Overview for manufacturers and integrators

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Introduction

Are you a manufacturer or integrator of electronic devices that are equipped with serial interfaces (or dual port RAM interfaces)? Are you looking for a solution to make your device networkable, web-based or web-capable? Do you wish to avoid the costs, complexity and unreliability of a PC-based solution?

Then you are in the right place: with our Com-Server, we offer you a development option that fulfills all the following criteria:

Approach in small steps allowing for the immediate use of all intermediate results.
Start with external boxes and gradually change to the more cost-efficient standard plug-in modules or to customized cards. 

Initially, install the COM Port Redirector, which already allows for transparent data exchange across the entire network without any modification of your existing system! Continue your development until you have achieved real web-based management functionality. Your system is thereby upgraded to include a web server, a mailer and an SNMP server, depending on your own requirements.

In any case, you remain fully in control over your system:
Especially the coordination between your technical components and the user interface, which in most cases includes a lot of know-how, remains your own domain.

Your existing system must only be modified to a minimum extent:
There are also many applications that require no changes to the system whatsoever.

Technical data

Your overall system most probably consists of an embedded device with firmware and of software that is run on a host.  In many cases, the device-specific firmware and/or the host software cannot be changed. We have therefore compiled the following scheme, depending on the extent of necessary modifications: 1. COM Port Redirector   Host software: unmodified (!) Device firmware: unmodified (!) General conditions: only for Windows systems (95, 98, NT, 2000, XP). All network routes, including the Internet, can be used. Status: available for all systems More information: "Integrate your COM ports into the network"   2. FTP web service   Host software: Standard FTP server or client. The customer-specific application can access the stored data, if required. Device firmware: Depending on the setup, unmodified (!) or a code of less than 1 kilobyte must be added for individual addressing. General conditions: FTP tools are available for all system environments Status: Standard delivery More information: Write measured data directly to your network server   3. Transparent data transfer via sockets   Host software: Data access must be redirected from the serial driver to the network sockets. Device firmware: unmodified (!) General conditions: Universal high-performance solution  Status: Standard delivery More information: With 30 lines over the network: TCP/IP sockets    4. Web service JAVA applet   Host software: Must be reprogrammed as Java applet. Device firmware: unmodified (!) General conditions: Access possible from any browser that supports Java applets. Status: on request   5. Web-service browser (HTTP)   Host software: Standard web browser. Device firmware: No reconfiguration required, as only you know what your device has to say ... A few kilobytes are already sufficient. General conditions: In exchange for a few kilobytes of EEPROM memory in your embedded system, you obtain real web-based management. Status: Standard delivery More information: Your serial devices as web servers   6. Any web service, including mail, SNMP, DNS, HTTP, etc.   Host software: Depending on the actual requirements, standard Internet services and/or own tools are required. Device firmware: No reconfiguration required, as only you know what your device has to say ... Depending on the memory requirements, from 10 kb upwards. General conditions: The Com-Server is a socket station for any number of TCP and UDP client or server ports. Up to 8 port handles can be open simultaneously. Status: available More information: Documentation "Serial socket protocol"   Further planning In the next step, the "higher" services (such as mail, SNMP, DNS, HTTP, etc.) are fully implemented in the embedded system. We are currently working in projects that apply this method and will from time to time publish more information to support you in your tasks.

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