[Info-vax] Windows terminal revamped and open sourced

[Jan-Erik Söderholm]

Den 2019-06-16 kl. 23:25, skrev Hans Bachner:
> Jan-Erik Söderholm schrieb am 16.06.2019 um 18:47:
>> [snip]
>>
>> Wasting a VT terminal isn't reasoanble. Just connect your laptop
>> whenever you need the console. You will get built in logging of
>> all console trafic. Or put a small serial-to-network adapter on
>> the console port and just connect to it when needed.
> 
> When it comes to serial consoles, I tend to use  old DECservers

We have one Lantronix terminal server (the nice ETS-line that has
the familiar DECserver CLI interface) at each DS20 and all console
work is done that way (from home, the systems are 200 Km from here).


> or an serial-to-USB converter.

Right, if possible. And if beeing local.

> Laptops with serial ports are a really rare species these days.
> 
>> There is absolutely no reason to try to force a use of some
>> old hardware such as a VT-screen.
> 
> It depends.
> 
> On a production line, if you mainly display info for the workers on how to 
> proceed, which tool to use etc., with only occasional user interaction 
> ("next task" or the like), a VT terminal is still a good choice.

Ah, right! Here is a use where I also see some value. 10 years ago
all our screens (could have been 50-100) out in the production
facility were VT510 (or similar) screens. Today they have all been
replaced by "thin clients" than runs a Windows session from some
Citrix server and then starts a terminal emulator (Extra!) from
another Citrix server. It "works", but the startup and restart
times a slightly longer today and the Citrix servers has given us
a new source of disturbances. But that train has left the station
a long time ago, and besides, today they need to reach web pages
and other stuf from their workplaces...


> You put it in place, switch it on and forget it. Even a thin client
> requires regular maintenance and has way more parts and software
> which can fail.
> 

Absolutelly true!

> Hans.