I've never though about using one to distribute the 1PPS for NTP. Its a pity there isn't enough umph inside one of these little Linux boxes to implement NTP.
-pete On Tue, May 22, 2012 at 12:39 PM, Ed Palmer <ed_pal...@sasktel.net> wrote: > I've played with a Lantronix single port server and a Digi 16 port server > with no problems for simple COM port emulation. But I wonder if they would > work well with an NTP server. Has anyone tested that? Is the network delay > a problem due to either amount of delay or variation in the delay? > > Ed > > > > On 5/22/2012 12:51 PM, Pete Lancashire wrote: >> >> Some comments >> >> The make and model I'm using is >> >> Digi www.digi.com >> >> http://www.digi.com/products/serialservers/portserverts#overview >> >> I've used the 1, 4 and 16 port. The 1 and 4 are the same design. >> >> USB >> >> There are USB serial port servers, I have one that is 4 ports. But >> like anything USB it requires the computer to be close. For me I have >> two locations where my gizmo's are not near the PC. The other is at >> times I want to be able to run Lady Heather or Trimble Studio from my >> Laptop which maybe out on the porch while having a beer and operating >> the BBQ :-) >> >> Group buy >> >> The model I've been using is still made but even the 1 port model is >> over $100. The 4 port model shows up on the E quite often >> and I've been able to get them for as little as $20. The 16 port model >> was $5 at a local used PC store. >> >> Cards (Internal) >> >> For me pretty much the same as USB, and the other for me is the PC I >> have on the bench has only 2 short length PCI slots. >> One is taken up with a GPIB card an the other a data acquisitions >> card. Another is I have two benches. With a network attached >> setup I can access my serial stuff from either bench. >> >> This is my setup your mileage may very like in many setups. >> >> Also past experience has not been pleasant with these things. If your >> 100% Microsoft and never update past XP you may be >> OK >> >> Other makes, Lantronix, Cyclades, etc. >> >> Other then Cyclades 48 port servers, Digi is the only other vendor >> I've worked work. Hence not disqualifying anyone else >> just what I've used. >> >> Terminal servers are simple boxes. You just Telnet to the port. >> >> Some are, some like the current generation Digi's go beyond that. For >> example the software that makes a port on the >> Digi look like a COM (uSoft) or TTY (*nix) port. They even do things >> like create port tunnels, where a serial port on two >> box 'look' like the same port. One thing I like with the ones I have >> is you can for example set port 1 to emulate a COM >> port, port 2 to respond as a telnet session, port3 to only use SSL so >> you can safely use it over the Internet, etc. And if >> you really careful, you can have multiple network sessions telnet for >> example to one serial port. Something I've not >> yet tried. >> >> Cost >> >> Pretty much how good you are at finding stuff, where you live, etc. >> >> My 16 port unit was $5, the most I've paid is something like $40 (1/3 >> of it shipping) for a 4 port models. >> >> I will be adding a wiki to my yet to be developed website and will >> make a page on what I've implemented, I'd love >> to see what others have done with different makes and models, >> specially in emulating COM/TTY ports. >> >> Before that I'll write up a short summery for this weekend. >> >> -pete >> >> >> >> On Mon, May 21, 2012 at 7:55 PM, Pete Lancashire >> <p...@petelancashire.com> wrote: >>> >>> Like many time-nuts I have quite a few devices that communicate to the >>> outside world with a serial port. And like many I have more then one. >>> In a past life I use to have to connect to sometimes a 100 RS232 in >>> one location. A popular device is called a terminal server or >>> concentrator. They would take from 1 to 48 RS232 ports on one side and >>> let you talk to them via an Ethernet interface. I so far have twelve >>> RS232 ports in use. >>> >>> Now that the need for such devices has diminished, these terminal >>> servers are showing up, sometimes for pennies. >>> >>> One brand and model Digi's TS family of models I and have verified >>> they work with Lady Heather and Trimble Studio on a Windows XP PC. >>> >>> Digi offers for free a program that makes each RS232 Port look like a >>> COM port, and after configuring the terminal server, and this driver, >>> you just just fire up Lady Heather pointing to the correct "COM Port". >>> >>> Other RS232 ports on the terminal server can either be COM ports, or >>> one can be connected to via Telnet of for security SSH. For example I >>> have an Odetics on one port >>> and I just enter telnet ts4a (the DNS name I gave one of the terminal >>> servers) 2003 (the IP port associated with the third RS232 port). >>> >>> So if this is of interest to anyone I'll go into more detail, models, >>> setup etc. >>> >>> -pete > > > _______________________________________________ > time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com > To unsubscribe, go to > https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts > and follow the instructions there. _______________________________________________ time-nuts mailing list -- time-nuts@febo.com To unsubscribe, go to https://www.febo.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/time-nuts and follow the instructions there.