Terminal Server vs. Switch

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:51 pm

Is there a difference between a terminal server and an ethernet switch?

Postby **Mithrandir** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:55 pm

What do you mean by "terminal server?" If you mean a server that handles the serial interface for a bunch of dumb terminals, then the answer is emphatically, "YES." It takes a bunch of serial or // inputs from various dumb terminals (I'm guessing via RJ45 since you asked the question) and converts them to a single output for another box.

Sound like what you are talking about? If not, what and in what capacity are you talking about?

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Wed Oct 12, 2005 10:49 pm

that sounds like what i'm talking about. it has a bunch of rj-45 jacks and looked it up and it said terminal server. i dont know much about networking devices.

Postby **Mithrandir** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 8:59 pm

Wow. Mystery solved fast. What are you planning on using it for?

Postby **shooraijin** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:44 pm

And if you don't want it after all, please let me know because I *do* need a terminal server! (Preferably an Xylogics Annex but I'll take any.) PM me if you decide it's not what you had in mind.

Postby **Mithrandir** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:52 pm

I *have* a terminal server. No wait... That's and adjective, not a noun. Never mind.

Postby **shooraijin** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 9:59 pm

Then we must discuss this next time I visit in November.

Postby **Mithrandir** » Thu Oct 13, 2005 10:20 pm

No really, it's an adjective. I have a server that's dying. You're soaking in it.

Postby **shooraijin** » Fri Oct 14, 2005 7:53 am

Stop channeling Madge, you're scaring me.

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Thu Oct 20, 2005 3:32 pm

http://www.epinions.com/Digi_International_Etherlite_162_EIA422_10_100__Networking_Adapters_70001428

it's one of these. could you take a look?

Postby **shooraijin** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 8:23 am

This really isn't either one. It's not a switch, definitely, but I'm not sure if I would call it a terminal server in the strictest sense. It does offer Internet-accessible serial ports and you could probably configure it to act like a terminal server insofar as remote TCP/IP access would appear as a direct connection to a tty or COM port. If that's what you want, you could probably do that with this, but I can't guarantee it.

At $1,200 almost, that's a lot to pay and you could do better with a used Lantronix or Xylogics terminal server if that's what you wanted. You could definitely do better for a switch, even a big one.

Postby **Mithrandir** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 9:23 am

Yeah. I'd guess I could probably score a real terminal server at HSC for double digits.

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Fri Oct 21, 2005 11:43 am

This thing was donated to my youth group, and we're just trying to figure out if we can plug it in to add more ports (our switches are all full now). Would it be better to sell the thing and just buy an actual switch?

Postby **shooraijin** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 4:47 am

Yeah. This isn't a switch. Sell it and get a switch.

Postby **Mr. Rogers** » Sat Oct 22, 2005 5:03 am

Alright, thanks alot

Terminal Server vs. Switch

Terminal Server vs. Switch

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