PCI card to output PC video memory

Hello,

I don't know much about PC hardware so I'm sorry if this
question sounds silly.

This is for a PC system with a PCI bus. I would like to know
if there exists any PCI card which can access the video
memory and transmit it over a serial/parallel/ethernet/usb
line. I'm only interested in text mode output (that would be
80 x 25 = 2000 bytes per 'frame', or twice that in color
text mode, if I'm not mistaken).

The intention is to visualize the boot process of the PC on
a remote workstation (and, with keyboard support, interact
with it, but that's another matter), so output should start
before any OS is loaded (i.e., no software, no drivers).

I don't want to use the video output of a VGA card because
it would be harder to transmit over TCP/IP. I'm aware of KVM
over IP switches, but they have limitations in the number of
simultaneous users and/or are expensive. And text mode
output is all what I really need anyway, and it should be
easier and faster to transmit, too.

So, does any such PCI card exist?

(PS. I posted this to comp.hardware before but I don't think
it went through. If it did I'm really sorry for
multiposting.)

Thank you for your help,
--
Juanra || http://html.conclase.net/

"Juan R. Pozo" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I don't know much about PC hardware so I'm sorry if this
question sounds silly.

This is for a PC system with a PCI bus. I would like to know
if there exists any PCI card which can access the video
memory and transmit it over a serial/parallel/ethernet/usb
line. I'm only interested in text mode output (that would be
80 x 25 = 2000 bytes per 'frame', or twice that in color
text mode, if I'm not mistaken).

The intention is to visualize the boot process of the PC on
a remote workstation (and, with keyboard support, interact
with it, but that's another matter), so output should start
before any OS is loaded (i.e., no software, no drivers).

I don't want to use the video output of a VGA card because
it would be harder to transmit over TCP/IP. I'm aware of KVM
over IP switches, but they have limitations in the number of
simultaneous users and/or are expensive. And text mode
output is all what I really need anyway, and it should be
easier and faster to transmit, too.

So, does any such PCI card exist?

(PS. I posted this to comp.hardware before but I don't think
it went through. If it did I'm really sorry for
multiposting.)

Thank you for your help,
--
Juanra || http://html.conclase.net/

Nope, it doesn't exist.

Peace!
ECM

"ECM" wrote in message ...
"Juan R. Pozo" wrote in message
...
Hello,

I don't know much about PC hardware so I'm sorry if this
question sounds silly.

This is for a PC system with a PCI bus. I would like to know
if there exists any PCI card which can access the video
memory and transmit it over a serial/parallel/ethernet/usb
line. I'm only interested in text mode output (that would be
80 x 25 = 2000 bytes per 'frame', or twice that in color
text mode, if I'm not mistaken).

The intention is to visualize the boot process of the PC on
a remote workstation (and, with keyboard support, interact
with it, but that's another matter), so output should start
before any OS is loaded (i.e., no software, no drivers).

I don't want to use the video output of a VGA card because
it would be harder to transmit over TCP/IP. I'm aware of KVM
over IP switches, but they have limitations in the number of
simultaneous users and/or are expensive. And text mode
output is all what I really need anyway, and it should be
easier and faster to transmit, too.

So, does any such PCI card exist?

(PS. I posted this to comp.hardware before but I don't think
it went through. If it did I'm really sorry for
multiposting.)

Thank you for your help,
--
Juanra || http://html.conclase.net/

Nope, it doesn't exist.

Peace!
ECM

You know, I might be wrong... although it's an external box, not a PCI
card. It just might do what you want - video over IP - who woulda
thought. I couldn't find it for sale anywhere, though, you'll have to
look around for yourself...

http://www.justcomtech.com/Products/...cts_Overip.htm

Good Luck!
ECM