A line of serial device servers bridges the gap between RS-232 or RS-422/485 serial equipment and local-area network/wide-area network (LAN/WAN) configurations. These servers offer multiple serial ports, enumerating themselves as standard COM ports on a PC, that are remotely controlled and monitored through an Ethernet connection. This implementation of standard serial equipment via Ethernet doesn't require the rewriting of legacy application software.
The serial device servers are powered by 32-bit integrated communication processors with on-board Web servers that can be accessed remotely via a standard Web browser. They're available with one, two, four, eight, or 16 ports for RS-232 and RS-422/485 configurations with a combination of DB9 and RJ-45 ports. Network protocol support is included for UDP, TCP/IP, HTTP, DHCP, and ARP over 10BaseT. Serial port support, with full modem control, is provided for Windows 2000 and XP.
The Wizard software package enables users to easily install and configure the serial device servers. It automatically installs all necessary drivers and locates the serial device server on the network, configuring each port to act as a standard serial port. A Web-based management tool grants access to key functions, including port configuration, diagnostics, troubleshooting, network management, and administration.
The QSE-100 four-port and ESE-100 eight-port serial device servers will begin shipping in October, with other port configurations to follow by the end of the year. The QSE-100 and ESE-100 will list for $650 and $850, respectively.
Reprints
