In many industrial environments, legacy serial devices are still widely used for monitoring and control purposes. These devices often rely on RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485 communication interfaces, which can limit their integration into modern network infrastructures. To bridge the gap between traditional serial communication and modern Ethernet networks, ICP DAS offers a range of Serial-to-Ethernet Device Servers. These compact and robust solutions allow serial devices to be connected to TCP/IP networks, making it possible to monitor, control, and collect data from remote locations via LAN or the internet.
ICP DAS serial device servers are designed for mission-critical industrial applications. They support a wide array of serial interfaces and protocols, including Modbus RTU, ModbusTCP, TCP Server/Client, UDP, and Virtual COM port functions. Their compact form factor, wide temperature tolerance, and flexible mounting options make them ideal for harsh environments and distributed installations. Additionally, many models include advanced features such as built-in web servers for configuration, event warning systems, isolation protection, and dual LAN ports for network redundancy.
These devices are widely used in factory automation, smart building systems, utility monitoring, transportation systems, and even remote environmental monitoring. By integrating these devices into an Ethernet network, engineers can reduce cabling costs, centralize data collection, and remotely manage distributed systems with ease.
Let’s explore the main product lines of ICP DAS Serial-to-Ethernet Device Servers and see how they can be used in real-world applications.
tDS-700 Series (Tiny Device Servers)
The tDS-700 Series is a compact line of single-port Serial-to-Ethernet modules. These tiny modules support RS-232/422/485, PoE or DC power input, and feature embedded web-server configuration and the VxComm driver for Windows virtualization.
Designed for space-constrained installations and simple network bridging of single serial devices, the tDS-700 is ideal for factory automation, building/home automation, and remote system management where minimal footprint and low power draw matter.
Applications: embedding next to serial devices in OEM equipment, converting serial sensors or actuators to Ethernet, or creating a low-cost remote access interface for a single port.
- ICP DAS – tDS-718i-D Tiny 1-port RS-232/422/485 device server with PoE, virtual COM support and tiny web config.
- ICP DAS – tDS-712 Compact 1-port RS-232 serial-to-Ethernet bridge, ideal for legacy RS-232 devices.
DS-2200 Series (Non-programmable Device Servers with Switch)
The DS-2200 Series includes compact 2 or 3-port Device Servers that integrate an Ethernet switch and up to two isolated serial ports (typically RS-422/485).
These are non-programmable but feature dual Ethernet ports to simplify daisy-chain or ring-network setups where space is limited, while isolating serial interfaces and supporting Virtual COM modes or TCP/UDP modes.
Applications: industrial network segments requiring serial connectivity plus device daisy-chaining (e.g. factory floors with limited switch ports), building automation wiring, or distributed I/O installations.
- ICP DAS – DS-2225i 2-port Ethernet switch + 2 isolated RS-422/485 serial ports, certified industrial use.
- ICP DAS – DS-2232i 3-port switch model with RS-232 ports for connecting multiple serial devices to a dual-port network.
PDS-700 Series (Programmable Device Servers)
The PDS-700 Series is fully programmable, supports up to 8 serial ports, and often includes digital I/O (DI/DO) capabilities, display variants, and Modbus Gateway functionality.
Running MiniOS7 and with the programmable XServer library, PDS devices can host custom firmware to pre-process or translate data, integrate serial data and digital channels, or control logic on the edge.
Applications: perfect for real-time protocol conversion, edge computing installations, remote monitoring combining digital inputs with serial sensors, or industrial automation nodes requiring logic and I/O control.
- ICP DAS – PDS-734D Programmable 1×RS-232, 1×RS-485, 1×RS-422/485 port plus 4 DI and 4 DO—fully programmable with digital I/O support.
- ICP DAS – PDS-742 High-density model with 3×RS-232 and 1×RS-485 ports, programmable, suitable for more complex serial integration.
PDS-8x1 Series (Programmable with Ethernet Switching)
The PDS-8x1 Series combines programmable MiniOS7 modules with embedded 2-port Ethernet switching, and support for up to 8 serial ports depending on model (e.g. PDS-821).
These are ideal where multiple serial devices and network segmentation are needed in tight infrastructure.
Applications: sub-network nodes in automation systems, integrating multiple serial sensors/controllers into Ethernet and providing an embedded switch for network daisy-chain topology.
- ICP DAS – PDS-821 Dual-slot programmable server with up to 8 RS-232 ports and built-in Ethernet switch.
- ICP DAS – PDS-811 Single-slot programmable model supporting up to 4 serial ports (RS-232).
PPDS-700-MTCP Series (Programmable, PoE & Modbus Gateway)
The PPDS-700-MTCP Series enhances the PDS-700 line with Power-over-Ethernet support and built-in Modbus TCP gateway mode, making them ideal for low-voltage powered installations where Modbus device integration is required.
Applications: site installations where PoE is preferable (e.g. factory ceilings, remote panels), and where Modbus TCP to RTU/ASCII bridging is needed without external gateways.
- ICP DAS – PPDS-720-MTCP Programmable with 1×RS-232 and 1×RS-485 port, PoE support, Modbus TCP gateway.
- ICP DAS – PPDS-782D-MTCP Model with multiple serial ports, DI/DO and PoE integration and gateway support.
Each series above is crafted for different scales and complexity of serial-to-Ethernet integration, from minimal footprint tDS devices to edge-programmable, digitally integrated PDS and rugged SNMP-capable iDS solutions.
