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Network connectivity products are reusable

Edited by the Manufacturingtalk editorial team Feb 24, 2004

A family of customisable embedded modules and external device servers provides reusable software solutions and complete hardware platforms for network connectivity.

Digi International (NASDAQ: DGII), the leader in Connectware, today announced the addition of two customisable products to Digi's industry-leading family of network connectivity products - the Digi ConnectT EM and Digi ConnectT SP.

The extended Digi Connect product line, which also includes the pair-of-dice sized Connect ME embedded module, allows customers to develop software once, and use it for multiple products and purposes.

The Connect SP is an external box solution for Ethernet enabling an installed base of serial-port devices.

The Connect EM is a two-serial port embedded module, that in a similar fashion to the single-port Connect ME, can be quickly integrated into a device design in as little as 30 days.

Additionally, the same software developed for the Connect family can be used with NetSilicon processors for even higher levels of integration and the lowest levels of product cost.

"Built on leading NetSilicon 32-bit NET+ARM technology, the Connect SP and Connect EM eliminate customer hardware design effort and deliver powerful, easy-to-use device networking solutions," said Larry Kraft, vice president of global marketing, Digi International.

"Our line of Digi Connect external and embedded device servers enables OEMs to keep pace with networking technology without the complexities of extensive hardware and software integration work.

It provides customers with increased design flexibility, speeds time to market and protects design investment." The Digi Connect EM is a two-serial port embedded device server module with a variety of connectivity options that make it ideal for a wide range of network and Web-enabled applications.

Among its leading features are nine General Purpose Input Output (GPIO) pins and a Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) in Master mode.

The SPI provides the ability for high-performance interconnection to hardware components such as memory, line drivers, or protocol controllers.

The compact and powerful Connect EM is available in standard and customer-specific population options which speed time to market and provide the integration and flexibility needed to accommodate a wide variety of product design needs.

The Digi Connect SP customisable device server is a complete, off-the-shelf hardware platform for custom network applications.

It is fast and cost effective and features an RS232/422/485 switch-selectable interface, integrated 10/100 Mbit network interface and flexible power input of 9-30VDC.

The Connect SP is customisable using the same development tools as the entire Connect family of products and NetSilicon processors.

This extends the software investment by allowing software re-use.

The Connect SP enables customers to upgrade existing, installed products to the same level of functionality as a new product designed with an embedded module or integrated processor.

This is achieved simply by adding the Connect SP to the serial port of the existing product.

"Our line of Digi Connect external and embedded device servers help companies to easily future proof their products by providing a seamless migration path to total integration," said Steve Ericson, director of product marketing, Digi International.

"This innovative and broad line of customisable device networking solutions enables OEMs to easily and cost effectively migrate their products from a box solution to a module or chip solution." The Digi Connect family is comprised of external and embedded device networking solutions and includes the ultra-compact Digi Connect ME, Digi Connect EM and Digi Connect SP.

All Digi Connect products are easy-to-use and include royalty-free development platforms that significantly reduce traditional design risk and accelerate the overall software development process.

Based on NetSilicon's Net+Works development platform, the Digi Connect development kits deliver the integrated building blocks and tools necessary to quickly and cost effectively create flexible and secure embedded applications.