Multiprotocol industrial Ethernet gateway, legacy bridge

By Control Engineering Staff December 26, 2005

Irwin, PA —Comtrol Corp. announced the successful adoption of its DeviceMaster UP (DM) Multi-Protocol industrial Ethernet gateway by Smart Papers Corp. a leading commercial paper manufacturer. DM enables communications between factory-floor serial devices and PLCs supporting the EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus/TCP industrial protocols.

DM is a network-attached device server that hosts an industrial Ethernet engine and translates device-to-PLC communications. DM allows users to attach RFID equipment, bar code scanners, displays and in-line scales to their industrial Ethernet network. The DM family of products includes 1- and 4-port models for added flexibility.

DM is said to be well suited to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and system integrators interested in offering an embedded, universal method to connect factory floor serial devices and PLCs.
DM highlights include:

  • Capability to connect up to four devices to an industrial Ethernet network, such as EtherNet/IP, Profinet, or Modbus/TCP;

  • PortVision, Comtrol’s device management software, that gives network administrators a graphical and convenient way to remotely configure, monitor and manage devices;

  • An integrated web server for browser-based configuration;

  • PLC example programs illustrating communications between DM and many widely-used PLCs;

  • Support for RS-232/422/485 communication modes.

For more information about the DM family, visit:
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https://www.control.com/products/devicemaster.asp

Richard Phelps , senior editor, Control Engineering