Serial to IP/Ethernet converters link devices

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Mar 26, 2007

The DX range of serial devices routers provide intelligent serial to IP/Ethernet protocol services, offering more functionality, flexibility and network resiliency.

GarrettCom Europe has developed a line of serial to IP/Ethernet converters that allow the large installed base of serial devices to be integrated into modern industrial Ethernet networks.

The DX range of serial devices routers provide intelligent serial to IP/Ethernet protocol services, offering more functionality, flexibility and network resiliency compared with conventional, basic terminal servers and device servers.

At the same time, they provide an exceptionally cost-effective solution.

The DX serial device routers provide a dynamic serial edge for hardened industrial networks that combines the features of a serial-IP device server, Ethernet switch, IP router and IP firewall in a compact product with a variety of field mounting and power supply options.

There are two models the range: the DX800 supports four serial interfaces and four Ethernet ports, including two fibre ports, while the DX40 provides two serial ports and two Ethernet ports, one or both of which may be fibre.

The DX serial device routers offer significant advantages over more basic Serial-IP devices such as terminal servers and device servers.

The DX serial device routers provide network resiliency via secure, dual-connection fibre-optic Ethernet ports and software features such as RSTP and dynamic IP routing.

Further, the DX series extends cyber security protection for serial interfaces to the edge of the network via serial port SSL, IP firewall and a serial VLAN capability.

GarrettCom Europe Business Development Manager David Moss comments: "The rise of industrial Ethernet has been dramatic, with companies in all industries recognising the benefits of increased flexibility, increased standardisation and reduced costs".

"However, there is still a huge installed base of serial devices".

"As the transition to industrial Ethernet networks has evolved, serial edge devices have generally been left apart in a static and separate edge network".

"It is simply not realistic to expect that every one of these should be replaced by an alternative with an on-board Ethernet interface", he continues.

"But at the same time there is a very real requirement to integrate these installed devices into modern networks, complete with all the features and functions that you would expect from an on-board Ethernet interface".

The DX serial device routers provide a means to achieve exactly that, delivering what GarrettCom describes as a dynamic serial edge.

The dynamic serial edge protects existing investment in industrial equipment where there are serial communications interfaces by network enabling these serial devices for access by remote systems and personnel.

Network reliability, and thus associated operational system and process reliability, is improved by increased resiliency of local network connections, use of electrical noise resistant fibre optic connectivity, and availability of extremely hardened and reliable networking devices.

Deployment of additional industrial devices and systems is made more cost-effective by leveraging the emerging Ethernet core network in industrial environments, and by building for long-term project life cycles with open standards technology.

The range of applications for the DX series is extensive, and they will find use wherever it is desirable to integrate a standard serial device into an Ethernet network with all the benefits that users would expect to achieve with a native Ethernet device.