Advantech EKI-1524 – Managed Industrial Ethernet Switch with Serial Ports

Key Specifications & Features

1. Dual-Mode Connectivity:

   • Network Side: 5 x 10/100BASE-TX RJ45 ports (managed switching).

   • Serial Side: 2 x RS-232/422/485 software-configurable serial ports (DB9 male connectors). This allows connection to virtually any industrial serial device.

2. Advanced Management (The "Managed" Part):

   • Full Layer 2 Switch Features: VLAN, QoS, RSTP/MSTP, IGMP Snooping, Port Mirroring, SNMP.

   • Web, CLI, Telnet/SSH for configuration.

   • This allows the switch to be a intelligent node in the network, not just a converter.

3. Serial-to-Ethernet Gateway Functionality (The Killer Feature):

   • Multiple Operating Modes per Serial Port:

     • Real COM Driver (Virtual COM): Creates a virtual COM port on a connected PC, making the remote serial device appear locally attached.

     • TCP Server/Client: The serial port connects to a TCP socket, allowing bidirectional data flow between a serial device and a TCP/IP application (like an HMI/SCADA).

     • UDP Mode: For connectionless communication.

     • Reverse Telnet: Allows terminal access to the serial device via Telnet.

     • Modbus Gateway: Can translate between Modbus RTU/ASCII (serial) and Modbus TCP (Ethernet), a hugely important feature for industrial integration.

4. Industrial Ruggedness:

   • Operating Temperature: Typically -10°C to 60°C (commercial-industrial) or -40°C to 75°C (full industrial) – verify the specific suffix.

   • Power: Wide-range DC input (e.g., 12-48 VDC) with dual redundant inputs.

   • Mounting: DIN-rail.

   • Certifications: CE, FCC, UL/cUL listed for industrial environments.

Typical Use Cases: Solving Integration Problems

This device shines in modernization and consolidation projects:

1. Legacy Device Network Integration: Connecting older PLCs, CNC machines, or weighing systems that only have serial ports (RS-232/485) directly to a modern Ethernet-based SCADA or MES system.

2. Panel Consolidation & Space Savings: Replacing a separate managed switch and one or more serial-to-Ethernet converters with a single, neater device. Reduces wiring, power supplies, and DIN-rail space.

3. Protocol Gateway: Acting as a dedicated Modbus RTU-to-Modbus TCP gateway, allowing a network of Modbus RTU devices to be accessed by modern SCADA software that speaks only Modbus TCP.

4. Remote Serial Console Access: Providing out-of-band management to network devices (routers, switches) or servers with serial consoles over the IP network.

5. Building Management & Utility Networks: Integrating HVAC controllers, power meters, and environmental sensors that commonly use RS-485 networks into a central IP-based management system.

   
   

   
   

   The Advantech EKI-1524 is a smart convergence device. It solves the common "last-mile" problem of connecting legacy industrial equipment to modern networks in an elegant, hardened package.

   Think of it as a "Network Access Switch" for serial devices.

   Choose the EKI-1524 if: You are designing a panel or machine upgrade and face the classic challenge of integrating a few serial devices into an Ethernet network. It consolidates functionality, reduces footprint, and provides a clean, managed solution.

   Stick with separate components if: You need more than 2 serial ports, require absolute redundancy for each function, or have extremely high-performance serial data requirements. For large serial networks, a dedicated EKI-1560 series serial server would be more appropriate.

   This device epitomizes the trend in industrial networking: convergence, simplification, and intelligent edge computing. It's a highly practical tool for system integrators modernizing industrial assets.