Serial port cards

These expansion boards were used in mainframe computers to connect many terminals to one mainframe. Usually they gave 4, 8 or 16 serial ports. Not many operating systems supported more than 4 serial ports well - usually some Unix editions were OK. Some models were supported by DOS network environments, other ones with Windows NT.

WARNING! This page contains high-resolution photos, sometimes over 250kB!


Specialix SI-EISA serial board  
Manufactured by: Specialix

Type: 8 RS232 card
Interface: EISA
This card was working in 486 server with another one based on ISA.

Specialix info & drivers

Rear and splitter box - it's quite complex, and allows to chain another one. Notice cable's thickness.


Specialix IO-4  
Manufactured by: Specialix

Type: 4 RS232 card
Interface: 16-bit ISA
This one is in very good condition, in a box, with manual and cable. Bags are sealed as it left factory.

Specialix info & drivers


(Reference Manual)

 

(rear, box and its contents)


Unknown 4-port board  
Manufactured by: ??

Type: 4 RS232 +2 parallel ports card
Interface: 8-bit ISA
I have no idea about this one. I found it in electronics junk from USA. I have 4 these cards, all the same.

 

Olivetti multi-port card?  
Manufactured by: Olivetti

Type: Probably multi-RS232 + one RS485 card ?
Interface: 16-bit ISA
I found this one in electronics junk collected from server rooms. I don't know much about it.
Notice similarity with Siemens like-ISDN card.

 

SI-Host  
Manufactured by: Specialix

Type: 8 RS232 ports card
Interface: 16-bit ISA
Another multiport card from 486 server.

Specialix info & drivers

  

 (rear and 8-plugs cable)

SI-XIO  
Manufactured by: Specialix

Type: 4 RS232 ports card
Interface: 16-bit ISA
This one was in this 486 server as spare unit.

Specialix info & drivers

 

 

SCB 1.0  
Manufactured by: Siemens Nixdorf

Type: ISDN modem and RS232 card
Interface: 16-bit ISA
I got this card from my friend as damaged LAN adapter. Well, Siemens Nixdorf SCB is not a LAN adapter. This card has 2 fuctions: it acts as ISDN modem and allows to share it in multiple serial ports. I got a 8-tailed cable for it, but I don't know wili it work because I have no drivers for it and it seems taht there aren't any drivers for it on the net. This card has a boot-ROM which allows for serial port diagnostics.


(boot ROM)