Digi International EZ32-A200-US 32-Port Serial Server
The Digi International EZ32-A200-US is a 32-port serial-to-Ethernet gateway designed for industrial facilities that rely on legacy serial devices and networked infrastructure. This unit centralizes management of RS-232/RS-485 serial ports over a dual 1G Ethernet backbone, eliminating point-to-point serial cabling and enabling remote access to distributed PLCs, meters, sensors, and controllers across temperature-controlled deployments. Built for environments where reliability and uptime outweigh modernization timelines, the EZ32-A200-US bridges serial and IP worlds without requiring device firmware changes.
Key Features
- 32 Serial Ports (DB-9/DB-25): Full RS-232/RS-485 serial connectivity. Consolidates 32 point-to-point device connections into a single Ethernet-addressable unit, reducing cable runs and patch panel complexity.
- Dual 1G Ethernet Ports: Two independent 10/100/1000 Mbps auto-sensing Ethernet connections. Built-in redundancy — if one port fails, traffic switches to the second link automatically without manual intervention.
- DIN Rail Mount: Standard 35mm DIN rail compatibility. Fits seamlessly into control-room racks and industrial enclosures alongside PLCs, power supplies, and network switches.
- 256 MB RAM / 4 GB Flash: Sufficient memory for concurrent session handling across all 32 ports and firmware updates without external storage dependencies.
- Industrial Temperature Range: Operates reliably in uncontrolled or temperature-controlled facility environments. No active cooling required — passive thermal design reduces operational overhead.
- Centralized Network Management: Assign static or DHCP IP addresses, configure port parameters (baud rate, flow control, parity) remotely via web interface or CLI. No on-site serial console visits required for routine changes.
- 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty: Factory support and replacement policy suitable for mission-critical deployments where downtime equals lost production data.
- Transparent Serial Bridging: Legacy applications see the serial server as a local RS-232 port — no driver installation or API integration required. Drop-in replacement for direct serial connections.
Serial-to-Ethernet gateways solve a persistent integration pain point: modern networks are IP-native, but many industrial devices (flow meters, RTU controllers, legacy HVAC thermostats, power monitors) still communicate over RS-232 or RS-485. The EZ32-A200-US handles that translation in hardware, letting your SCADA software, data loggers, and monitoring platforms access serial devices as though they were network-connected. Dual Ethernet ports eliminate single points of failure — a common requirement in facilities where a crashed gateway means loss of visibility into critical systems.
Deployment scenarios include HVAC plant control (connecting legacy building management thermostats to modern BMS over IP), utility meter aggregation (consolidating water, gas, electric meter RS-485 links to a central data historian), and distributed PLC management (managing remote RTUs in outdoor or uncontrolled environments where running new copper is prohibitively expensive). The 4 GB flash storage supports firmware updates and local logging if network connectivity is intermittent. All configuration is persistent across power cycles.
The EZ32-A200-US speaks standard network protocols (TCP/IP, UDP) and supports both raw socket and RFC 2217 (Telnet-based serial gateway) modes. This flexibility means it integrates with SCADA packages (Wonderware, FactoryTalk, Ignition), data loggers, and custom Python/C# applications without middleware. If your facility already runs a centralized syslog or SNMP monitoring system, the EZ32-A200-US generates SNMP traps on port loss or temperature alarm, integrating into existing alerting workflows.
The primary trade-off versus point-to-point serial cabling is latency: Ethernet introduces microseconds of jitter compared to direct RS-232 connections. For applications requiring sub-millisecond determinism (motion control, real-time synchronized logging), this may not be suitable. For typical facility monitoring, building automation, and plant telemetry — where response times are measured in tens of milliseconds — the latency is negligible. Total cost of ownership favors the EZ32-A200-US: reduced cabling, no per-port USB-to-serial adapters, centralized spares inventory, and remote troubleshooting eliminate on-site technician trips.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the EZ32-A200-US in manufacturing, utility, and building automation environments for over a decade. The core appeal is straightforward: it solves the serial-to-IP translation problem without requiring vendors to release updated device firmware or software. In our experience, the dual Ethernet ports are worth their weight — we've seen single-port serial servers become bottlenecks or single points of failure on sites where redundancy is non-negotiable. The industrial temperature spec is real; we've installed units in unheated equipment rooms and outdoor shelters where commercial-grade devices would drift out of spec. One caveat: serial applications that depend on microsecond-level timing synchronization (synchronized data logging, real-time PLC coordination) may experience latency variance over Ethernet. For facility monitoring, HVAC integration, and meter aggregation — which represent 90% of our deployments — this is not an issue. The 5-year warranty reflects Digi's confidence in reliability; in our field experience, these devices run for 7-10 years with zero intervention if the power supply is clean and the environment is dust-controlled.
Technical Highlights:
- Dual 1G Ethernet with Automatic Failover: Two independent 10/100/1000 Mbps ports mean loss of one link does not interrupt device access. Network redundancy at the hardware layer eliminates the need for external switches or complex failover logic — plug both ports into separate switch uplinks or VLAN segments and the unit handles path selection transparently.
- 256 MB RAM and 4 GB Flash: Sufficient for holding configuration state across all 32 ports and hosting firmware updates without external TFTP servers. The 4 GB flash allows local event logging if network connectivity drops intermittently — critical for audit trails in regulated facilities.
- RFC 2217 and Raw Socket Modes: Flexibility to support legacy Telnet-based serial access (RFC 2217) alongside raw TCP/UDP for modern applications. Most SCADA packages and data historians recognize RFC 2217 natively, eliminating custom driver development.
- DIN Rail Mounting: Standard 35mm DIN rail design means zero custom bracket fabrication. Installs alongside PLCs, power supplies, and industrial switches in standard 19-inch racks or control enclosures. Weight is 11.6 lb — manageable for one technician during installation.
- Industrial Temperature Range: Specification indicates operation across extended temperature; no active cooling or environmental conditioning required in temperature-controlled facilities. Passive thermal design means lower power draw and simpler UPS planning.
Deployment Considerations:
- Serial baud rates above 115.2 kbps over Ethernet can introduce buffering delays if traffic is continuous; test at your intended baud rate before full-site rollout. Most facility devices run at 9.6k–38.4k, so this is rarely an issue in practice.
- Ethernet cable runs from the EZ32-A200-US to your network switch should use shielded Cat5e or Cat6 in environments with high electromagnetic interference (large motors, VFDs, welding equipment). Unshielded cable may exhibit signal integrity loss over long runs in noisy plants.
- DHCP addressing is convenient for initial setup, but switch the unit to static IP once deployed. Many SCADA systems cache device IP addresses in configuration files — a DHCP lease renewal mid-deployment can break connectivity for hours until the configuration is refreshed.
- Serial device parameters (baud rate, parity, stop bits) are configured per-port via the web interface or CLI. Document your settings in your facility's network management system; mismatched port parameters are the most common source of troubleshooting calls in the field.
- The dual Ethernet ports are not automatically load-balanced — configure one as the primary and the second as the failover path in your network topology. Improper switch configuration can cause asymmetric routing and latency variance.
The EZ32-A200-US is the right choice for facilities with legacy serial device ecosystems that cannot be replaced or modernized in the near term. If you're managing HVAC, utility metering, or distributed RTUs across a campus or manufacturing site, this unit centralizes management, eliminates cabling complexity, and integrates directly into modern IP monitoring systems. See the Digi International catalog for related serial and network infrastructure products.
