ProtoCessor Line Obsolete: Transition to QuickServers
Chipkin Automation Systems was an authorized distributor of the ProtoCessor OEM product line from FieldServer Technologies. The ProtoCessor family has since been obsoleted and is no longer recommended for new designs or deployments.
Customers seeking equivalent or expanded functionality should refer to the current FieldServer QuickServers product family. QuickServers represent the supported migration path and provide modern hardware, ongoing firmware updates, and continued protocol support.
This page is maintained for historical and reference purposes to document the former ProtoCessor architecture and to clarify the transition path to current FieldServer solutions.
ProtoCessor Overview (Historical)
ProtoCessor products were a family of embedded and external, low-cost, multi-protocol gateways designed for building automation and industrial automation applications. They enabled OEMs to add protocol support—such as BACnet, LonWorks, DNP3, and other industrial protocols—without developing and maintaining those protocol stacks internally.
By integrating a ProtoCessor solution, OEMs could rapidly bring interoperable products to market while reducing engineering effort and long-term maintenance associated with protocol development.
While these products were widely deployed, they are now considered end-of-life and should not be used in new designs.
Support and Lifecycle Status
Chipkin Automation Systems provided certified sales and technical support for the ProtoCessor product line throughout its active lifecycle. This included assistance during design, implementation, testing, and production phases.
Support activities historically included:
- Assisting OEMs with hardware integration of ProtoCessor modules
- Developing and validating configuration files
- Supporting protocol mapping and interoperability testing
With the obsolescence of ProtoCessor products, new projects should instead adopt FieldServer QuickServers, which provide a supported and actively maintained platform.
Full Function ProtoCessor (FFP) Modules
The Full Function ProtoCessor (FFP) modules were embedded solutions designed to be integrated directly into an OEM’s controller hardware. Integration was typically accomplished through a ProtoCessor serial TTL socket operating at 5 VDC.
These modules enabled OEM controllers to expose multiple automation protocols without requiring external gateway hardware. Design guidance was provided through the ProtoCessor Design Guide.
ProtoCessor Design Guide
Embedded ProtoCessor modules are no longer recommended for new designs. Equivalent functionality is now delivered through supported FieldServer platforms.
ProtoNode External Gateways
The ProtoNode family consisted of external gateway products intended for protocol translation between serial, Ethernet, and LonWorks networks. These devices were deployed where embedded integration was not practical.
Two primary ProtoNode variants were available:
- ProtoNode RER – Supported serial-to-serial, serial-to-Ethernet, Ethernet-to-serial, and Ethernet-to-Ethernet protocol translation.
- ProtoNode LER (LonWorks) – Supported serial-to-LonWorks, Ethernet-to-LonWorks, LonWorks-to-serial, and LonWorks-to-Ethernet translation.
Migration to FieldServer QuickServers
FieldServer QuickServers are the recommended replacement for ProtoCessor and ProtoNode products. QuickServers provide equivalent or expanded protocol support, modern hardware platforms, active firmware maintenance, and long-term availability.
For existing ProtoCessor deployments, QuickServers offer a practical migration path while maintaining interoperability with building automation and industrial control systems.
For current and future projects, ProtoCessor products should be considered obsolete, and new designs should be based exclusively on supported FieldServer QuickServer solutions.