Re: [hylafax-users] Multi serial solutions

[Andrew Rinaldi <andrew.rinaldi@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Michael Hallager wrote:
> What are peoples experiences with various intelligent multi serial solutions, 
> good, bad or otherwise?
>
> I'm currently thinking of getting this one-
>
> 4-port RS-232 PCI Express Smart Serial Board
> http://www.moxa.com/product/CP-104EL.htm
>
> Feedback on this model or others please.

You should check whether the provider has any history with the "PCI 
Express Power Management Issue".  If they have a published work-around 
then you can trust that they understand the PCI Express interface and 
haven't simply thrown together some hardware.  This issue stops some 
motherboard, BIOS, and OS combinations from booting when PCI Express 
cards are installed.  Search on google for "pci express system will not 
boot" for some background.

This board probably uses one of the Oxsemi chipsets given that it claims 
921.6kbps.  Therefore, you will require proprietary drivers and should 
check that the supplier supports the kernels that you are interested in.

If you are looking at running multiple modems then you should really 
choose a board that has a "PCI Status Register"... our research seems to 
suggest that this provides a work-around for one of the Kernel race 
conditions that results in 'wedging' on external modems.

And finally, if you have any plans to run modems in Class 2.0 or 2.1 
(for on-chip JBIG or colour support for instance) then it's likely that 
you will hit the Linux serial handshake bugs with this type of multiport 
architecture.

Regards

Andrew Rinaldi
Mainpine Developer Support
USA +1 503 822 9944 | UK +44 8458 909438
andrew.rinaldi@xxxxxxxxxxxx | www.mainpine.com


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