IBM 21F5093 EC 844189 8-Port Twinax Cable Controller Block AS/400 5250
IBM 21F5093 EC 844189 8-Port Twinax Cable Controller Block AS/400 5250
The IBM 21F5093 is an 8-port Twinaxial (Twinax) cable controller block assembly manufactured by IBM on November 29, 1989. It consists of a black plastic terminal block housing eight Twinax ports — numbered on the face — attached to a multi-conductor cable that terminates in a D-sub male connector at the host end. The label on the cable reads IBM P/N 21F5093, EC 844189, TSE-J, dated 11-29-89.
Specifications & What's Included
- Manufacturer: IBM
- Part Number: 21F5093
- EC Number: 844189
- Type designation (label): TSE-J
- Number of Twinax ports: 8 (numbered, on top face of block)
- Connector type — block ports: Twinaxial (BNC-style Twinax female)
- Connector type — host/cable end: D-sub male (multi-pin)
- Manufacture date: 11-29-1989
- Cable: attached multi-conductor cable of approximately 10–12 feet (estimated from photos)
- Sold as-is; has not been tested
Applications
Twinaxial cabling was IBM's proprietary wiring standard for connecting 5250-series terminals and peripherals to IBM midrange systems — primarily the System/34, System/36, System/38, and the AS/400 (now IBM iSeries). In these architectures, a single Twinax run from the host controller could support multiple devices daisy-chained along the line, and distribution blocks like this one were used to split or organize connections at a wiring closet or workstation cluster. This type of hardware dates from the late 1980s through the 1990s, when IBM's midrange installed base was at its peak and Twinax wiring was a common sight in corporate data centers, back offices, and manufacturing environments running IBM terminal sessions. While AS/400 systems have largely transitioned to TCP/IP-based terminal emulation over standard Ethernet, a substantial number of legacy AS/400 and System/3x environments remain in service, and original Twinax hardware continues to be sought by technicians maintaining those systems. This assembly would be of interest to IBM legacy system maintainers, restorers, and collectors of vintage IBM midrange equipment.
Condition: For Parts or Not Working
This IBM 21F5093 EC 844189 8-Port Twinax Cable Controller Block has been inspected and is being sold as-is. The unit has not been tested at our facility. It was pulled from an IBM midrange environment and appears to be in good cosmetic shape overall. The Twinax block and all 8 ports look intact with no visible damage; the cable jacket shows light surface wear and scuffing consistent with age and use. The D-sub connector on the cable end is present and intact. There is a handwritten asset tag on the cable near the block. Please view our photo set and contact us if you have any questions. Please note: We have multiple units in stock — yours may not be the one shown in the photos, however, it will be similar in condition and function. Visit Our Store
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