I actually have a RocketPort 32-port serial device and, unless their system has changed dramatically:
1)
The unit came with RJ45 port and a set of 32 RJ45 to DB9 connectors. You plug an Ethernet cable from the RocketPort to the connector and then you can plug the connector into the computers serial socket.
It all pretty much just works.
2)
You shouldn’t need a null-modem cable, the RocketPort looks like a DCE device so it connects to the DTE port on a computer with a straight through connection..
3)
The rocket port is indeed fully supported by Linux, no extra software needed. There’s a RocketPort kernel driver and minicom works fine as a terminal emulator.
I can’t imagine there being any problems with using the RocketPort.
--
Don Dugger
"Censeo Toto nos in Kansa esse decisse." - D. Gale
Ph: 303/443-3786
From: wg-test-framework-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:wg-test-framework-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Paul L. George
Sent: Monday, October 13, 2014 7:45 PM
To: Ian Jackson
Cc: Lars Kurth; 'Aravind Gopalakrishnan'; 'Mike Woster'; 'Don Slutz'; wg-test-framework@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [Wg-test-framework] P&S Changes
Ian,
1. The RocketPort `16port serial /distribution/interface/breakout panel' you mention in your document is what exactly ? I looked on the Rocketport website and the rackmount interfaces all have RJ45 jacks, but your list of accessories mentions
`DB9 Null Modem Cable Female to Female' which suggests DB9 at both ends. Also, I think we should be buying two 32-port panels to go with our two 32-port cards. So I think we need two of these:
http://www.comtrol.com/rocketport-multi-port-serial-cards/rocketport-infinity-express-interfaces/rocketport-32port-rj45-rackmount-interface
I will have my supplier get the RJ45 version of the patch panels and the associated cables. I think we can make an even swap so the totals will not change. I will contact RocketPort to talk to one of their tech
support people.
2. In para 12 you mention `The software required to make the COMTROL Multiplexer operational'. What software would that be ? I did a brief search and the Linux kernel contains Documentation/serial/rocket.txt from which it appears that
the Comtrol RocketPort is fully supported by an in-tree Linux kernel driver, so no other software ought to be needed. (For a userland test utility, I suggest the use of `picocom'.)
I was approaching this form a pure hardware point of view, independent of the OS supplied. I need to have a manufacture’s test program to prove to me the hardware is working as a stand-alone-device.
We can use the OS as the test software and make it perform once the OS is installed as an additional test set.
Also in Para 12 you mention some `CHIP SET/BIOS software identified in Exhibit A' but that isn't mentioned in Exhibit A. I assume you mean the BIOS. I suggest leaving the text and just deleting the reference to Exhibit A.
I was planning to use the built-in CPU tests on the chip set CD to test the hardware and memory. I will remove the reference to Exhibit A.
3.
> There is one HP AMD Server (Item 2 in Appendix A) that I am asking my
> supplier to re-quote it seems high.
Indeed. The DL385p that I had was about $4000 and your supplier is quoting about $5000.
There is a little profit in the price but I also questioned the base price because I also went to the HP site and could configure a server that was less expensive than what my wholesaler quoted.
I told him to call HP and ask for a “Smart Buy” price. That is why the prices look better on the HP Site, they are quoting their own “SMART BUY” price. I am an HP reseller so I should be getting the best price. I will get back to you if there is any changes
in the price.
4. Finally I had one practical point that I perhaps mentioned on the phone but can't find a record of having said in an email: we have a plan to host (at least) one 4U ARM testing chassis in this rack, along with the x86 machines. How
much spare space is there going to be ?
In your list of equipment I see 4x 2U servers, 22x 1U servers, 2x 1U switches, 2x 1U Comtrol panel. That's a total of 34U leaving 11U of a standard 45U cabinet. So I think we have some space headroom.
I believe we can support another 4U Rack mounted server. I have to worry about Wire management, even if we use 1U
With 4 1U Wire Management Racks we will still have 3U left
> I am assuming that the Linus Foundation is a tax exempt organization
> in the US. I will need the 501(C)(3) documentation to prove the tax
> exempt status.
Wikipedia says the LF is a `California 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization'. I know very little about US tax law but I don't think that's quite the same.
Lars will be able to confirm the status.
This is not a problem and documentation that shows tax exempt status with a tax exempt number is working work for us. MA State Tax is 6.25% that is about $3,750.00 on 60K, we absolutely do not
want t0 pay that.
> I can include a maintenance agreement, just verify for me the total
> number of hours a month you will require. The maintenance agreement is
> based on a yearly total so if we do not use the allocated hours in any
> one month it does not change the terms or the price of the agreement.
> I.E. 48 hour block time agreement is based on usage per year, although
> it is billed yearly in advanced or monthly in advance.
We do need a maintenance/consultancy agreement. My guess at the amount of your labour we'll need, post installation, is about 0.5 to 1 day per week.
Can we go with (say) 96 hours as a low-ball estimate for the number of hours in the first half of the year, and buy more as we need it ?
No problem, I can modify the maintenance agreement and send the corrected copy to you. I will list all the payment options the foundation can choose any option they want.
Paul L. George
PLG Enterprises, Inc.
All-Net Computer Solutions
42 East Main Street
Westborough, MA 01581
P: 508-898-9057
C: 508-450-9332
www.plginc.com
