Omega Owners Forum
Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: VXL V6 on 16 June 2011, 23:22:23
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Well I managed to crack the screen on my last remaining laptop with a 'proper' serial port today. Unfortunately my job involves a lot of configuration of network devices where a good old fashioned serial port is a must......
Up until now i've managed to keep hold of laptops that get returned so i've had a healthy supply of machines to keep me going but now the serial port appears to be a thing of the past and i'm now resigned to using a USB - Serial convertor (spit spit) so i'm looking for recommendations...
Must be well made and durable (got a stack of broken ebay cheapies here that aren't up to the job of constant plugging and unplugging) and must also be able to pass the Break sequence correctly which most can't....
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Although nowadays I plug into Cisco once in a blue moon, I frequently still have to plug into the back of Unix servers, so am in the same boat, with similar requirements, including the breaks. At most, now, its a quick plug into a Catalyst to shove on an IP, or hard-force a port to a set speed (I know, I know, but our client seems to have a dislike of Autoneg), so not tried a break to Cisco kit via USB-Serial.
I have had little problem with the cheapies that are based on the Prolithic chipset, but they can be fragile (if I'm going onsite nowadays, I tend to take 2, as I have been caught out).
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What laptop, I *may* have a spare screen if its a common corporate one (but no Stinkpad stuff at all)
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I use a twin port pc card unit. Never connected to Cisco with it but no reason to suppose it wouldn't do the job. I guess pc card (PCMCIA) slots are a thing of the past too are they?
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I use a twin port pc card unit. Never connected to Cisco with it but no reason to suppose it wouldn't do the job. I guess pc card (PCMCIA) slots are a thing of the past too are they?
PCMCIA aren't compatible with the PC Express slots that are their replacement (almost like PCMCIA being similar to PCI, and PCExpress being based on PCIe)
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Prolithic chipsets work great in some applications, and don't work at all in others, IME. Anything requiring bit-bashing of the port lines (which sending a standard break shouldn't, but you never know..) fails miserably with the Prolithic chipset, IME. There's just too many layers of sluggish code between the application and the actual port lines.
Can't remember what the other "common" chipset its, but I would buy a cheapy adaptor of each type and try them both, then get a decent quality one with the chipset you get on with best.
I have also been tempted by a PCMCIA serial card but seem to be limping along with USB at the moment, although I made sure my main PC had plenty of serial ports when I built it so I should be OK for a while.
I'm guessing laptops with PCMCIA will be commonplace for a good bit longer than laptops with serial ports..
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Prolithic chipsets work great in some applications, and don't work at all in others, IME. Anything requiring bit-bashing of the port lines (which sending a standard break shouldn't, but you never know..) fails miserably with the Prolithic chipset, IME. There's just too many layers of sluggish code between the application and the actual port lines.
Can't remember what the other "common" chipset its, but I would buy a cheapy adaptor of each type and try them both, then get a decent quality one with the chipset you get on with best.
I have also been tempted by a PCMCIA serial card but seem to be limping along with USB at the moment, although I made sure my main PC had plenty of serial ports when I built it so I should be OK for a while.
I'm guessing laptops with PCMCIA will be commonplace for a good bit longer than laptops with serial ports..
FTDI?
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FTDI?
Ahh, that sounds familiar... :y
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Prolithic chipsets work great in some applications, and don't work at all in others, IME. Anything requiring bit-bashing of the port lines (which sending a standard break shouldn't, but you never know..) fails miserably with the Prolithic chipset, IME. There's just too many layers of sluggish code between the application and the actual port lines.
Can't remember what the other "common" chipset its, but I would buy a cheapy adaptor of each type and try them both, then get a decent quality one with the chipset you get on with best.
I have also been tempted by a PCMCIA serial card but seem to be limping along with USB at the moment, although I made sure my main PC had plenty of serial ports when I built it so I should be OK for a while.
I'm guessing laptops with PCMCIA will be commonplace for a good bit longer than laptops with serial ports..
Neither work well with bit bashing. As it happens, nor do PCMCIA or PCI serial cards, as again, you have the layered approach to the device.
You are equally likely to find a laptop with serial as you are with PCMCIA - both went well out of fashion 5 or 6 years ago. PC Express is the current, incompatible, form of PCMCIA.
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Thanks for all the replies!
TB, The laptop in question is a Dell D630 with a WXGA panel. I have a D410 :o, 420 :-?, 820 ::), E6500 x2 ;) (Too good for this job) here all with different size / spec screens! The 820 has a serial port but the battery doesn't hold charge anymore (which is a bit of a pain when you need to find power in some locations) and none of the others have a serial port.
I am looking at the Keyspan converters which seem to have a hefty price tag for what they are but most people on the Cisco forums seem to rate them..... :-/
PCMCIA would be an option if I could find a decent one as most laptops I use have the socket and they are likely to be more sturdy than a piece of wire with a plug and socket at either end.
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Although nowadays I plug into Cisco once in a blue moon, I frequently still have to plug into the back of Unix servers, so am in the same boat, with similar requirements, including the breaks. At most, now, its a quick plug into a Catalyst to shove on an IP, or hard-force a port to a set speed (I know, I know, but our client seems to have a dislike of Autoneg), so not tried a break to Cisco kit via USB-Serial.
Autonegotiation on Cisco has never been 100% in my experience. Tend to config WAN links (LES/EES etc) with set parameters having been caught out on failed negotiations before.
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I have a few Latitudes, will see if any have wxga - dont hold your breath though!
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I have a few Latitudes, will see if any have wxga - dont hold your breath though!
Cheers TB. :y
I am going to a site on Monday morning that I know has a couple of D630's and 620's which last time I visited were sitting on the shelf.... ::)
If they are still there on Monday morning I can cast iron, 100% guarantee that by the time I leave one will have developed a faulty screen and had it's memory downgraded to a far more acceptable level for a user. ::) ;D
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Neither work well with bit bashing. As it happens, nor do PCMCIA or PCI serial cards, as again, you have the layered approach to the device.
The point is, with some applications, they will have got it debugged with one type of chipset, and not tested it at all with the other, so you will get lucky if you try both. Other applications, yes, you'll be shafted with either.
I have a PCI 4 port card that has 4 proper UARTs on. No problems with that. :y
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Yes, I see you point Mr Wood :)
In this case, the system wasn't designed for either chipsets, but as it's a simple serial device, either type should work well :)
I found cheap tech2 worked better with prolithic, but many factors at play there.
Re pci card, can you still get a computer that takes them ;D. Also, with pci (and PCMCIA), isn't there something blocking it using STD io ports and interupts, relying on kludge drivers?
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I work extensivly with cisco kit, I have a usb serial port somewhere which does work fine for breaks, done many a password reset with it. :-) Using a d630 atm as well so haven't used it in a while will dig it out and post the info.
tom
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bought a laptop from Durabook - with a serial port on it last october , but is approx £1000
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Fortunately I managed to ressurect my D630 by 'borrowing' a panel from another D630.... I just haven't returned the panel to the other one yet.... call it a long term loan!
::)
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sorry took a while, glad you are sorted with a screen. just found the adapter and it is a prolific one for future reference.
Tom