Xref: utzoo comp.unix.xenix:8837 comp.unix.i386:1552 Path: utzoo!attcan!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!philmtl!philabs!crpmks!gallium!garyb From: garyb@gallium.UUCP (Gary Blumenstein) Newsgroups: comp.unix.xenix,comp.unix.i386 Subject: Re: Equinox multi port boards Message-ID: <459@gallium.UUCP> Date: 4 Dec 89 03:05:38 GMT References: <458@gallium.UUCP> <134@tiamat.fsc.com> Reply-To: garyb@gallium.UUCP (Gary Blumenstein) Organization: gallium, Wingdale NY Lines: 84 In article <134@tiamat.fsc.com> jim@tiamat.fsc.com (Jim O'Connor) writes: >> using SCO HoneyDanBer and their supplied dialer program. I gave up a long >> time ago trying to get a Telebit to work on other smart i/o boards. I >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >My Telebits work with the Bell Tech (ah, excuse me, Intel) ACE board in this >system, but I didn't get the throughput improvement that I though I would. >The number of interrupts caused during a UUCP transfer did decrease >dramatically, but the actual speed of the transfers only incresed slightly. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Keep in mind that your actual throughput is also affected by the condition of the line, the modem, and your software. The board istself may not necessarily affect transfer speed as much as these other factors. However, with conditions being equal, for the exeption of the line quality (which I have no way of measuring). I have seen my highest throughput when using a Telebit on the Equinox. Overall, the worst I'm getting is around 1,250 cps and the highest is over 1,500 cps. I was never able to get 1,500 cps when using another smart i/o board, and I've tried several of these . The figures are taken from xferstats (obviously with the HZ problem fixed) and with files >500K both sending and receiving. As far as interrupts go, there was a good posting earlier which explained this better than I could but because the Equinox utilizes polls every x milliseconds when clock signals occurr, you are basically eliminating extra interrupt servicing and context switching that you get with interrupt driven i/o boards. The ASIC processor is also smart enough to handle simultaneous 38.4K baud to and from all 24 channels unlike most other smart boards which can barely handle more than 9,600 baud if that. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >Here's another VP/ix question: will this board let me run VP/ix from a >serial terminal like the Wyse60, which runs in PC mode during the VP/ix >session? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, the Equinox board supports VP/ix sessions nicley. In addition, VP/ix running under Interactive UNIX can be used over a modem. I've tested this. Two other BIG pluses for the Equinox board that I forgot to mention in my original posting (I found out by accident!) is that their drivers support line disciplines for both SCO Multiview and their office automation application (I forget the name of this). When I enabled the line discipline, Multiview flys! While I havn't measured it yet, there is a HUGE perceived difference in speed when running Multiview on, say a Wyse 60 with this feature enabled. It makes the application completly usable, and its very kind to the cpu. In fact, when Equinox releases their new drivers that have multiple sessions, I probably won't use them because Multiview works so well. The other nice feature about the Equinox is that the drivers allow Foxbase+ to run at 38,400 baud on your terminals without blowing up the screen. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >Last question (for now anyway): what physical attachment does the board use? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> They have everything under the sun. What I have, and I suspect will be the most common are two 4 foot PBX cables attatched to what they call "Modular Splitters". This is a little black box containing 12 RJ-11 jacks. Some of the other wiring alternatives you can get include male or female DB25 distribution panels, punch blocks, DB25 or RJ-11 fan out cables, etc. They also sell RJ-ll to DB25 adapters for modems and terminals and the coolest short haul modems I've ever seen. I didn't have to futz around with a breakout box at all. Just plug and go. My question is, why couldn't these boards have been around years ago when we originally configured our systems! >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >I knew I'd have another question: I heard some mention a 12-port version. >Is this a product yet and how much is it, or when will it be a product and >how much will it be? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes, I'm pretty sure it's shipping now. I had to get the 24 port board because at the time the 12 wasn't available. I'm 99.9% sure they have one now. Also, they're about to release the drivers that do multiple sessions. -- Gary Blumenstein, UNIX Network Administrator // CIBA-GEIGY Corporation, USA =========================================================================== Voice: (914) 347-4700 7 Skyline Drive, Hawthorne, NY 10532 FAX : (914) 347-5687 uucp: ...uunet!philabs!crpmks!{sysadm, garyb}