StarTech NETRS2322P 2-Port RS-232 Serial Device Server

Overview

The StarTech NETRS2322P is a two-port RS-232 serial device server that bridges legacy serial equipment to modern IP networks over 10/100 Mbps Ethernet. If you're managing remotely located serial-port devices — access control panels, environmental sensors, industrial PLCs, serial-attached security hardware — and need reliable network reach without replacing the hardware, this unit eliminates the serial cable run and puts both devices on your LAN or WAN. The compact steel enclosure measures just 4.4 × 3.2 × 0.9 inches, mounts via integrated brackets, and handles DC power in the 9–36V range, which means it fits cleanly into industrial cabinet power rails without a dedicated transformer.

At 11.3 oz, this isn't a rack appliance — it's a field-installable device server you mount near the serial equipment and wire into your network infrastructure. For integrators managing serial device servers across distributed sites, that form factor matters more than it might seem.

Key Features

• Two independent RS-232 DB-9 serial ports: Each port connects and manages a discrete serial device simultaneously. You're not sharing bandwidth between devices — both operate independently over the IP network, which means a single unit handles a serial access control panel and a serial-attached door controller at the same location without deploying two separate converters.
• 460.8 Kbps maximum baud rate: Most RS-232 industrial equipment tops out at 115.2 Kbps, so the NETRS2322P's ceiling of 460.8 Kbps gives you headroom for higher-speed serial devices and ensures the network side never becomes the bottleneck in your serial-over-IP chain.
• 10/100 Mbps Ethernet via RJ-45: Connects to any standard managed or unmanaged switch port. In a typical serial device server deployment, network bandwidth isn't the constraint — latency and port availability are. The RJ-45 interface means no adapters, no USB bridges, just a direct drop into your existing Cat5e/Cat6 infrastructure.
• Wide DC input range — 9 to 36V: This range covers 12V and 24V DC power rails common in industrial enclosures, access control panels, and security system cabinets. No separate power supply is required if your enclosure already runs 12V or 24V — connect directly to the terminal block and you're done.
• Terminal block power connector with 2-wire interface: Screw-terminal power input means no proprietary barrel connectors that fail in vibration-prone or high-traffic environments. Electricians and field technicians can terminate directly with standard wire — faster commissioning and easier replacement in the field.
• ±15kV ESD protection on serial ports: RS-232 lines running near industrial equipment, HVAC systems, or long cable runs accumulate static discharge. The built-in ±15kV ESD protection on each port absorbs those spikes before they damage the device server or the connected equipment — critical in manufacturing, warehouse, and utility environments where static events are common.
• 0°C to 85°C operating temperature range: Most enterprise networking gear is rated to 40–55°C. The NETRS2322P's 85°C ceiling covers industrial enclosures, outdoor-rated cabinets, and unmaintained mechanical rooms where ambient temperatures regularly exceed standard IT equipment limits.
• Multi-protocol IP support — TCP, UDP, Telnet, HTTP, DHCP, BOOTP, ICMP: Serial data can be tunneled over TCP for reliable point-to-point delivery or UDP for low-latency broadcast scenarios. DHCP and BOOTP support means the unit picks up a network address automatically on first boot — no manual IP configuration required unless your deployment demands static addressing. HTTP access enables browser-based configuration without a dedicated management console.
• Steel enclosure with integrated mounting brackets: The steel chassis handles the physical abuse of cabinet mounting, vibration, and repeated access without the cracking or flexing risk of plastic enclosures. Integrated brackets mean you bolt directly to a DIN rail adapter or cabinet wall — no separate mounting kit required in most installations.

Integration and Compatibility

The NETRS2322P connects to any IP network that supports standard TCP/IP, making it compatible with virtually every enterprise and industrial network infrastructure. On the serial side, the DB-9 RS-232 interface is the industry default for legacy security hardware, industrial controllers, and building automation equipment. Devices using serial communication protocols — including many access control systems, environmental monitoring units, and industrial automation gear — connect directly without level shifters or protocol converters.

