Overview; Device Control Applications; Real Com Mode - Moxa Technologies CN2600 Series User Manual

CN2600 Series

Overview

The CN2600 network-enables traditional serial (RS-232/422/485) devices. The serial device server is a
special-purpose computer equipped with a CPU and TCP/IP protocols that can bi-directionally translate data
between the serial and Ethernet formats. Your own computer 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 to collect data from various kinds of
instruments. Since the CN2600 network-enables instruments equipped with an RS-232, RS-422, or RS-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.
The CN2600 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 will not be limited
by the host computer's bus limitation (such as ISA or PCI), nor will you be limited by the absence of drivers for
various operating systems.
In addition to providing socket access, the CN2600 also comes with a Real COM/TTY driver that transmits all
serial signals intact. This enables you to preserve 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 to the sender. UDP does not require this type of verification, making it possible
to offer faster delivery. UDP also allows unicast or multi-unicast of data to one IP or groups of IP addresses.
The CN2600 also supports console management applications, including Reverse Telnet modes. Reverse
terminal modes enable you to connect to a server's console port through an IP network for remote control
and/or monitoring of that server.

Device Control Applications

For device control applications, the CN2600 offers the following modes: Real COM and RFC2217 mode.

Real COM Mode

The CN2600 comes bundled with Real COM drivers for
Windows 98/ME/NT/ 2000/XP/2003/Vista systems and TTY
drivers for Linux systems.
In Real COM mode, the bundled drivers are able to establish a
transparent connection between a host and a serial device by
mapping the serial port on the CN2600 to a local COM/TTY
port on the host computer. Real COM mode supports up to 8
simultaneous connections that enable multiple hosts to
simultaneously collect data from the same serial device.
One of the major conveniences of using Real COM mode is that it allows you to use software that was written
for pure serial communication applications. The Real COM driver intercepts data sent to the host's COM port,
packs it into a TCP/IP packet, then redirects it through the host's Ethernet card. At the other end of the
connection, the CN2600 accepts the Ethernet frame, unpacks the TCP/IP packet, and then transparently sends
the data through the serial port to the attached serial device.
4-2
Serial Port Operation Modes