I still deal with a lot of that stuff.

Post #417,124 by Andrew Grygus 2/13/17 4:34:25 PM 2/13/17 4:34:25 PM Reply	I still deal with a lot of that stuff. Medical Testing Machines, for instance, are just starting to convert from RS232 to Ethernet. They have a long life, so RS232 will still be here for some time. I still keep all my tools and stocks of connectors current. Most of my Medical clients have transitioned from terminals to terminal emulation on PCs and network cabling, but some still have terminals. I use the same WECO connections over Cat5e for both serial and network, which makes things quite flexible. I watched several terminal emulation developers with good products go out of business because they refused to support the Wyse50 and Wise60 terminal protocols all small businesses used - and many still use. DEC was all they'd support, and that faded rather suddenly. I just configured a Linux server today with a Digi portserver providing 8 serial ports over an Ethernet connection. Today, the most common use for those serial ports is for scales, printers and test equipment, not terminals. I still have an external modem, through which I send faxes (remember those?). I often deal with ASCII and HEX, but never had much to do with Octal except a few unusual cases (I don't remember what they were). I never did have much to do with minicomputers - except for an IBM, when I absolutely infuriated the IT guy in charge when I installed terminal emulation (over coax in those day) in a couple of PCs while he was on vacation.
Post #417,125 by Andrew Grygus 2/13/17 5:20:13 PM 2/13/17 5:20:13 PM Reply	Damn! Responding to this post brought bad luck. I just got a call from a client I'd hoped never to hear from again - pleading for me to come down and configure a modem for remote printing from an SCO Unix system.
Post #417,126 by malraux 2/13/17 6:43:37 PM 2/13/17 6:43:37 PM Reply	:-) LRPD: "Fun is fun to have." Regards, -scott Welcome to Rivendell, Mr. Anderson.
Post #417,130 by Andrew Grygus 2/13/17 10:00:39 PM 2/13/17 10:00:40 PM Reply	Just Lovely The new modem seems configured the same as the dead one, but it's not sending reports. To go farther I need cooperation from the software vendor. Software vendor says, "They are no longer our client. They stopped making support payments almost 3 years ago".
Post #417,131 by boxley 2/13/17 10:17:43 PM 2/13/17 10:17:43 PM Reply	you have a copy of littlebiglan around? used to be useful in redirecting serial IO to files for diagnostics. It would redirect the interupt "Science is the belief in the ignorance of the experts" – Richard Feynman
Post #417,133 by Andrew Grygus 2/13/17 11:41:20 PM 2/13/17 11:41:20 PM Reply	I suspect it isn't that complicated. I suspect the software's not sending to the port the modem is on, but only the software vendor can really tell me as they have the port list. Believe it or don't, this rig has 49 serial ports. My port list is probably obsolete, I haven't dealt with this outfit for several years. Only the software vendor can change the ports the software uses. I think a bit of extortion is in order here.
Post #417,145 by drook 2/14/17 8:11:55 AM 2/14/17 8:11:55 AM Reply	If your port list is out of date, they must have moved something Can you just move the device from port to port til you find the one that works? -- Drew
Post #417,149 by Andrew Grygus 2/14/17 12:23:57 PM 2/14/17 12:23:57 PM Reply	Even if I knew how to make the software send . . . . . with 48 possible ports that would take a long time, and if there was actually a problem with the software, it would be inconclusive. No, I need the software vendor to tell me what port they are sending to, and to trgger a send - or we may need to move it to a different port, which only they can do. I do local hardware support for a couple of LIS (Laboratory Information System) vendors. They have been entirely uninterested in me knowing anything about the software, and I'm happy with that. The client is just going to have to pony up for a year's support.
Post #417,161 by crazy 2/14/17 6:25:10 PM 2/14/17 6:25:10 PM Reply	Symlink them
Post #417,162 by Andrew Grygus 2/14/17 7:50:34 PM 2/14/17 7:50:34 PM Reply	My relationship with the software companies I work with . . . . . has bounds I have no interest in stepping beyond. I work coordinating with them and keep my hands off their stuff. It is up to them to tell me what port to use, up to me to make the hardware work as they need. I'm especially not going to step out of bounds for a client who is chronically bad pay. If the client wants this fixed, she's going to have to come to terms with the software publisher. The software people have expressed willingness to work with me on this issue, but they deserve to be paid for their efforts. By extortion is the only way this client pays.
Post #417,166 by crazy 2/15/17 2:08:07 AM 2/15/17 2:08:07 AM Reply	Sigh Get cash to walk through the door. Get a check check in advance to be cashed on successful resolution. Is the system owned by the end user? Is the software legal?
Post #417,167 by static 2/15/17 4:15:13 AM 2/15/17 4:15:14 AM Reply	An admirable position. And clearly it works for you. Especially for known bad payers. :-) I can imagine someone is having a shouting match with their accountant. Wade.

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