Z240 add Serial Port/

[DonB-GE]

Am I able to add a Serial Port to my HP Z240 Workstation S/N [edited]?  It appears there is a connector for a single port available, but are the drivers present?

[DGroves]

if the serial port is a HP option for that model then it stands to reasion that any drivers for it (if required) would also be posted under the support/drivers section for that model on the HP website

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03284948

[SDH · Accepted solution]

To the OP..... it helps if you tell us what version of the workstation you have.  There is a SFF and a Tower version.

The SFF has a built in serial port on its backplane, and the capability to add a second on its motherboard via a HP proprietary second serial port adapter.  The kit has had the name "Second Serial Port Adapter"....  but if you don't have a port already built in on the backplane then it will be your First Serial Port Adapter.

The Tower does not have a serial port built in to its backplane but does have the exact same motherboard header as on the SFF, and the same header that HP has used for years on virtually all generations of its workstations.  It requires a special HP proprietary adapter, which is powered from the HP proprietary header and which allows passing a ribbon cable back to one of the PCI removable metal cover spots so it then becomes availabel at the rear of the computer.

The serial port drivers are primative and built into the operating system.  Plug and play.

The option number for that kit is PA716A.  I have posted details on this in the past here, easily found, if you look up that part number via the search bar for this forum top left area.  Look  HERE, for example.  I'd assume you can find those via the HP parts store new.  You can see them on eBay via that part number.  My posts here from the past provide added HP part numbers allowing them to be found used on eBay for roughly $10.00.  They don't wear out.  If you buy used from eBay know that you'll need the regular height backplane adapter for your Tower version of the Z240, and never buy without getting the ribbon cable... you need that plus you'll also need the correct backplane plate plus the circuit board component you'll see in the picture below or on eBay.  That PCB is not shown in the PDF in the link above, by the way.

There are some computers that are consumer grade thta have a simple pass-through motherboard header, generic.  This is not that at all.  In the medical world some equipment still wants a serial port interface.....

 EDIT:  Found my numbers to help in your eBay search:

PA716A             (Options P/N)

283984-001    (Spares P/N)

264534-001   (Assembly P/N)

[DonB-GE]

That helps immensely, Thanks!  It is a Tower, so it has no original a serial port, but i happen to have a full slot back panel with a pair of slots, the inactive one will get a cap.

Thanks again!

Don