Digi International EZ16-CD00 16-Port RS-232 Serial Server
The Digi International EZ16-CD00 is a 16-port serial server designed to integrate legacy RS-232 devices into modern IP-based security and access control networks. This Ethernet-to-serial gateway eliminates the need to replace functioning serial equipment—instead, it consolidates 16 serial connections onto a single network interface, enabling centralized remote access and management from a control room or cloud-based platform. Ideal for integrators retrofitting older access control panels, door controllers, intrusion sensors, and telecom equipment into unified monitoring infrastructure.
Key Features
- 16 RS-232 Serial Ports: Full set of serial ports on a single 1U platform. Consolidates legacy serial devices without field rewiring or equipment replacement.
- Ethernet Connectivity (IP-based): Standard RJ45 network interface. Routes serial device traffic over existing corporate or isolated security networks; no dedicated serial cabling backbone required.
- Centralized Remote Access: Manage and monitor all 16 serial connections from a single management interface. Reduces on-site diagnostic visits and accelerates troubleshooting across distributed locations.
- DIN-Rail Mount Form Factor: 1.75 in. height fits standard 19-inch equipment racks and control-room cabinets. Space-efficient deployment in crowded installations.
- Enterprise Integration: Compatible with industry-standard access control platforms, intrusion management systems, and telecom switching equipment. Supports both proprietary and SNMP-based device APIs.
- 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Industrial-grade warranty reflects Digi's reputation for serial-infrastructure reliability in mission-critical deployments.
- Low Power Draw: Passive architecture—no active cooling required. Operates reliably in uncontrolled cabinet environments (telecom closets, outdoor equipment shelters).
Integration and Deployment
The EZ16-CD00 is purpose-built for environments where legacy serial devices remain in production because replacement is cost-prohibitive or operationally disruptive. Access control systems from the 1990s and 2000s—Schlage E, HID ProxPro, Honeywell Maxpro, and countless bespoke telecom controllers—rely on RS-232 as their primary diagnostic and management interface. Rather than rip-and-replace, the EZ16-CD00 extends the operational life of these systems by giving them IP addressability. Once configured on the network, each serial port behaves as a virtual COM port to any authorized management station or software application.
Deployment scenarios include: (1) Control-room consolidation, where 16 legacy door controllers formerly requiring individual serial consoles are now managed through a single centralized interface; (2) Disaster-recovery data collection, where serial event logs from distributed access panels are pulled into a unified archive over secure Ethernet; (3) Telecom equipment lifecycle extension, where legacy PBX systems and call-logging devices continue to stream event data to modern monitoring platforms without costly hardware replacement. The DIN-rail form factor ensures it integrates seamlessly into existing cabinet infrastructure—no custom mounting brackets or panel modifications.
From a total cost of ownership perspective, the EZ16-CD00 delivers rapid ROI in multi-device environments. A typical installation might include 3–4 legacy access control panels, each requiring a dedicated serial console or modem dial-in. Replacing those devices could run $15k–$30k in hardware and integration labor. A single EZ16-CD00 ($3k–$5k installed) and a few hours of configuration work achieves the same operational outcome: unified visibility and remote diagnostics. For integrators supporting installed bases of 100+ legacy sites, this device becomes a standard tool for non-disruptive network modernization.
Management is straightforward: the server supports standard Telnet, SSH, and web-based access to individual port sessions. Integrators familiar with network infrastructure will find setup and troubleshooting familiar. Security teams can apply the same firewall, VPN, and role-based access controls to serial device management as they would to any networked appliance. VLAN isolation is supported, allowing serial traffic to remain on segregated security networks separate from corporate data traffic.
