DECserver

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In computer networking, DECserver initially referred to a highly successful family of asynchronous terminal server products introduced by Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC) and later referred to a class of UNIX-variant application and file server products based upon the MIPS processor.

[edit] DECserver Models

DECservers are Ethernet connected terminal servers.

All DECservers used the Local Area Transport (LAT) protocol which was/is also supported by many DEC operating systems including VAX/VMS, OpenVMS, RSX-11, and Ultrix (An implementation of UNIX). All DECservers are designed to boot their operating systems across the network using DECnet MOP (Maintenance Operations Protocol) with later models supporting TCP/IP booting using bootp protocol. Some later models also supported booting from flash memory cards (notably some models of DECserver 700).

The various models of DECserver included:

DECserver 90 — 8 serial ports (all RJ11 connectors). There were various models, some with only LAT support whilst others supported TCP/IP as well. This model was designed to connect as a hot swap module into the DEChub 90 but could also be run standalone with an external power supply.
DECserver 100 — 8 serial ports (All with DB25 connectors), LAT support only. This was the first model of DECserver.
DECserver 200 — 8 serial ports LAT support only
DECserver 250 — Serial port model with one parallel printer connection, LAT support only.
DECserver 300 — 8 or 16 serial ports, LAT and TCP/IP support
DECserver 550 — Much larger than previous models with support for up to 128 ports using addin cards^{[citation needed]}, LAT support only.
DECserver 700 — 8 ports all with RJ11 connectors, LAT and TCP/IP support.
DECserver 900 — 16 ports all with RJ11 connectors. This models was designed to work with the DECswitch 900 as a hot swappable module although could be used standalone with an external power supply.

As well as connecting terminals and being used as standard terminal servers, DECservers also support reverse connections (either LAT, or on later models Telnet) allowing them to be used as print servers or console servers.