Connecting peripherals

[peekay]

I need to write a program in which the central computer can interrogate other computers on the network and get information from them regarding the peripherals that they monitor. These peripherals are card readers, camcorders, cameras, OCR's etc.<br>1. Can I connect 20 cardreaders to one computer on the netwokk via a hub and monitor them simlutaneously ?<br>2. Must I connect each card reader to its own serial port?<br>3. How many serial ports can I use on one PC ? <br>4. I need the same answers with regard to OCR's, camcorders etc.<br>Is there somebody who can help. or please email me <p>PK Odendaal<br><a href=mailto: pko@mweb.co.za> pko@mweb.co.za</a><br><a href= > </a><br>

 

[peteris]

Number of serial ports you can use is usually a question of how many IRQ's are available. Typically, 2!<br>You can use a port expander card such as 'Rocketport' to get around this problem.<br>A good website to start with as regards data acquisition is at&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;bb-elec.com

 

[edfair]

You are talking about a control program on each computer controlling its devices and reporting to a central computer when queried if I understand your post.<br>1.&nbsp;&nbsp;There may be card readers available now with networking availability, not my area of interest. If not , there are serial/tcpip converters available so the answer is probably yes although the simultaneous is asking too much. But in poll mode with sufficient buffer space on a multiport card you are talking near simultaneous.<br>2. If readers are only available via serial , then the next question is what protocol. Have seen devices running in poll mode where up to 9 ran on one port. Theoretically you could put up to 255 on one serial line if you could drive the signal far enough. But you might run across problems in getting thru a poll with that many.<br>3..With the right operating system you could probably monitor 64 card readers via 64 serial ports without problems using multiport card(s). Depends on activity.<br>4. Not in my interest areas but I know Firearm Training Systems does stuff like this with video disk players where polled info switches scenery.&nbsp;&nbsp;Try looking on their web site.<br> <p>Ed Fair<br><a href=mailto: efair@atlnet.com> efair@atlnet.com</a><br><a href= > </a><br>Any advice I give is my best judgement based on my interpretation of the facts you supply. <br>
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