Plugging a security dongle into a DL380 - what are the options

[Daavid Turnbull]

We need to attach a security dongle into a DL380. The dongle is designed for a parallel port and this box, along with many other recent models, does not have a parallel port - presumably becuase the functionality is better handled via USB.

I am presuming that we will be able to get an adaptor to convert USB to parallel but I am wondering it this is the best option?

There are no spare slots in our configuration for an I/O card.

If we were to go with the USB to parallel approach how does one go about setting the base I/o and IRQ for the port as presumably this cannot be configured through the bios.

[Fembeowulf]

There are adapters to convert parallel or serial to USB. Belkin for one sells these. I know of someone having a serial dongle and got it to work with a USB-serial adapter.
Since USB automatically configures the device, you will not be manually setting IRQ or I/O base address.

[ernst limbrunner]

hi david

you have two choices:

1) use a usb to parallel (LPT) converter

this will not work if the software is accessing the io-adress of LPT directly

2) use a (low cost) pci card with a lpt port. but before you buy it make sure it fits into your slot. the g3 models do not support 5 volt keyed cards. 3 volt keyed cards have a notch 1,5 cm (app. 1/2 inch) from the left side.

best regards
ernesto

[Daavid Turnbull]

The company, Intervoice, eventually came back with a USB dongle - the right fix for this problem.

[Daavid Turnbull]

I believe a USB dongle was the only "proper" way to solve this issue.