334 Third Edition

NPort Server Lite User’s Manual 1-1

1 Overview

Welcome to Moxa NPort Server Lite, an Industrial Serial Device Server that greatly

enhances the ability of a Windows NT/95/98 host to control multiple serial port devices

over a TCP/IP based Ethernet network.

This chapter is an introduction to NPort Server Lite and includes the following:

q Features

q Package Checklist

q Top/Front/Rear View

NPort Server Lite provides a data communication solution for connecting Windows

NT/95/98 hosts to multiple asynchronous RS-232 (models DE-302/304) or RS-422/485

(models DE-332/334) serial ports through a TCP/IP network. Each model has two

(DE-302/332) or four (DE-304/334) asynchronous serial port connections on one side, and

one 10/100M Ethernet connection on the other, allowing any device that supports primarily

the asynchronous communications protocol to attach to a network. NPort Server works like

an add-on multiport serial board to the NT/95/98 server, but with one major advantage – the

TCP/IP network. Since the Windows NT95/98 host communicates with the COM ports on

Nport Server Lite over a TCP/IP network, you are able to control asynchronous serial

devices from virtually anywhere in the world.

Although it connects through the virtual link of the Ethernet, the ports on NPort Server Lite

are recognized as real COM ports by the Windows NT/95/98 operating system. NPort

Server Lite provides both the basic transmit/receive data functions, as well as RTS, CTS,

DTR, DSR, and DCD control signals.

NPort Server Lite can be used with your existing applications that support serial

communication. It also comes with a utility program providing a simple step-by-step

installation procedure, and a maintenance wizard that gives you easy access to your

asynchronous devices.