IP-Encapsulation of Automation Protocols
IP-Encapsulation is the tunneling of serial data into network packets and the transport of the data over a network. Typical applications for Serial Tunneling are remote configuration, programming, monitoring and management of industrial devices. Where PC's have been traditionally used, Perle's TruePort COM port re-director can provide the encapsulation
An example of encapsulation with a COM port redirector is with a Siemens Micro/WIN software application that normally communicates over a direct RS232 link. By installing TruePort on the Windows workstation, serial data directed to the serial COM port is redirected and IP-encapsulated for transmission over ethernet. Local to the PLC, a serial to ethernet device server then converts the packets to serial enabling remote communication between the serial-based Micro/WIN application and the PLC.
![Diagram IP-Encapsulation](/images/diagrams/diagram_ip-encapsulation_technical_note.jpg)
Other applications provide the conversion to IP. Kepware as example can IP-encapsulate Allen Bradley DF1 over ethernet. A serial to ethernet device server such as the IOLAN DG then does the final conversion to serial for connection to the PLC.
![image alt tag](/images/diagrams/diagram_ip-encapsulation_technical_note2.jpg)
Serial Device Servers can also be used to run IP-encapsulation in “back to back” mode. This may be required when there is no ethernet capability in the target devices such as older PLC’s
![image alt tag](/images/diagrams/diagram_ip-encapsulation_technical_note3.jpg)