Intel NetportExpress XL 309304 Coax Print Server 2x Parallel 1x Serial No PSU

Intel NetportExpress XL 309304 Coax Print Server 2x Parallel 1x Serial No PSU

The Intel NetportExpress XL is an external print server designed to connect shared printers directly to a 10BASE2 coaxial Ethernet network, eliminating the need to dedicate a host PC to print sharing. It connects via BNC coax and makes attached printers available to all nodes on the network. This unit carries part number 309304 (board/label reference 309304-002 / 302176-001). No power supply or AC adapter is included.

Specifications & What's Included

• Model: Intel NetportExpress XL
• Part Number: 309304 (PCB label: 309304-002; PN 302176-001)
• Network Interface: 10BASE2 BNC coax connector (thinnet)
• Parallel Ports: 2x DB-25 female (Parallel 1, Parallel 2)
• Serial Port: 1x DB-9 male
• Power: External AC adapter (DIN connector) — not included
• Status LEDs: 2x green LEDs on rear panel
• Frame Types: 802.2, SNAP, 802.3, Ethernet II (selectable via dip switches)
• Dip Switch Bank: rear-panel switch for network configuration
• Form Factor: Desktop external unit
• Manufactured: from August 1993 (per bottom label date code)
• What's Included: Print server unit only — no power supply, no cables

Applications

The NetportExpress XL was designed for small-to-medium office networks running on 10BASE2 thinnet coaxial cabling — a common Ethernet topology of the early-to-mid 1990s before 10BASE-T twisted-pair wiring became universal. By attaching printers directly to the coax segment, it allowed multiple workstations running DOS, Windows, or Novell NetWare to share a single printer without tying up a dedicated print host. The two parallel ports accommodated standard Centronics/IEEE 1284 printers, while the serial port supported serial-interface devices. Today these units are sought by legacy network administrators maintaining period-correct thinnet installations, vintage computing enthusiasts, and collectors of early 1990s Intel networking hardware.