Serial Summary

This screen provides the following:

Fields

Field Description
Port The port number that corresponds to the port number on the connector cable.
Mode The name of the connector. Possibilities include:
  • RS-232
  • RS-422
  • RS-485 (either 2WM, 2WE, 4WM, or 4WE)

where 

  • 2M = 2-wire,  midpoint configuration
  • 2E =  2 wire, endpoint configuration
  • 4M = 4-wire, midpoint configuration
  • 4E = 4-wire, endpoint configuration

The 2-wire configuration must be half duplex: 2 wires for transmitting; 2 wires for receiving. 

The 4-wire configuration is full duplex if it is point-to-point. If it is point-to-multipoint or multidrop, it might or might not be full duplex depending on how the wiring is done.

Definitions:

full duplex - ability to send and receive at the same time

half duplex - sending and receiving one direction at one time

point-to-point - a communications link in which two stations are directly joined

point-to-multipoint - a communication link in which multiple stations are connected sequentially to the same communication line

midpoint configuration -

endpoint configuration -

State Open means the port is in use, and Closed means it is not. Loopback Test or Echo Test can appear if you are testing the port with either the echo or the loopback test. 
Byte Count (Tx/Rx) The number of bytes transmitted and received since the port was last reset.

Note: These counters are not available when the port is being tested with either the echo or loopback test.

RTS/CTS/DTR/DSR/RI/DCD EIA-232 control signal state. Gray indicates inactive or low signal, and blue indicates active or high signal.
Flow Control (In/Out) Indicates whether or not data has been paused due to either hardware flow control or software flow control. Normally these values are blank; red indicates that the data has been paused.
Error Counts The number of parity, overrun, and framing errors on this port since it was last reset.
Reset Resets the channel. Closes the port if it is open, disrupts any communication that might be happening, flushes all data and returns the port to a closed state. Because this option should be used with caution, a dialog box appears asking if you want to reset this channel. 

CAUTION: Ensure that you have a purpose in resetting the channel.

Test Choosing Test takes you to the Test Mode screen where you can test your transmission with either the Terminal Echo Test or External Loopback Test. 

The echo test determines the validity of your transmissions. 

The loopback test ensures that the port on the adapter is working properly. 

Display Results returns you to one of the Test Results screens where you can also end the test.