FarSync WAN T-Series PCI cards (X.21, V.35, RS-530, RS232) for Windows

The highly versatile FarSync WAN T-Series PCI / PCI-X synchronous communication card products provide high speed connectivity to a wide variety of communications networks including leased lines, the Internet and satellite systems. The products are supported on Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003 and Linux

• Overview
• Typical Applications for X.21/ V.35 / RS530 cards
• Multiple Cards
• High Performance
• PC / Server and PCI / PCI-X Bus Compatibility
• Installation and Configuration
• Line Monitor and Diagnostics
• Product Packaging
• Hardware Technical Specifications
• Software Technical Specifications

Overview

The versatile, intelligent FarSync WAN T-Series cards provide up to 10 Mbits/s WAN solutions for your X.21, RS-530 and V.35 connectivity requirements. Whether you are connecting to the Internet, a satellite link, a private network using TCP/IP or connecting sites using leased lines. FarSync provides the connectivity solution.

The card installs seamlessly as a plug and play device under Windows 2000, XP or Server 2003 on both single and multiprocessor systems. The interface to the cards are presented as an NDIS (LAN) driver with TCP/IP running over PPP with optional authentication by CHAP or PAP (RFC 1334). Multiple adapters can be installed to create a very low cost high speed Wide Area Network (WAN) hub using 12 or more cards (48+ ports). FarSync WAN drivers have been validated by Microsoft as 'Designed for Windows XP'.

The product is supplied with its own multi-channel Line Monitor utility.

The FarSync WAN T-Series cards support PC connections to secure BRENT units using X.21.

The FarSync WAN products are also supplied with drivers for Linux, see WAN cards for Linux for further information for features under Linux.

For developers who need an API to access the HDLC or Bitstream support on the card directly, the FarSync OEM product range should be used instead. The FarSync OEM range includes a Developers Toolkit that supports application development using the adapter's API. See FarSync OEM cards for further details.

For connections to E1 or T1 lines see the FarSync WAN TE1 E1/T1 card.

Typical Applications for X.21/V.35/RS530 adapters

The FarSync T-Series X21 / V35 / EIA530 cards are suitable for connection to TCP/IP networks. Typical applications include:

Multiple Cards

A large number of lines can be supported by the installation of multiple FarSync T1U, T2U, T4U cards in a Server. Each line appears as a separate NDIS (LAN) connection. Rack mounted Servers can support 12 or more cards (48+ ports) utilising more than one PCI bus, the card limit is only dependent on the resources available in the host server.

High Performance

The T-Series intelligent cards have been designed for high performance and flexibility. The cards are driven by an AMD processor with on board zero wait state SRAM memory. The PCI Bus mastering DMA interface provides a very high performance interface to the card whilst minimising PCI and PC CPU loads.

PC/Server and PCI/PCI-X Bus Compatibility

The FarSync WAN T1U, T2U and T4U cards are PCI version 2.2 compliant and PCI-X compatible, these Universal PCI adapters can operate in PCs and Servers using either 3.3 volt or 5 volt signaling. The cards are suitable for systems with either 32 bit bus or 64 bit bus configurations and with single, HyperThreading or multiple processors. The power for the card is taken from the 3.3 volt supply rail.

Installation and Configuration

Easy installation and fast configuration are features of the product, on-line help and documentation is provided. T-Series cards are 'plug-and-play' compatible supporting Windows XP, 2000 and Server 2003. The NDIS (LAN) interface allows each line to appear like a LAN port, this means that all the configuration complexities are hidden, making for a very quick installation. The FarSync WAN drivers have been tested and validated by Microsoft as 'designed for Windows XP'.

Line Monitor and Diagnostics
 

The FarSync product is supplied with a high performance multi-channel line monitor that allows the user to record, display and store line traffic with full WAN protocol decoding, click here for a sample screen. Comments can even be inserted into the line trace to assist later analysis.

Cables

There are a number of different cable and connector configurations available. The FarSync WAN T-Series product range table lists the cables available by card type .  Crossover cables, sometimes referred to as null modem cables are also detailed. These allow the cards to present a full DCE interface as well as allowing the adapters to be linked in a back-to-back configuration for test purposes.

FarSync WAN T1U and FarSync WAN T2U

These one and two port cards have separate high-density D type connector for each port on the card. Cables supporting X.21 (V.11 / RS422), V.35, RS530 (EIA530), and RS232C (V.24 / X.21bis) are available plus RS449 via X.21 conversion cables.

FarSync WAN T4U

This four port cards uses a single large high-density D type connector on the card with all four lines available though this connector. The quad port cables splits out the four network interfaces into separate network connectors. Cables supporting X.21 (V.11 / RS422), V.35, RS530 (EIA530), and RS232C (V.24 / X.21bis) are available plus RS449 via X.21 conversion cables.

Product Packaging

The product includes the complete set of software drivers for Windows and Linux, the line monitor software, documentation supplied on CD-ROM, a quick start guide and the communications card. The cables are purchased separately, see the Product Range for details. New versions of the software are available for free download as they are released.