DS100 Serial Device Server

The DS100 is a Serial Device Server for external use. Device hardware includes one 10BaseT Ethernet port, one serial port and an internal processor that "glues" network and serial sides together. Internally, the DS100 is based on the EM100 Ethernet Module .

The DS100 is supplied in two modifications:

From the hardware standpoint, the DS100 can be viewed as a universal platform suitable for running a variety of network and serial communications-related applications. It is the application firmware , not the hardware that gives the DS100 most of its functionality. The firmware is currently in its 3rd generation ("Release3").

The application firmware of the DS100 can be upgraded through the device's serial port or Ethernet port. Serial upgrades are facilitated by a so-called Monitor - a fixed "service" firmware inside the DS100. The Monitor itself cannot be upgraded. Network upgrades rely on the NetLoader firmware component that, like the application firmware itself, can be upgraded through the serial port of the DS100 (using the Monitor). The DS100 is supplied with the application firmware and the NetLoader already pre-loaded.

Since most of the DS100's operation is defined by its firmware the major part of the functional description can be found in the Device Server Application Firmware Manual . This DS100 Serial Device Server Manual focuses on the hardware portion of the DS100.

* Network upgrades are only possible on the latest DS100-03 modification of the device (see specifications and EM100 modifications for details)