User`s guide

Introduction

RealPort software

Digi devices use the patented RealPort COM/TTY port redirection for Microsoft Windows, UNIX,

and Linux environments. RealPort software provides a virtual connection to serial devices, no

matter where they reside on the network. The software is installed directly on the host PC and

allows applications to talk to devices across a network as though the devices were directly attached

to the host. Actually, the devices are connected to a Digi device somewhere on the network.

RealPort is unique among COM port re-directors because it is the only implementation that allows

multiple connections to multiple ports over a single TCP/IP connection. Other implementations

require a separate TCP/IP connection for each serial port. Unique features also include full

hardware and software flow control, as well as tunable latency and throughput. Access to RealPort

services can be enabled or disabled.

Encrypted RealPort

Digi devices also support RealPort software with encryption. Encrypted RealPort offers a secure

Ethernet connection between the COM or TTY port and a device server or terminal server.

Encryption prevents internal and external snooping of data across the network by encapsulating the

TCP/IP packets in a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) connection and encrypting the data using

Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), one of the latest, most efficient security algorithms. Access

to Encrypted RealPort services can be enabled or disabled. Digi’s RealPort with encryption driver

has earned Microsoft’s Windows Hardware Quality Lab (WHQL) certification. Drivers are

available for a wide range of operating systems, including Microsoft Windows Server 2003,

Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows NT, Windows 98, Windows ME; SCO Open Server;

Linux; AIX; Sun Solaris SPARC; Intel; and HP-UX. It is ideal for financial, retail/point-of-sale,

government or any application requiring enhanced security to protect sensitive information.

Alarms

Digi devices can be configured to issue alarms, in the form of email message or SNMP traps, when

certain device events occur. These events include changes in GPIO signals, certain data patterns

being detected in the data stream,. Receiving alarms about these conditions provides the advantage

of notifications being issued when events occur, rather than having to monitor the device on an

ongoing basis to determine whether these events have occurred. Alarms can also be forwarded to

the iDigi platform for display and management in that platform. For more information on

configuring alarms, see "Alarms" on page 95.

Modem emulation

Digi devices include a configuration profile that allows the device to emulate a modem. Modem

emulation sends and receives modem responses to a serial device over TCP/IP (including Ethernet)

instead of Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). The modem emulation profile allows

maintaining a current software application but using it over the less expensive Ethernet network. In

addition, Telnet processing can be enabled or disabled on the incoming and outgoing modem-

emulation connections.The modem-emulation commands supported in Digi devices are

documented in the Digi Connect Family Command Reference.