There are encoders that will take the RS232 and encapsulates it in a TCP packet. A decoder strips the message out at the other end for an RS232 input to a PC. However, I would think that you'd want an alarm logger close to the ops room rather than in some office someplace. Another option is to have the alarm logger software on a PC with the data file located on a network share folder. Then you get your TCP connection to the data from any network PC. The nice thing about I/A is that you can capture those alarms in the historian. You can query and/or ship the data anywhere on the network from there. It's much more elegant. Alarm logger software in place of a printer is great when you have old systems like SPECTRUM and TDC2000 that don't have those "information" capabilities. Best Regards, Ken Heywood Process Control Services, Inc. -----Original Message----- From: brad.s.wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:brad.s.wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx] Sent: Wednesday, December 13, 2006 1:17 PM To: foxboro@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [foxboro] LINE PRINTER REPLACEMENT I know that all these alarm logging tools can connect via RS232 just as a printer would ... but is it possible to drive the alarms out an ethernet port instead of a COM processor? Rather than connecting a PC to the COM10 via RS232 and then connecting the PC to my plant LAN via ethernet ... can I run one of these alarm loggers on a LAN computer and have the AW provide the alarms directly through the ethernt port? And, would I want to? (I'm thinking traffic) Brad Wilson Process Control Engineer ExxonMobil Chemical Co Edison Synthetics Plant 732-321-6115 732-321-6177 fax Brad.S.Wilson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: http://www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave -------------------------------------------------------- This message (and any associated files) is intended only for the use of the individual or entity to which it is addressed and may contain information that is CONFIDENTIAL, subject to copyright or constitutes a trade secret. If you are not the intended recipient you are hereby notified that any dissemination, copying or distribution of this message, or files associated with this message, is strictly prohibited. If you have received this message in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. Messages sent to and from PCS may be monitored. Internet communications cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error-free as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept responsibility for any errors or omissions that are present in this message, or any attachment, that have arisen as a result of e-mail transmission. If verification is required, please request a hard-copy version. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company. _______________________________________________________________________ This mailing list is neither sponsored nor endorsed by Invensys Process Systems (formerly The Foxboro Company). Use the info you obtain here at your own risks. Read http://www.thecassandraproject.org/disclaimer.html foxboro mailing list: http://www.freelists.org/list/foxboro to subscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=join to unsubscribe: mailto:foxboro-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx?subject=leave