Introduction

Welcome to Moxa NPort Express, a compact palm-sized communications device that allows you to control RS-232/422/485 serial devices over a TCP/IP Ethernet.

This chapter is an introduction to NPort Express and includes the following sections:

¾Features

¾Product Specifications

¾Package Checklist

¾Front/Top/Rear/Bottom Panel Views

NPort Express DE-211 provides a data communications solution for connecting Windows and Linux hosts to asynchronous serial devices over a TCP/IP Ethernet. You may connect your Windows 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP host to a native RS-232/422/485 serial port, or your PC-based Linux host to a real tty port, through a TCP/IP Ethernet. With one asynchronous serial port connection on one end, and a 10 Mbps Ethernet connection on the other, NPort Express allows

virtually any serial device to attach to a network. NPort Express works like an add-on single-port serial board to your PC server, but with one major advantage—the TCP/IP network. Since the host communicates with the COM port on NPort Express over a TCP/IP network, you are able to control your asynchronous serial device from virtually any location.

Although it connects through the virtual link of the Ethernet, the port on NPort Express is recognized as a real COM port by Windows or a real tty port by Linux. NPort Express provides both the basic transmit/receive data functions, as well as RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, and DCD control signals.

NPort Express can be used with your existing applications that support serial communication, and come with a utility program providing a simple step-by-step installation procedure and a maintenance wizard that gives you easy access to your asynchronous device.