The XPress DR and XPress DR-IAP Device Servers allow virtually any serial device to be connected to a new or existing Ethernet network. By encapsulating serial data and transporting it over Ethernet, the XPress DR/DR-IAP allows virtual serial links to be established over Ethernet. By using these units, limited-distance, point-to-point, and direct serial connections can now be extended within the plant, throughout the facility, or across the global enterprise.
When used in conjunction with an OPC server, most Windows based HMI, SCADA, and PC-based control applications have full access to information in the connected device. The XPress DR-IAP installable communication drivers allow specific support for various industrial communication protocols. With native support for these protocols, devices that previously allowed only one connection can now support multiple connections simultaneously.