Server User Manual
Manual Documentation Number: ESP901-902_4105m  Table of Contents  i 
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com 
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Pk – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com 
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TABLE OF CONTENTS ...................................................................................I 
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION..................................................................... 1 
FEATURES......................................................................................................... 2 
COMMUNICATION MODES ................................................................................ 3 
Direct IP Mode ............................................................................................ 3 
Virtual COM Mode ...................................................................................... 3 
Paired Mode ................................................................................................ 4 
Heart Beat.................................................................................................... 4 
SERIAL SERVER QUICK START GUIDE .............................................................. 5 
Hardware Setup ........................................................................................... 5 
Software Installation.................................................................................... 6 
Serial Server Configuration......................................................................... 6 
Install Virtual COM Ports on PC................................................................. 7 
Check Communications ............................................................................... 7 
CHAPTER 2: MAKING THE HARDWARE CONNECTIONS .................. 9 
PACKAGE CHECKLIST ....................................................................................... 9 
ESP901/ESP902 CONNECTIONS, INDICATORS AND RESET SWITCH ................. 9 
Indicator Lights.......................................................................................... 10 
Ethernet Connector.................................................................................... 10 
Power Connector ....................................................................................... 10 
Reset Button ............................................................................................... 10 
DIP Switches.............................................................................................. 11 
Serial Ports ................................................................................................ 12 
SERIAL SERVER/PORT OPERATIONAL MODES ................................................ 12 
Default Mode ............................................................................................. 13 
Console Mode ............................................................................................ 13 
Upgrade Mode........................................................................................... 13 
RS-232 Mode.............................................................................................. 13 
RS-422 Mode.............................................................................................. 14 
RS-485 Mode.............................................................................................. 14 
SERIAL SERVER SERIAL PORT CONNECTOR PIN-OUTS .................................... 15 
CHAPTER 3: INSTALLING THE VLINX ESP SOFTWARE .................. 17 
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION.............................................................................. 17 
Automatic Installation................................................................................ 17 
Manual Installation.................................................................................... 17 
Updating an Existing Installation.............................................................. 19 
Opening the ESP Manager ........................................................................ 20 
ii  Table of Contents  Manual Documentation Number: ESP901-902_4105m 
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com 
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Pk – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com 
CHAPTER 4: USING ESP MANAGER........................................................ 21 
HARDWARE SETUP ......................................................................................... 21 
SOFTWARE SETUP........................................................................................... 22 
SOFTWARE OVERVIEW ................................................................................... 23 
Menus......................................................................................................... 23 
Server Icons Pane...................................................................................... 25 
Serial Server / Virtual COM Lists.............................................................. 25 
Status Bar................................................................................................... 26 
SEARCH FOR SERVERS .................................................................................... 26 
CONFIGURE SERVER PROPERTIES ................................................................... 27 
CHAPTER 5: CONFIGURING THE SERIAL SERVER PROPERTIES. 31 
DESCRIPTION OF THE SERVER PROPERTIES ..................................................... 32 
Server Name............................................................................................... 32 
Serial Number............................................................................................ 32 
Password.................................................................................................... 32 
DHCP ........................................................................................................ 32 
IP Address.................................................................................................. 33 
Netmask...................................................................................................... 34 
Gateway ..................................................................................................... 34 
MAC Address............................................................................................. 34 
Version & Date .......................................................................................... 34 
Link Status.................................................................................................. 34 
Server Serial Port ...................................................................................... 34 
Baud Rate................................................................................................... 34 
Data/Parity/Stop........................................................................................ 34 
Flow Control.............................................................................................. 35 
TCP/UDP Protocol.................................................................................... 35 
Serial Timeout............................................................................................ 35 
TCP Alive Timeout..................................................................................... 36 
Connection Mode....................................................................................... 36 
Delimiter HEX 1 and Delimiter HEX 2...................................................... 36 
Force Transmit........................................................................................... 36 
Port Status.................................................................................................. 37 
TCP/UDP Port........................................................................................... 37 
Serial Port Mode........................................................................................ 37 
Connection At ............................................................................................ 38 
Max Connection......................................................................................... 38 
Remote IP Address..................................................................................... 38 
Update/Save............................................................................................... 38 
CHAPTER 6: INSTALLING VIRTUAL COM PORTS ............................. 43 
VIRTUAL COM PORT INSTALLATION ............................................................. 43 
MATCHING THE SERIAL SERVER AND VIRTUAL COM PORT SETTINGS .......... 46 










