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GEARHEAD INSIDE THE NETWORK MACHINE
In February we looked at a network power switch (see www.nwfusion.com, DocFinder: 2533) and were very impressed.This week we've got our hands on a similar device that not only controls power but also can switch its serial interface or telnet interface to one of six serial ports and be used to monitor a set of on/off switches such as door detectors.
This device is the FastNet Remote Monitor and Control Unit (RMCU) from E-COMMS, which comes in a sexy lime green, low-profile enclosure sporting a power-on indicator on the front and all sorts of connectors on the back: a 9-pin D-type RS232 console port; an RJ-45 10 Base-T, RJ-11 modem port with internal modem (with LEDs to show transmit and receive status); six RJ-45 ports for serial switching, eight pairs of connectors for switches (with LEDs for status); four 13amp power sockets; two power cords for each pair of power sockets; and a power cord for the main unit.Whew.
We would prefer to have the LEDs on the front of the unit because once it's plugged in,all...