I. Hardware Connection and Preliminary Preparations

1. Physical Wiring: Insert the network cable into the Ethernet port of the serial server, and connect the other end to the router/switch (ensure network connectivity); connect the serial cable (RS232/485, etc.) to the corresponding device pins (TX/RX/GND must match to avoid reverse connection), connect a 12V/24V DC power supply, and observe that the power indicator light is constantly on, indicating normal power supply.

2. Tool Preparation: Install the manufacturer's configuration tool on your computer (such as MOXA NPort Search Utility, Advantech DeviceInstaller), prepare a serial port assistant (SecureCRT, SSCOM) and network debugging tools (Telnet, TCP/UDP testing tools), and ensure that the computer and the serial server are connected to the same local area network.

II. Network Parameter Configuration (Crucial Steps)

1. Device Search: Open the manufacturer's configuration tool, which will automatically scan for serial servers on the local area network and display the device's default IP address (usually 192.168.1.1 or the factory-marked address), MAC address, and other information. 2. IP Address Settings: Right-click to modify the device IP address. Manually assign a static IP address on the same network segment as your computer (e.g., if your computer's IP is 192.168.0.100, the device IP can be set to 192.168.0.101, subnet mask 255.255.255.0, gateway the same as the router). Save and restart the device for the changes to take effect.

3. Connectivity Test: Open CMD on your computer and type "ping device IP". A 0% packet loss rate indicates normal network connectivity.

III. Serial Port and Communication Mode Configuration

1. Login to Management Interface: Open a browser, enter the device IP address to access the web management page, and enter the default username and password (admin/admin are common; refer to the manual).

2. Serial Port Parameter Matching: Enter the "Serial Port Settings" page and configure the baud rate (e.g., 9600/19200), data bits (8 bits), stop bits (1 bit), and parity (no parity/N/E/O). These parameters must be completely consistent with those of the external device (sensor, PLC); otherwise, communication will fail.

3. Communication Mode Selection:

TCP Server: The serial server listens on a specified port, and the host computer initiates the connection. Suitable for multiple device access.

TCP Client: The serial server initiates the connection to the host computer via a fixed IP address and port. Suitable for single-point communication.

UDP Mode: Connectionless communication, low latency, suitable for scenarios with high real-time requirements. Requires setting the target IP address and port.

Transparent Transmission: Data is forwarded directly without protocol parsing, simplifying configuration.

4. Other Parameter Settings: Enable heartbeat (to prevent connection drop), set data timeout, and in industrial scenarios, enable verification mechanisms (such as CRC) to improve stability.

IV. Testing, Verification, and Troubleshooting

1. Local Serial Port Test: Connect the computer to the serial server via a USB-to-serial adapter. Open a serial port assistant, select the corresponding COM port and configuration parameters, and send test data (e.g., "123456"). If the serial server responds with received information, local communication is normal.

2. Network Communication Test: Open a network debugging tool on the host computer, select the corresponding communication mode (TCP/UDP), enter the device IP and port to establish a connection, send data, and check if the external device responds. Simultaneously, view the data transmission and reception statistics on the serial server management page.

3. Common Troubleshooting:
Unable to search for devices: Check if the network is on the same segment, check if the firewall is blocking data, and restart the device to try again.
Packet loss: Lower the baud rate, check for poor wiring connections, and enable the data retransmission mechanism.
Unable to log in to the management page: Confirm the IP is correct, clear the browser cache, and restore factory settings (press and hold the reset button for 5 seconds).

V. Advanced Configuration (Set as Needed)

Port Mapping: Public network access requires configuring port mapping on the router to map the serial server port to a public IP address for remote management.

User Access Management: Modify default usernames and passwords, add users with read-only/administrative permissions, and restrict unauthorized access.

Logs and Monitoring: Enable logging to record communication anomalies and login records. In industrial scenarios, it can be integrated with a monitoring platform to monitor device status in real time.