Abstract: This disclosure describes a system for providing a communications channel between a master computer and a plurality of similar or dissimilar slave computers that may be separated by great distances. The foregoing system comprises a buffer unit and at least one computer linkage unit. The buffer unit acts as an interface between the master or control computer, the external hardware that is coupled to the master computer and a plurality of slave computers, and the one or more computer linkage units so that the buffer unit may act as an expandable direct memory access bus to a slave computer and provide communication with a plurality of peripheral systems. The computer linkage unit performs all of the remaining interface functions between the master computer and the plurality of slave computers that are coupled to the master computer.