Serial Device Servers
Traditional serial communication and contemporary Ethernet networks are bridged by serial device servers. These three-letter devices—often called by the five-character acronym "SISOS"—allow legacy serial devices to interface with IP-based systems. In doing so, they enable a wide array of serial devices, including barcode scanners and Integrated Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), to integrate into an Ethernet infrastructure. The serial device server translates the data communicating from the "legacy" device into a signal that can be understood by a brain inside the Ethernet network, allowing for centralized management and oftentimes remote access to the devices.
Device servers make it possible to control and monitor serial devices over an IP network. They create virtual serial ports on a server that can be accessed remotely. This is typically done when monitoring and controlling a device that is far away from the controlling hardware. A serial device server usually connects to an RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 device, but it can also handle, via a web interface or network management software, nearly any serial protocol.
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