What is an industrial serial port server?

Serial port server is a device that allows you to share in a network devices mostly connected to a computer via a serial interface. The premise for creating an industrial serial port server was to be able to connect the control of devices with a serial interface via an Ethernet network. With the appropriate software and connecting the serial port server to the Ethernet network, we are able to retrieve data from connected devices and read them using an application in, for example, Windows operating system. When configuring a serial port server, we can set it up as a client or as a ub server for client-server applications and TCP or UDP type connections. The configured serial port server can operate in direct access mode via IP, in virtual COM port mode or in client-server pair mode.

Industrial Serial Port Server by 3onedata

Serial Port Server, and supported protocols.

In the commercial environment, serial port servers are practically no longer used they have been superseded by newer solutions however in the industrial environment they are still popular and widely used. The main reasons for this are their reliability, ease of implantation and price. They are much cheaper than newer solutions. In industry, the most popular serial port server is RS-232/422/485 to Ethernet. Serial port servers from RS-232/422/485 to Bluetooth, ZigBee or WiFi are also common. Systems and devices that use a serial port server include, for example, scales, storage, laboratory equipment or energy meters.

Main features of an industrial serial port server.

In the industrial automation market, we have a diverse range of industrial serial port servers. This situation has been forced by the multiplicity of devices and different protocols used in various fields of industry, but also by the variable conditions that can prevail, for example, on production halls. Therefore, without any problems, an industrial serial port server should work in a temperature range from -40 °C to +85 °C.

The most important features of an industrial serial port server are:

  • wide temperature operating range
  • protection from IP40
  • work in Windows and Linux operating systems
  • support for popular protocols such as TCP, UDP, ARP, ICMP, DHCP
  • support for 10/100Mbps Ethernet
  • confirmed by relevant certificates to meet industry standards such as FCC, CE, RoHS