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Introduction
Chapter 1 1
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The XTRALINK IP
provides Ethernet to Serial connections for RS-232,
RS-422 or RS-485 devices. The XTRALINK IP features a single serial
port. The serial port can be accessed over a LAN/WAN using
Direct IP
Mode
,
Virtual COM Port
, or
Paired Mode
connections. The 10/100
Mbps Ethernet connection auto-selects 10BaseT or 100BaseTX and
indicates the type of connection with a bi-color link light.
Figure 1. XTRALINK IP
Features
•
Multi-interface serial ports
o
XTRALINK IP and Port 1 software selectable for RS-
232, RS-422, RS-485 (DIP Switch selects Console Mode)
•
10/100 Mbps Ethernet
with Auto Selection
Introduction
2 Chapter 1
•
LAN and WAN Communications
•
TCP or UDP Client or Server operation
- configurable
•
Software Support -
Windows 98/ME/2000/XP or NT 4.0
•
Firmware Upload
for future revisions/upgrades
•
Configuration
of Ethernet and serial port settings can be
accomplished using any of four methods:
o
XTRALINK IP IPRS23202 Manager Software for
Windows
allows configuration via a network connection
or directly from the Ethernet port of a computer (using an
Ethernet crossover cable).
o
Web Server
allows configuration via the network using
any web browser.
o
Telnet
allows configuration via the network by accessing
the setup configuration menu.
o
Console Mode
allows configuration through an RS-232
serial port in using a VT100 Terminal Emulation program
and an RS-232 crossover cable.
•
Virtual COM Driver Software for Windows
- installs virtual
COM ports, viewable in the Windows Device Manager under
Ports (COM & LPT)
. Virtual COM port provides access to any of
the ports on the XTRALINK IP and, like any other serial port
(legacy, PCI, USB or PCMCIA) on the computer. Any program
running on the computer and using Windows-based COM ports
can access the serial devices attached to the
XTRALINK IP
. The
LAN becomes transparent to the serial device and the software
running on the PC.
•
Heart Beat Connection
- selectable protocol
ensures reliable
communications in Virtual COM Port or Paired Connection
modes. This feature restores the connections if communications are
temporarily lost at either end due to loss of power or the Ethernet
connection.
Communication Modes
The
XTRALINK IP
enables communication with serial devices over a
LAN or WAN. Serial devices no longer are limited to a physical
connection to the PC COM port. They can be installed anywhere on the
LAN using TCP/IP or UDP/IP communications. This allows traditional
Windows PC software access to serial devices anywhere on the
LAN/WAN network.