With the COM Grouping function, you can simulate the "multi-branch" structure of traditional devices communicating through Ethernet TCP/IP protocol. Through COM grouping, you can create a COM group and redirect data from the group to multiple physical serial ports on the NPort device server. It can send the same command to all or a group of serial field devices through Ethernet at the same time, that is, through COM grouping, you can operate only one COM port to control multiple physical serial ports at the same time.
Creating a COM Group
Follow these steps to add multiple COM ports to a group (up to 32 COM ports per group):
1. First search for the NPort device that needs to be grouped into COM
2. Map COM port
3. Select the corresponding COM port for the group to be created, then right-click and select COM Settings.
4. Select a COM number for the COM group. (You can select an unused COM number, such as COM7, etc.; you can also select a COM number that has been assigned to a COM group member, such as COM1, COM2, and COM5 in the figure. Please note that once a COM group is created, the original COM numbers of all COM ports in the group will be released at the same time.)
5. Select the "Grouping selected port(s) together" checkbox and click OK.
6. On the "COM Grouping" page, you can set "read" and "write" permissions for each serial port and set the signal status to control data transmission using specified control signals (e.g., DTR/RTS). You can assign a serial port whose signal will be determined by the COM group.
7. Click "OK" and confirm the assigned serial port. The COM port column confirms that the selected port is marked as part of the "Group". You will be able to view the serial ports assigned to and removed from the group. Click "Apply" to apply the settings and finally click "Yes".
COM grouping function test
Opening any COM port in Group1 can communicate with Ethernet devices. This allows one COM port to send the same command to a group of serial ports at the same time through Ethernet.
Please note that only one serial port can be opened for communication in a COM group. If you open other COM ports in the group, it will prompt "The COM port is occupied".
