Buffalo SLmkII Peripheral Sharing Device 10-Port 4 Parallel 6 Serial DB25

Buffalo SLmkII Peripheral Sharing Device 10-Port 4 Parallel 6 Serial DB25

The Buffalo SLmkII is a 10-port peripheral sharing device that allows multiple computers or workstations to share a common set of parallel and serial peripherals — such as printers, plotters, and serial devices — through a single centrally switched unit. It provides 4 parallel channels (CH0–CH3) and 6 serial channels (CH4–CH9), all via DB25 connectors, and is controlled through a rear-panel DIP switch bank. The desktop enclosure is powered via a standard IEC AC inlet with a front-accessible power toggle.

Specifications & What's Included

• Brand: Buffalo
• Model: SLmkII (Peripheral Sharing Device)
• Total Ports: 10
• Parallel Ports: 4 — labeled CH0, CH1, CH2, CH3
• Serial Ports: 6 — labeled CH4, CH5, CH6, CH7, CH8, CH9
• Connector Type: DB25 (25-pin) on all channels
• Front Panel: STATUS LED, PARALLEL and SERIAL channel indicator labels (CH0–CH9)
• Rear Panel: DIP switch bank for configuration, IEC AC power inlet, power ON/OFF toggle
• Power: 117V AC (per rear label)
• Form Factor: Desktop
• Country of Manufacture: Japan
• Unit only — no cables included

Applications

Peripheral sharing devices like the Buffalo SLmkII were common in office and workgroup environments from the late 1980s through the mid-1990s, when parallel and RS-232 serial connections were the dominant interfaces for printers, plotters, label makers, and other shared output devices. Rather than dedicating a separate printer or plotter to each workstation, a peripheral sharing switch allowed multiple computers to share a single device — saving hardware costs and desk space. The SLmkII's combination of four parallel and six serial channels made it well suited to mixed environments running both parallel-connected printers (common on IBM PCs and compatibles) and serial peripherals such as plotters, modems, or serial printers used with terminals or workstations. Units like this are still sought by operators maintaining legacy systems, vintage computing enthusiasts, and facilities running older CNC, industrial, or point-of-sale equipment that relies on RS-232 or Centronics parallel interfaces.