Article - CS333108

Configuration Suggestions for Ethernet-to-Serial Converters

Modified: 02-Nov-2020   


Applies To

  • Kepware Server (formerly KEPServerEX) 5.19.467.0 to 6.8
  • ThingWorx Kepware Server (legacy) 8.0 to 8.4

Description

Most Ethernet-to-Serial converters come with port redirecting software that allows the operating system to map a serial port to a remote communications port. Despite this, it is recommended that customers use converters that support a raw TCP connection, which allow Kepware's application to be in charge of creating the embedded serial frame. This is recommended for the following reasons: It is one less program to install and configure. Ethernet Encapsulation can be used to copy and deploy the project on other systems. When third-party port redirecting software is used, Kepware's application cannot detect that the communications port is not real and expects that it will behave as a real one would. If the vendor does not support a function, it may cause instability in Kepware's server. When the third-party port redirecting software handles the socket to the converter, it may cause latency that results in timing errors. In cases where the converter has multiple serial ports, a communications error on one of those ports can result in all of the mapped serial ports becoming unresponsive.
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