B&B Electronics VESR321_ML_SL - Manual - Manual (Page 16)

Setup and Connections
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Using VESR321 Serial Servers in Direct IP Mode
A Direct IP connection allows applications using TCP/IP or UDP/IP socket programs to
communicate with the COM ports on the serial server. In this type of application the serial server
is configured as a TCP/UDP server or a client. The socket program running on the PC
establishes a communication connection with the VESR321 serial server. The data is sent directly
to and from a serial device connected to the serial port on the VESR321 serial server.
To set up a Direct IP Mode connection:
1. Connect the VESR321 serial server to the network and a serial device as shown below.
2. Configure the VESR321 serial server with the appropriate network settings (using Vlinx
Manager or the web interface).
3. Configure your software application with the appropriate IP address and port number to
communicate with the serial device.
Figure 13. Direct IP and Virtual COM Port Connection
Using VESR321 Family Serial Servers in Virtual COM Port Mode
In Virtual COM Port Mode a PC can communicate across the network to the serial server as if the
serial ports on the serial server are the PC’s serial ports. When a virtual COM port is configured
on the PC (using Vlinx Manager) a new COM port appears in the Device Manager. Windows
programs using standard Windows API calls are able to interface to virtual COM ports. When a
program on the PC opens the new COM port, it communicates directly with the remote serial
device connected to the serial server.
To set up a Virtual COM Port Mode connection:
1. Connect the serial server to the network and a serial device as described in previous sections.
2. Configure the serial server for VCOM operation.
3. In the Vlinx Manager software, install the VCOM driver on the computer by clicking on the Add
VCOM button.
4. Configure your software application to communicate via the virtual COM port.
Using VESR321 Family Serial Servers in Paired Mode
When using serial servers in Paired Mode, two serial servers (connected to serial devices via
their serial ports) are connected to the network. The serial devices communicate directly,
transferring data between devices as a point-to-point serial connection. Paired Mode is set up as
shown in the following diagram and configured using Vlinx Manager software or web interface.