Connect unlimited serial ports to a network

Amplicon Liveline has recently introduced the new Rocketport Serial Hub Si, a LAN based device which allows an unlimited number of serial ports to be added to a network.

Amplicon Liveline has recently introduced the new Rocketport Serial Hub Si, a LAN based device which allows an unlimited number of serial ports to be added to a network.

The serial hub is ideal for applications where there are several electrical interface standards, or for an end-user wishing to expand an existing system by adding extra serial ports.

Each hub is available either in 4 or 8 port versions (Si 4 and Si 8) and is fully hot-swappable.

By connecting the hub to the Ethernet network and loading a driver onto the server, network ports then appear (to the server) as internal serial ports.

Loading the driver onto all servers on a network allows them all to access the Rocketport hub, letting this new device provide serial ports anywhere on the LAN and be controlled by any server on the LAN.

Usually, adding serial ports is limited to the number of spare ISA or PCI slots within a computer.

However, with the Rocketport, serial ports may now be added to the system without the requirement for opening up the computer, providing all the convenience of an internal card, but at a much more cost-effective level.

(PC cards require a client computer on the LAN close to the external serial device).

Each port is also individually configurable as RS232, RS422 or RS485.

Cont'd/2 -2- Transmitting over long distances has always been an inherent problem when connecting remote serial devices.

RS232 can only transmit point to point over a distance of 50m and RS485 transmits multipoint over 1200m.

However, Ethernet is not subject to any of these constraints, therefore with the Rocketport, serial communications are no longer inhibited by the usual distance limitations.

Serial devices may now be placed where they are needed, instead of close to the server.

The Rocketport Serial Hub Si may be used in a wide range of applications where high speed serial ports are required.

These include: process plant, EPOS, security systems, CAD/CAM, medical and laboratory equipment, warehouse control, CTI, traffic management and satellite ground stations.

The hub supports both Windows NT and Linux O/S.

The device expands on Amplicon's range of existing 2, 4 and 8 port boards, which plug into the ISA or PCI bus of a PC.

It is CE marked for EMC and LVD, and has UL safety approvals.

Full technical support is available from Amplicon.

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