Best serial console server construction method?

[Dirk-Willem van Gulik]

> use a computer that will be used for other purposes and add 8
> serial ports.  How am I going to do that cheaply?  Well, N-port
> serial cards (where N is >= 4) cost a few hundred dollars from
> everywhere I could see (granted, they're niche items and are
> accordingly priced).  So I came up with the following scheme.

You may want to check ebay (or its local ilk) for a serial terminal
server. They are usually available there and in the 25-75 dollar range for
a <16 port version.

Dw.