User`s manual
NPort 5600-8-DT User’s Manual Introduction to Operation Modes
5-3
ATTENTION
Real COM drivers are installed automatically with NPort Administrator.
Real COM mode allows you to continue using your serial communications software to access
devices that are now attached to your NPort device server. On the host, the NPort Real COM
driver automatically intercepts data sent to the COM port, packs it into a TCP/IP packet, and
redirects it to the network. At the other end of the connection, the NPort device server accepts the
Ethernet frame, unpacks the TCP/IP packet, and sends the serial data to the appropriate device.
ATTENTION
In Real COM mode, several hosts can have simultaneous access control over the device port. If
necessary, you can limit access by using the Accessible IP settings. Please refer to Chapter 4 for
additional information about Accessible IP settings.
RFC2217 Mode
RFC-2217 mode is similar to Real COM mode, since it relies on a driver to transparently map the
device port to a virtual COM port on a host computer. The RFC2217 standard defines general
COM port control options based on the Telnet protocol and supports one connection at a time.
Third party drivers supporting RFC-2217 are widely available on the Internet and can be used to
implement virtual COM mapping.
TCP Server Mode
In TCP Server mode, the device port is assigned an IP:Port
address that is unique on your TCP/IP network. It waits for the
host computer to establish a connection to the attached serial
device. This operation mode also supports up to four
simultaneous connections, so multiple hosts can collect data
from the attached device at the same time.
Data transmission proceeds as follows:
1. A host requests a connection to the device port.
2. Once the connection is established, data can be transmitted
in both directions—from the host to the device, and from
the device to the host.
TCP Server Mode
Request a
connection
Proceed with
data transmission
TCP Server
TCP/IP
Ethernet
RS-232/422/485
Device
1
1
2
2
Port 7
Port 8
Port 5
Port 6
Port 3
Port 4
Port 1
Port 2