PLCs, RTUs and IEDs (Intelligent Electronic Devices) continue to remain vital in many operations. They are found throughout industrial networks and communicate over serial connections, such as RS-232/422/485; however, the only downside is that these devices aren't compatible for communication over Ethernet/IP — at least not natively, explained a recent article on TMCnet.

Being able to use these kinds of legacy applications for communication over Ethernet/IP is crucial to maintaining business continuity. In light of this, Patton (News - Alert) Electronics has made it its goal to directly address this issue by offering ways to keep the functionality of serial devices despite the increasing presence of IP.

Replacement of older components likely will be required in the future, but for now, using Ethernet extenders and interface converters can offer a solution. In fact, Ethernet/IP is the future of industrial networking, according to Johnnie Grant, product line manager for Patton.

"Sooner or later, any existing RS-232 device will require an IP network connection,” he told TMCnet in a recent statement. “Patton's latest technological innovation makes selecting the right equipment for next-generation device networks a no-brainer."

To learn more about this topic, Patton will sponsor a webinar tomorrow Tuesday, Sept. 18, on the “hows and whys” of serial-to-IP migration for industrial automation. The webinar is called “Migrating Serial to Ethernet/IP for Device Communications.”

Don’t miss your last chance to register! Click here to do so now.

The webinar will take place between 2 and 3 p.m. (ET), where the company will show principles for connecting existing serial devices to the Ethernet/IP network, and explain the many benefits from making such a move. There will also be an explanation of equipment requirements for enabling serial devices for Ethernet. It will be presented by Burton A. Patton, the company’s executive vice president. Nathan Meyer, Sr., a product line manager, will also take part, as will Johnnie Grant and Sean Gerrity, who heads up Patton's North American sales operations.

Patton’s robust IpStatMux Model 3038, for example, provides migration for businesses moving to an all-IP setup by transparently transmitting up to eight asynchronous EIA-232/V.24 data-streams over Ethernet/IP and synch-serial composite links. This multiport asynchronous statistical multiplexer is meant for industrial automation networks and offers a transition to Ethernet/IP.

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