Moxa, a provider of industrial networking products to systems integrators and value-added resellers in over 60 countries, launched MGate 5101-PBM-MN.

"Our Ethernet gateway is designed to spare automation and controls engineers the headaches and performance issues that are typically encountered when connecting fieldbus devices to Ethernet," Paul Wacker, product marketing manager for Moxa Americas, said in a statement.

The new gateway is designed to create a communication portal between PROFIBUS devices to Modbus TCP hosts. By enabling bridging between PROFIBUS devices, at rates of up to 12 Mbps, and Modbus TCP-enabled SCADA systems and PLCs, the gateway allows the user to easily perform configuration via an innovative "one-click" AutoScan function and online MGate monitoring tool.

According to the company, this simplifies maintenance and eliminates the need to buy an extra PROFIBUS monitoring tool.

Key benefits of the MGate 5101-PBM-MN gateway include protocol conversion between PROFIBUS and Modbus TCP, automatic scanning of PROFIBUS devices for easy configuration, support for redundant dual DC power inputs and relay output, an embedded data packet analyzer and diagnostic tool, Web-based GUI for I/O data visualization, and the availability of -40 to 75°C wide operating temperature models.

Moxa's AutoScan function automatically detects connected PROFIBUS slave devices and their available I/O modules to quickly complete gateway configuration, after which an easy-to-read data mapping table is created to assist in the configuration of Modbus TCP master settings. In addition, users can configure import/export maintenance functions, and use embedded monitoring tools to maintain Modbus communication packets logs, which can used for troubleshooting.

In addition, the gateway's rugged metal design ensures reliable performance in the most demanding industrial applications such as oil/gas, power, process automation and factory automation.  The gateway also provides Web console and Telnet console for remote maintenance. Each supports encryption commutation functions such as HTTPS and SSH for preventing unauthorized access.

Log functions are provided for event monitoring and diagnostics.

In related news, Moxa’s newest version of its MXview solution, version 2.2, is noted to make it even easier for industrial users to monitor and manage their Ethernet networks.