NPort 5200 Series User’s Manual
Choosing the Proper Operation Mode
4-2
Overview
NPort 5200 serial device servers network-enable traditional RS-232/422/485 devices. A serial
device server is a tiny computer equipped with a CPU, real-time OS, and TCP/IP protocols that
can bi-directionally transform data between the serial and Ethernet formats. By incorporating
serial device servers in your application, you will be able to access, manage, and configure remote
facilities and equipment over the Internet from anywhere in the world.
Traditional SCADA and data collection systems rely on serial ports (RS-232/422/485) to collect
data from various kinds of instruments. Since NPort 5200 Serial Device Servers network-enable
instruments equipped with an RS-232/422/485 communication port, your SCADA and data
collection system will be able to access all instruments connected to a standard TCP/IP network,
regardless of whether the devices are used locally or at a remote site.
NPort 5200 is an external IP-based network device that allows you to expand the number of serial
ports for a host computer on demand. As long as your host computer supports the TCP/IP protocol,
you won’t be limited by the host computer’s bus limitation (such as ISA or PCI), or lack of drivers
for various operating systems.
In addition to providing socket access, NPort 5200 also comes with a Real COM/TTY driver that
transmits all serial signals intact. This means that you can continue using your existing
COM/TTY-based software, without needing to invest in additional software.
Three different Socket Modes are available: TCP Server, TCP Client, and UDP Server/Client. The
main difference between the TCP and UDP protocols is that TCP guarantees delivery of data by
requiring the recipient to send an acknowledgement for every data packet received. UDP does not
require this type of verification, making it possible to offer speedier delivery. UDP also allows
unicast transmission to on IP, or multicast transmission to groups of IP addresses.
Real COM Mode
NPort 5200 comes equipped with COM drivers
that work with Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP
systems, and also TTY drivers for Linux systems.
The driver establishes a transparent connection
between host and serial device by mapping the
IP:Port of the NPort 5200’s serial port to a local
COM/TTY port on the host computer. Real COM
Mode also supports up to 4 simultaneous
connections, so that multiple hosts can collect data
from the same serial device at the same time.
Real COM Mode
COM3=IP Port
TCP/IP
Ethernet
RS-232
Driver Mode
Device
10/100M
Ethernet
V+
V-
P1 RS-232
P2 RS-232
Ready
Link
P1
P2
Industrial RS-232
Device Server
5210
RESET
12-30V