The supported protocol stack (Telnet, TCP, UDP, HTTP, DHCP, BOOTP, ICMP) covers the standard tunneling and management methods used by network management systems and serial-over-IP middleware. For integrators deploying this alongside network switches in structured cabling environments, the unit draws minimal network overhead — at serial baud rates, even saturated dual-port throughput represents a fraction of a single 10/100 Mbps port's capacity.

The NETRS2322P also suits deployments where a serial-to-Ethernet converter needs to survive beyond the typical 0–55°C envelope of office-grade networking hardware. With an 85°C upper limit, it fits industrial, utility, and transportation applications where thermal headroom is non-negotiable. If you're evaluating power options, pairing this unit with a wide-range DC industrial power supply covering the 9–36V input range gives you a clean, self-contained installation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many serial devices can the NETRS2322P manage simultaneously?

A: Two. Each DB-9 RS-232 port connects and manages an independent serial device over the IP network simultaneously. Both ports operate independently — you are not time-sharing a single serial connection between devices.

Q: What power supply does the NETRS2322P require?

A: The NETRS2322P accepts 9 to 36V DC via a 2-wire terminal block connector. This range covers both 12V and 24V DC power rails common in industrial enclosures and security system cabinets, so in most cases no separate power adapter is required.

Q: What is the maximum baud rate supported?

A: The NETRS2322P supports a maximum baud rate of 460.8 Kbps on each RS-232 serial port, well above the 115.2 Kbps ceiling of most legacy serial hardware.

Q: Can the NETRS2322P operate in high-temperature environments?

A: Yes. The operating temperature range is 0°C to 85°C (32°F to 185°F), which covers industrial enclosures, utility cabinets, and unmaintained mechanical rooms that exceed standard IT equipment temperature limits.

Q: What network protocols does the NETRS2322P support for serial tunneling and management?

A: Supported protocols include TCP, UDP, Telnet, HTTP, DHCP, BOOTP, and ICMP. TCP and UDP handle serial data tunneling; HTTP enables browser-based configuration; DHCP and BOOTP allow automatic IP address assignment on first deployment.

Q: What is the warranty on the NETRS2322P?

A: The NETRS2322P carries a 2-year manufacturer warranty.

Marty Allison

The spec that shapes where I'd deploy the NETRS2322P is that 0–85°C operating range. Most serial device servers I see specified for access control or industrial monitoring top out at 55–60°C, which rules them out the moment you're putting hardware in a non-climate-controlled cabinet in a warehouse, utility plant, or rooftop enclosure. The NETRS2322P handles that 85°C ceiling, which means it stays in the running for environments where standard IT gear fails before the project is even finished.

Technical Highlights:

• 460.8 Kbps max baud rate: Four times the ceiling of typical RS-232 serial devices — your serial hardware won't saturate this converter, and you won't need to upgrade the device server when swapping to faster serial equipment later.
• ±15kV ESD protection: RS-232 runs near motors, relay coils, or long cable runs accumulate charge. The built-in 15kV protection on each port absorbs those spikes before they take down the device server or damage connected hardware — essential in manufacturing and utility environments.
• 9–36V DC terminal block input: Terminating directly to a 24V DC bus in an industrial cabinet is cleaner and more reliable than plugging a wall-wart into a power strip. The wide input range means a single SKU covers both 12V and 24V panel installations.

Deployment Considerations:

• The unit's 4.4 × 3.2 × 0.9-inch footprint and integrated brackets make it straightforward to bolt inside a secondary enclosure or mount adjacent to serial-attached hardware — but confirm your cabinet has adequate ventilation if ambient temps approach the 85°C limit, since there's no active cooling in this form factor.
• The Ethernet interface is 10/100 Mbps only — not gigabit. In virtually every serial-over-IP scenario that's irrelevant (serial data volumes are negligible), but if this unit is going onto a managed switch port configured for gigabit auto-negotiation, verify your switch handles 10/100 autoneg without forcing a link error.

For a security integrator managing a distributed access control deployment — say, serial-attached controllers at mechanical rooms across a multi-building campus — the NETRS2322P earns its place by surviving the thermal environment, drawing clean power from the existing DC bus, and putting both serial ports on the LAN without additional hardware.