Digi International EZ32-AD00 32-Port Serial Server
The Digi International EZ32-AD00 is a 32-port serial-to-Ethernet gateway designed for integrators consolidating legacy serial infrastructure into modern IP networks. In access control, fire alarm, HVAC, and industrial control deployments, serial devices often run on proprietary or RS-232/422/485 protocols that don't speak IP natively—this appliance terminates all 32 connections in one box and presents them as standard network resources. The dual DC redundant power supply ensures that critical infrastructure remains online even if a single power source fails, eliminating single points of failure in mission-critical deployments.
Key Features
- 32 Serial Ports: Consolidates access control readers, fire alarm panels, HVAC controllers, and legacy industrial devices into one appliance. Reduces cable runs and centralizes serial device management across multiple systems.
- Dual DC Redundant Power Supply: Two independent DC inputs ensure continuous operation during single-supply failure. Critical for facilities where downtime triggers regulatory penalties or safety protocols.
- Serial Protocol Support: Operates with standard RS-232, RS-422, and RS-485 serial protocols, ensuring compatibility with installed base equipment from decades of building automation deployments.
- Network-Connected Gateway: Presents serial devices as IP resources, allowing centralized monitoring and control from modern building management systems, security platforms, and NVRs without custom gateway software.
- Compact Rack Form Factor: 1.75 inch height (1U equivalent) with 10.4 x 17.5 inch footprint fits standard 19-inch racks alongside network and security infrastructure, minimizing installation footprint.
- 5-Year Warranty: Full manufacturer warranty covers hardware defects and supports long-term capital asset planning in enterprise security and automation deployments.
In practice, the EZ32-AD00 solves a common integration pain point: legacy serial devices—door controllers, access panels, fire alarm repeaters, building automation gateways—were never designed for Ethernet-first architectures. Rather than rip-and-replace aging but functional hardware, integrators wire serial lines to the Digi box and immediately gain IP visibility. The device acts as a transparent bridge; software on the client side (a security management platform, HVAC monitoring system, or custom application) connects via Ethernet and sees the serial device as if it were on the local bus. No protocol translation, no gateway middleware overhead—just raw serial I/O over TCP/IP sockets.
The redundant power design matters most in facilities where a power loss triggers safety shutdowns or regulatory violations. Data centers, hospitals, prisons, and large commercial campuses cannot afford to lose access control or fire alarm serial feeds for even a few minutes. By requiring two separate DC supplies (often from different uninterruptible power supply branches or backup generator circuits), the EZ32-AD00 eliminates the single-supply risk that would otherwise require external switching logic or dual-appliance failover engineering. One supply fails, the device keeps running. Both supplies are healthy, full redundancy holds.
Integration is straightforward for anyone familiar with serial-to-IP gateways. ONVIF-compliant management platforms and building automation systems that speak sockets or TCP will recognize the Digi box as a network-attached serial concentrator. No special drivers or licensing required on the client side—standard syslog and network discovery protocols work out of the box. Installation consists of: (1) rack mounting, (2) connecting dual DC power, (3) terminating 32 serial cables from legacy devices, (4) assigning a static IP address, and (5) configuring firewall rules and VLAN membership. Typical time to production is 4–6 hours for a 32-device migration.
For integrators managing sprawling multi-site deployments with thousands of legacy serial endpoints, the EZ32-AD00 becomes a consolidation anchor. Instead of maintaining 32 separate point-to-point serial connections or chasing custom bridge solutions, a single appliance per location centralizes management, backup, and troubleshooting. Coupled with remote management capabilities and syslog forwarding, the Digi serial server transforms old infrastructure into a monitored, redundant, Ethernet-native asset.
Marty AllisonPerspective based on aggregated IP Security Depot and affiliated engineering team experience.
We've deployed the Digi EZ32-AD00 across portfolio facilities where legacy access control and fire alarm systems still run on serial protocols—and in nearly every case, the integrator's first question is whether to replace the whole system or bridge it. The EZ32-AD00 is the bridge-it answer. The 32-port density means a single appliance can absorb a large wing of access readers, door controllers, or fire panel serial feeds without requiring a secondary gateway. What really sets this product apart in our experience is the dual DC redundancy: on a healthcare campus or a correctional facility, you simply cannot afford to lose access control or fire alarm signaling for the time it takes to swap power supplies. The Digi box forces you to engineer power right from the start—two independent DC sources, each on a different UPS branch, and you're done. No single point of failure, no emergency swap-out procedures. It just keeps running.
Technical Highlights:
- 32 Serial Ports in 1U Form Factor: Eliminates the need for multiple smaller gateways or distributed serial termination. We've consolidated 32 legacy devices that previously occupied a full rack of point-to-point serial infrastructure into one compact appliance. That density directly cuts circuit board and cabling labor.
- Dual DC Redundant Power: Standard PoE or AC-powered gateways fail when the single supply fails. The Digi EZ32-AD00 requires two DC inputs—typically sourced from different UPS branches or standby generators. In 15 years of deployments, we've seen dual power save a facility from a multi-hour access-control outage exactly once—and that one incident paid for the redundant engineering three times over.
- Standard Serial Protocol Support: No proprietary encapsulation layer. RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 traffic flows transparently over Ethernet; legacy software on the other end sees it as native serial. That compatibility is critical when you're integrating with 20-year-old access panels or fire systems that cannot be updated.
- TCP/IP Socket Interface: Modern building management and security systems connect via standard sockets—Genetec, Milestone, and custom HVAC supervisory platforms all speak TCP. No middleware, no special serial-server appliance drivers. Integrators familiar with network gear can configure this without a learning curve.
- Compact Rack Profile: 1U or equivalent footprint means it shares a 19-inch rack with network switches, NVRs, and fire panel gateways. On a 50-location deployment, that's 50 fewer half-racks you have to size and power-budget for.
Deployment Considerations:
- Dual DC supply requirement is non-negotiable for critical infrastructure—but it means you must engineer power distribution upfront. If a facility has only one UPS branch or generator feed, you've added a dependency on external power conditioning that wouldn't exist with a single-supply device. Know your power architecture before specifying.
- Serial port density is fixed at 32; if you have 48 or 64 legacy devices at one location, you'll need two units. Plan for this in multi-location rollouts where device counts vary. A quick audit of actual serial endpoints often prevents surprise change orders.
- Legacy serial protocols run at RS-232/422/485 standard baud rates (9600 to 115200 bps typical). Ensure client-side software and the legacy device firmware both support transparent socket I/O; very old systems that expect hard-wired handshake lines or out-of-band signaling may require custom scripting or serial-to-TCP bridges on the client side.
- Configuration and firmware updates are managed via SSH or web interface; deploy this behind a management VLAN and restrict access via firewall rules. In security deployments, the serial server itself becomes a critical asset requiring physical access controls and change-log audit trails.
- Syslog export and SNMP MIBs are available; integrate these into your network monitoring and alerting infrastructure from day one. A failed serial connection that goes unnoticed for hours defeats the whole point of redundancy.
If you're integrating access control, fire alarm, or HVAC systems that still live on serial protocols—and you need industrial-grade uptime without replacing working infrastructure—the EZ32-AD00 is the de facto standard. For more options and configuration guidance, see the Digi International catalog.
