• Panel mount, optional rack mount kit.

• Supports 10/100 Mbps Ethernet.

• Supports 8 RS-232 serial interfaces

• Supports LAN and WAN communications.

• In Server mode supports individual client sessions for security.

• Management access password protected.

• Virtual COM drivers for Windows NT/98/ME/2000/XP/VISTA.

• Supports socket connection, TCP server, TCP client,   and UDP.

• Supports up to 8 TCP connection in TCP server mode.

• Heart beat connection ensures reliable TCP connection against power failure or network disruption.

• Supports loop back mode. Data is echoed back for easily testing the connection.

Eport Datasheet PDF
Eport-10x_manual.pdf

The Eport-108 Ethernet serial server connects RS-232 serial devices to an Ethernet LAN/WAN providing a reliable communication connection. The Eport-108 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 Eport-108. 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. Eport-108 also offers a Heart Beat feature to insure a reliable communications connection.

 The Eport-108 can be configured as a TCP Client/Server or UDP. The Eport-108 operates in “Direct IP Mode”, “Virtual COM Mode”, and “Paired Mode”.

 Direct IP Mode

Direct IP connections allow applications using TCP/IP or UDP/IP network socket programs to communicate with the asynchronous serial port on the Eport-108. In this type of application the Eport-108 is configured to TCP or UDP server. The socket program running on the PC establishes a communication connection with the Eport-108. The raw data is sent directly to and from the serial port.

 Virtual COM Mode

The Virtual COM mode requires the installation of a virtual COM port device driver. In this mode, the ESport-108 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 ESport-108, which in turn converts the IP packet back to serial data.

Paired Mode

Paired mode is also called serial tunneling. When this type of configuration is selected, no additional software is needed to install in a 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 E\port-108s and the LAN. Two Eport-108s 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.

Heart Beat

The Eport-108 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.

Loop Back

Eport-108 will work at Loop back Mode, all data is sent back immediately. This feature makes the connection testing easy.