for doing it that way.
===============================================================================
Wayne Sewell, Tachyon Software Consulting (281)812-0738 wayne@tachysoft.com
http://www.tachysoft.com/www/tachyon.html and wayne.html
===============================================================================
Jake Blues:"You traded the Caddy for a microphone? ...... Okay, I can buy that."