Installation guide

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1. Introduction
Welcome to Moxa NPort Server Pro, an Industrial Serial Device Server that
greatly enhances the ability of a Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP and Linux
host to control multiple serial port devices over a TCP/IP based Ethernet
network.
This chapter is an introduction to NPort Server Pro and includes the following:
❑ Features
❑ Product Specifications
❑ Package Checklist
❑ Front/Rear Panel Views
NPort Server Pro provides a data communications solution for connecting
Windows and Linux hosts to multiple asynchronous RS-232 serial ports through
a TCP/IP network. Each model has 8 (DE-308) or 16 (DE-303) asynchronous
RS-232 serial port connections, and one 10/100 Mbps Ethernet connection,
allowing any device that supports primarily the asynchronous communications
protocol to attach to a network. NPort Server Pro works like an add-on
multi-port serial board to the Windows server, but with one major
advantage—the TCP/IP network. Since the Windows host communicates with
the COM ports on NPort Server Pro 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 Pro are recognized as Real COM ports by the Windows operating system.
NPort Server Pro provides the basic transmit/receive data functions, as well as
RTS, CTS, DTR, DSR, and DCD control signals. Moreover, the NPort Server
Pro driver is fully compatible with the Windows standard COM driver.
NPort Server Pro 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.