RS232 RS422/485 Ethernet Converter

Cometh-Field-RD

Single channel serial server over Ethernet TCP/IP

ACKSYS proposes a range of Ethernet TCP/IP serial device servers with RS232 and RS422/485 electrical interfaces designed to fit the requirements of the following sectors of the industry:

• Telecoms & IT
• Industrial Automation (SCADA)
• Point of sales & Retail (POS)
• Medical fields
• Office, building, home automation & security

These products alllow you access to the serial peripherals from the Windows, UNIX & LINUX stations connected to the Ethernet TCP/IP with no need to modify existing software using standard COM ports.

You may thus link together serial peripherals that are distant from one another without the need to install any specific cabling and while using the network infrastructure already existing in your premises, share serial links or build bridges between the Ethernet Network and serial links, etc …

The COMETH-FIELD-RD is a serial device server (RS232/422/485) over Ethernet TCP/IP designed for industrial applications with harsh constraints, particularly in terms of temperature resiliency.
The COMETH-FIELD-RD supports the extended temperature range from -40°C to +80°C.

TELNET support (RFC 2217) and COM port redirector enables the COMETH-FIELD-RD to take advantage of Windows & Linux applications wrote for PC serial devices.

MODBUS/TCP Protocol support allows to connect any RS232 ou RS485 MODBUS equipments to the Ethernet network.

Technical characteristics summary 
Instant & direct serial connection over Ethernet TCP/IP network
Ethernet 10/100 auto-detection, plug & play mode auto MDI/MDIX cross-over
RS232 (Sub D9 male), RS422/RS485 (Sub D9 female) serial interface, up to 350 Kb/s sustained data rate
Support for TCP Client/Server, DHCP Client, TELNET RFC2217 extension, Telnet Server, COM port re-director (VIP), multipoint or point to point virtual link over UDP modes and MODBUS/TCP Client/Server, MODBUS/RTU & MODBUS/ASCII protocols
Scanning I/O for all PLC's running MODBUS/RTU & MODBUS/ASCII
Virtual COM port redirection software for Windows 2000, NT & XP (VIP)
Easy administration through the serial link or Ethernet (TELNET)
Multiple configuration tool for volume deployment
Remote firmware download for easy upgrade operations
External power supply from +9VDC to +36VDC 
15 kV ESD protection
Metallic case, CE industrial standards
LEDs signalling for serial & Ethernet signals 
Extended temperature range from -40°C to +80°C 
Ethernet / RS 1500 Veff isolation

Remote COM port mode
Works with Windows 9x/me/NT/2K/XP, Linux and requires a COM port redirector driver software on the PC (VIP). This mode is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the TELNET RFC 2217 mode (TELNET RFC 2217 is a standard).
This mode makes it possible to run any Windows COM applications without any adaptation (Hyperterminal for example), basically designed for a local COM port, the Windows communication API is fully supported. COM port configuration is carried out by the application itself and not necessarily by the administration module.
Other redirector softwares relying on the RFC 2217 standard exist for other operating systems.

TCP socket server mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
It is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the RAW mode. The COMETH-FIELD-RD is able to answer to TCP connection request on a configurable TCP port (it is thus a server). The application which uses the COMETH-FIELD-RD relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API. COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the COMETH-FIELD-RD using the administration module.

TCP socket client mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
It is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "TCP Client" firmware.
The COMETH-FIELD-RD is able to answer a TCP connection request on a TCP port to a server, the IP address of the server is programmed using the administration module.
Connection origin can be established from COMETH-FIELD-RD power ON of from the rising edge of the DSR signal.
The application which uses the COMETH-FIELD-RD relies on the SOCKET API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the COMETH-FIELD-RD using the administration module.

TELNET mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP and which has a TELNET client software, two cases: Configured TCP port TCP of the Socket TCP Server mode.
This mode is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "ServerCom" firmware and when configured in the TELNET mode. It doesn't require any application development on the PC, TELNET is the network application !TCP port #23
This mode is supported by all the COMETH-FIELD-RD's firmwares.
When the COMETH-FIELD-RD receives a port 23 connection request, it switches to the administration mode and can thus be configured (speed, mode ...).

UDP socket mode
This mode works with any operating system supporting TCP/IP.
There's no concept of connection/deconnection and thus no server / client concept in the UDP mode as in TCP. UDP is a transport Protocollike TCP but it works faster and is less advanced.
This mode is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "TUNNEL" firmware and when configured in RAW mode.
The software which uses the COMETH-FIELD-RD relies on the Socket API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the COMETH-FIELD-RD using the administration module.
This mode enables to carry out a point-to-point connection between 2 serial ports while relying on IP but without transport of serial control signals.
Two COMETH-FIELD-RD can be installed on each side but any other equipment supporting UDP can also be connected.

TUNNEL UDP & point-to-point mode
This mode is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "TUNNEL" firmware and when configured in the TUNNELAPP mode.
The software which uses the COMETH-FIELD-RD relies on the Socket API and not on the COM API.
COM port configuration (speed, characters, flow control) is programmed in the COMETH-FIELD-RD using the administration module.
This mode enables to carry out a point-to-point connection between 2 serial ports while relying on IP but with the transport of serial control signals.
Only two COMETH-FIELD-RD can be installed on each side because TUNNELAPP is not a standard Protocol.

MODBUS/TCP data gateway mode
This mode is supported by the COMETH-FIELD-RD when running the "MODBUS/TCP" firmware.
In conformity with the MODBUS/TCP Client / Server specifications, this mode makes it possible to connect any serial MODBUS equipments (MODBUS/ASCII & MODBUS/RTU) to the Ethernet TCP/IP network.
In this mode, the COMETH-FIELD-RD settles like a bridge between the Ethernet network and the serial MODBUS equipments which dramatically simplifies the extension from traditional MODBUS installation to a MODBUS/TCP based installation on the Ethernet network.
The COMETH-FIELD-RD device can work as a slave or master device on both sides (Ethernet or Serial).
This mode also makes it possible to connect between them and in a transparent way several traditional serial MODBUS equipments through the Ethernet network.
COMETH-FIELD-RD with MODBUS/TCP allows moreover integration within the same network of serial MODBUS/ASCII & MODBUS/RTU based equipments and MODBUS/TCP equipments.

IA, PLC, CNC, SCADA