Using a Serial Server to Improve Productivity and Cut Costs

How much money have you seen wasted driving back and forth from distant remote sites? Do you wish there was a way you could cut back the driving time and increase productivity?

How much more could you and your technicians get done each day if you didn't have to spend so much time driving? The answer is probably "quite a bit". Cutting back on this unnecessary driving will shave a lot of overtime from your budget, save on fuel costs, and give more time for more urgent projects.

This all sounds too good to be true...but it's not. With the right technology you can connect to all of your remote sites - so you'll never have to hop in your truck and drive miles and miles just to restart some equipment or to reconfigure some settings.

A serial server provides you with this remote access. A serial server will allow you to "reach through" via LAN to your external devices and control them. This functionality gives you the power to configure switches, routers, PBXs, etc, without having to be in the same room.

Without a serial server, you have to hop in your truck and drive all the way to your remote sites and plug in a laptop just to configure settings. A serial server device gives you this same configuration power - all from your desk.

Serial server technologies are capable of much more
Lack of access to your remote sites does more than just waste your time and money - it leaves you vulnerable to critical network outages. Imagine having the power of having an alert telling you that your generator is overheating and having the power to remotely shut down shut it down before it causes serious damage. Having this technology could prevent major equipment damage and save you thousands in repair bills and prevent extended downtime.

Having the right device to both monitor your valuable equipment and remotely control it doesn't have to be an expensive solution. Many devices have limited features that aren't capable of getting the job done. That's why it's critical to find the right solution - so you're always in control of your remote sites. Look for devices that offer these features:

• Multiple control relay support - A device without support for control relays leaves you without total control. Control relays allow you to connect and control any device that's operated by a switch or button. With control relays you can open doors, control lights, or cycle power.
• Dual functionality for increased flexibility - Finding a serial server device that can perform the functions of two devices cuts your equipment costs across your network. It's not enough to just have remote control of your remote sites - you need remote monitoring of all your valuable equipment too. Look for a remote terminal unit (RTU) that can provide you with monitoring technology and serial server functionality. With the right device you can monitor temperature, power, battery levels, humidity, motion, etc and control all of your external devices with a single device. Imagine having the power to always know what's happening at your remote sites and being able to remotely access all of those devices.
• Alternate dial-up reporting - You never know when your primary connection path may go down. Having the right back-up reporting path let's you maintain connection to your equipment when your primary reporting path goes down - exactly when you need it the most. A quality RTU will feature a back-up reporting path to guarantee connection to your remote sites at all times.
• Alert notification flexibility - An RTU that only sends internal alerts to a master station won't do you any good if power to your remote site goes down at 2am and you're at home sleeping. That's why it's crucial to have 24/7 alert capabilities - so you're never in the dark. The right RTU will be capable of alerting you via several means (pages, email, or SMS text message, etc) any time of the day no matter where you are.

You don't have to be stuck in a world with limited equipment that doesn't give you the control and monitoring power you really need. The possibility of remote control and 24/7 monitoring doesn't have to be a dream - you can make it a reality. Imagine how much easier your job would be if you could reconfigure settings of your remote devices by just sitting down at your desk instead of driving 30, 45, or even 60 minutes to a remote site. Picture the peace of the mind knowing if there's any threat to your valuable equipment you'll be the first to know.

This kind of control is available to you. You're ready to take control over your network, so I recommend the NetGuardian 832A. This device gives you the dual support for you need to completely control and monitor your remote sites. This device has all the must-have features and comes standard with 7x24 (7 days a week, 24 hours a day) world-class tech support.

Don't leave your remote sites unmonitored and out of touch for another day - contact the specialists at DPS Telecom to get started setting up your serial server today. You can reach them by phone (1-800-693-0351) or by email (sales@dpstele.com).

See Also:

• 4 Serial Router FAQs
• Using Remote Control Solutions To Slash Costs And Improve Productivity