Chapter 1 - Introduction - Equinox Systems MEGAPLEX Hardware Reference Manual

CHAPTER 1
INTRODUCTION
The Equinox MEGAPLEX, MEGAPLEX/2 and MEGAPLEX/RS family
of multi-user boards provides high performance serial I/O subsystem
solutions for UNIX and XENIX applications in ISA, EISA and Micro
Channel bus systems.
Except for the computer bus interface and an additional step in the
hardware configuration process, MEGAPLEX/2 and MEGAPLEX/RS
products are identical to their MEGAPLEX counterparts. Throughout
this manual, the term MEGAPLEX refers to all products.
MEGAPLEX boards provide:
High Performance. All 96 ports are capable of running
38.4 Kbps on all ports simultaneously.
High Density. Up to 8 MEGAPLEX MCC 24x4 host
controller boards may be placed in a computer for a total of
768 ports.
Flexible Cabling. CMX-24 and CMX-24D cluster multi-
plexers may be placed up to 2500 feet away from the host
computer using two-twisted-pair cable.
Easy Installation. With Equinox's soft configuration
technology, simply plug in the host controller, wire up the
cluster multiplexers and run the installation software.
Answer two simple questions (how many MEGAPLEX
boards and where to memory map them) and the installa-
tion is completed.
Expansion. Up to 4 CMX-24 or CMX-24D units (or combi-
nation of both) may be added to a system. This provides
from 24 to 96 ports per single slot (24 ports per cluster).
Reliability. Transformer coupled link eliminates DC
ground shift potential that can cause errors in data trans-
mission or board damage.
Introduction 1