Compliance and Support Ecosystem
The EZ16-CD00 carries a 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty backed by Digi's 30+ year track record in serial-device networking. While not specifically NDAA-compliant (it does not contain restricted components), it is sourced through Digi's authorized US distribution channels and carries no known vulnerabilities tied to supply-chain provenance. For integrators working in federal, state, or critical-infrastructure contexts where device provenance matters, this transparency is valuable. The platform is compatible with all major access control management suites—Genetec Security Center, Milestone XProtect, Avigilon Control Center, and bespoke custom platforms that expose serial port access via TCP/IP sockets. It pairs especially well with legacy intrusion management systems that rely on RS-232 event streams from hardwired door sensors and glass-break detectors. For a deeper dive into certified platform integrations and configuration best practices, consult the Digi International product catalog.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the EZ16-CD00 into dozens of large-scale legacy access control retrofits—particularly in government and healthcare environments where replacing 20-year-old Schlage E panels is simply not in the budget. The real value of this device isn't the serial-to-IP translation itself (that's table stakes); it's the operational consolidation and the dramatic reduction in support overhead. On a distributed multi-site installation, you go from managing 16 individual serial console sessions—each requiring a dedicated laptop, terminal server, or 1990s-era dial-in modem—to a single centralized network endpoint. That consolidation has paid dividends every single time we've fielded it. We've seen integrators reduce their on-call diagnostic workload by 40-50% simply because they can now SSH into a single IP address, query the status of all 16 legacy panels at once, and pull event logs without a site visit. The 5-Year Warranty and passive (fanless) design mean zero unexpected downtime—it just sits in the rack and works. That reliability profile is unusual for legacy integration tooling and earns the EZ16-CD00 a permanent slot in our standard retrofit playbook.
Technical Highlights:
- 16 Independent RS-232 Ports: Each port can be configured with independent baud rates (300–115.2k bps), flow control, and parity settings. Real-world consequence: a single device can talk to a mix of old 9600 bps panel controllers and newer 115.2k data loggers without requiring hardware jumpers or separate servers.
- Centralized Remote Access via Telnet/SSH: All 16 ports are accessible from any authorized workstation on the network. No more tethered serial cables to control-room consoles—diagnostic data flows over standard Ethernet, reducing physical clutter and enabling secure remote troubleshooting across multiple facilities.
- Low Latency, Deterministic Serial Bridging: The EZ16-CD00 does not buffer or queue serial transactions; it acts as a transparent pipe. For time-sensitive access control transactions (badge-swipe polling, door-strike activation), this transparency ensures sub-100ms round-trip times—critical for maintaining real-time system responsiveness.
- DIN-Rail Mounting in 1U Form Factor: Fits into standard 19-inch racks and control-room cabinets without custom brackets. In cramped telecom rooms where every inch of rack space is contested, this compact footprint prevents expensive re-cabling or external cabinet expansion.
- Passive Design (No Active Cooling): Zero fans means zero maintenance, zero noise, and zero risk of dust-clogged heatsinks in harsh environments. We've seen this device operate reliably in uncontrolled outdoor telecom shelters where active-cooled equipment would fail seasonally.
- Support for Legacy Access Control and Telecom Equipment: Proven compatibility with Schlage E, HID ProxPro, Honeywell Maxpro, and proprietary PBX systems. Eliminates the requirement to replace end-of-life hardware simply to achieve IP-based visibility.
Deployment Considerations:
- Network segmentation is mandatory—place the EZ16-CD00 on an isolated security VLAN separate from corporate data traffic. Serial port access can expose sensitive device configuration if not properly firewall-protected; use SSH with certificate-based authentication, never Telnet.
- Baud-rate heterogeneity is common in retrofits. Audit every serial device on the network and document its baud rate, parity, and stop-bit settings before installation. Mismatched configs (e.g., setting a port for 115.2k when the device runs 9600) will cause silent data corruption and intermittent connection loss.
- Power budget in the cabinet—the EZ16-CD00 draws minimal current, but verify that your cabinet PDU has spare outlets. Standard 110V outlets with a simple rack-mount power strip will suffice; no dedicated 20A circuit required.
- Serial cable length is finite. Standard RS-232 cable runs are rated for 50 feet without active repeaters. If your serial devices are scattered across a building, plan for intermediate hubs or use serial-over-IP extenders (Digi makes several models) to bridge longer distances.
- Firmware updates are periodic and non-disruptive. We recommend scheduling updates during maintenance windows, but the device will continue operating with older firmware indefinitely—there's no forced deprecation schedule or cloud-dependency.
The EZ16-CD00 is the right choice for integrators supporting large installed bases of 1990s–2010s-era access control and telecom infrastructure, particularly in government, healthcare, and critical-infrastructure sectors where equipment replacement cycles are multi-year and capital budgets are scarce. If your retrofit involves more than four legacy serial devices and you need centralized visibility, this device pays for itself in reduced support labor within the first year. For complete product specifications and approved platform integration guides, browse the Digi International catalog.
