Machines that do not have a built-in Ethernet port require additional hardware to connect them to an StrideLinx router. Some manufacturers provide an expansion module to add an Ethernet port to your machine while other machines require a serial converter.
This article lists several manufacturers for you to look into and also addresses the compatibility requirements for serial converters.
Serial converters
A serial converter converts a serial connection (e.g. RS-232 or RS-485) to an Ethernet connection (RJ45). Some converters are designed for a specific protocol, converting Modbus RTU to Modbus TCP for example, while other converters support multiple conversions and can be configured for your specific use case.
While we cannot recommend a specific manufacturer, other StrideLinx users use serial converters from the following manufacturers: Beijer Electronics, Hilscher, Moxa, ADFweb, Lantronix, IBHsoftec, and Helmholz.
Software requirements
The software you use to program or connect to the machine needs to meet the following requirements:
| Requirement | Description |
|---|---|
| Option to enter an IP address | The software you use to program or connect to the machine needs to provide the option to enter an IP address to connect to. If this is not the case, the software is unable to communicate over TCP/IP and is thus unable to communicate to the serial converter. If you are unsure, contact the developer of the software. |
| Option to configure a timeout | The software you use to program or connect to the machine needs to either provide the option to configure a timeout or have a high timeout set already. If this is not the case, the software is unable to communicate over the internet, because communication over the internet will always have a much slower response time compared to a local (serial) connection. If you are unsure, contact the developer of the software. |