JLCooper eBOX - Manual (Page 6)

6
Introduction
The eBOX is a general purpose interface box that converts 4 serial
communication ports and 24 GPI (General Purpose Interface)
inputs and outputs to 100/10baseT Ethernet. The serial ports can
be configured as EIA/TIA RS-232E (CCITT V.28) or as EIA/TIA
RS-422A ports. This can be performed easily in the field.
Additionally, the port direction can be configured as DTE or DCE
on each port independently.
The eBOX communicates over standard TCP/IP which allows is be
used with any host computer running any operating system that
uses TCP/IP protocol. The eBOX can also be connected to other
eBOXes to allow longer runs than traditional serial and GPI cables.
Since the eBOX uses TCP/IP, traffic can be routed over internal
LANs, wireless LANs, MANs, WANs and even over the public
Internet.
Most configuration can be accomplished through a web page
server built into the eBOX. Items such as port speed, parity, IP
address, remote IP address and TCP port are set using a standard
web browser. Settings are stored in nonvolatile memory.
Typically, the eBOX functions as a server, passively waiting for
client devices to connect to it. The device can be a computer or
another eBOX configured as a client. When the eBOX is
configured as a client, it will actively attempt to connect to the
server eBOX. Once this is accomplished, the either eBOX will
pass data received in the serial or GPI ports to the remote eBOX.
If there is no data received in the eBOX, the eBOX will not send
any TCP packets.
In addition, the eBOX can operate as a GPI to Serial Converter or
GPI to Ethernet Converter. In these modes, the eBOX will convert
GPI input triggers to deck commands.