System information

General Reference Guide eWON Configuration
RG-001-0-EN ver 1.5 eWON® - 20/03/2009 - ©ACT'L sa Page 16
3.3.2 Net services setup
Regarding its Internet connectivity features, the eWON has basically two modes of operation:
• A server mode (Web server and FTP server)
• A client mode (Email client, FTP client and NTP client)
In the server mode, the eWON is waiting for a client to connect with its Web browser or with its FTP client.
In the client mode, the eWON needs to connect to a server. For this connection, you should at least know the IP address of the server and the
Port number for the required service. Sometimes a username and a password are also required.
Note: Except in some special cases, the Port number is usually the default value proposed by the eWON. This setup section is
used to define the eWON’s CLIENT MODE configuration.
3.3.2.1 Virtual Com Port Setup (VCOM)
3.3.2.1.1 Introduction
VCOM (or more precisely « Virtual COM port ») is a technology that consists in using the eWON’s serial port as if it was a standard COM port of
a PC running Windows.
Actually, a software is installed on the PC; this software is a kind of driver that simulates additional COM ports on your PC. The PC is
communicating with the eWON and the eWON serial port outputs all data transferred through the PC virtual serial port. The PC virtual port
receives all data received by the eWON’s serial port.
Figure 14: Virtual COM Port link used to read data on serial devices through eWON
The eWON supports two kinds of VCOM mode and an additional mode which is not exactly classified as a VCOM mode although it has the same
purpose.
3.3.2.1.2 RAW TCP
The first mode is called RAW TCP. This is a basic mode thanks to which the PC opens a TCP/IP socket to the eWON on a predefined port. This
socket is used to exchange data from and towards the eWON’s serial port.
The Serial port configuration (baud rate, parity, etc.) must be defined in the eWON’s configuration. The serial port signals (RTS, DTR, etc.) are
not exchanged between the PC and the eWON.
This mode can also be used to create simple TCP/IP applications that need to communicate through the eWON’s serial port, as the only
requirement is to open a TCP/IP socket on the eWON.
3.3.2.1.3 TELNET RFC2217
This is a more complex communication protocol between the PC and the eWON. In addition to the RAW mode this mode allows to control
remotely the eWON’s serial port. Every configuration change that is made to the PC virtual COM port is automatically applied to eWON serial
port. For example if you open a HyperTerminal on the PC’s virtual serial port and you change the serial port’s baud rate, the eWON’s serial port
baud rate will change accordingly.
eWON VCom serial port
linked to serial device
PC with Virtual COM
driver linked to eWON