The RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 to Ethernet converter
Connects RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 serial devices
to an Ethernet IP LAN 

The Data Connect Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 Ethernet Serial Server connects RS232, RS422, and RS485 serial devices to an Ethernet LAN/WAN providing a reliable communication connection. The Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 Windows driver installs virtual COM ports in the Device Manager of the operating system. The virtual COM port is designed to establish a connection with the Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102. This in turn will allow communications with the connected serial device in the same manner as a device connected to the COM port in a PC. The LAN becomes transparent to the serial device and the software running on the PC.  

The Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 also offers a Heart Beat feature to insure reliable communications connection.  The Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 can be configured as a TCP Client / Server or UDP. The E-port 101 operates in ?Direct IP Mode?, ?Virtual COM Mode?, and ?Paired Mode?.  Direct IP connection allows applications using TCP/IP or UDP/IP network socket programs to communicate with the asynchronous serial port on the Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102. In this type of application the Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 is configured to TCP or UDP server. The socket program running on the PC establishes a communication connection with the Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102. The raw data is sent directly to and from the serial port.

The Virtual COM mode requires the installation of the virtual COM port device driver. In this mode, the Eport101 must be set to either TCP/server or UDP/server in the menu with a designated communication port number. The virtual COM driver is a TCP or UDP client. Once the connection is made, the LAN is transparent to the serial device. Applications work just as if the serial device is connected a host?s physical COM port. The virtual COM port converts the application?s data into IP packet destined for the Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102, which in turn converts the I IP packet back to serial data.

Paired mode is also called serial tunneling. When this type of configuration is selected, no additional software is needed to install in the host PC. In fact a PC is not required to make the connection. Any two dumb serial devices that can communicate with each other through a serial link will be able to communicate using two Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102s and the LAN. Two Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102s are configured with one setup as a TCP or UDP client and the other to TCP/UDP server. When setting up the Server, the Remote IP address section must contain the address of the Client. This will allow the Client?s IP address to pass the IP address-filtering feature of the Server. Conversely, the Remote IP address of the Client must contain the Server?s IP address.

The Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 provides a convenient way to establish reliable communications between two devices. Communication port 5300 is reserved for the Heartbeat Protocol. If a loss connection occurs the Heart Beat feature will try to reconnect the TCP data connection every 5 seconds until communications is established again.

Data Connect Eport 101 / Eport 102 will work at Loop Back Mode, all data is sent back immediately. This feature makes the connection testing ease.

IP Communications for RTU