There are certain operational scenarios that may require you to convert back and forth between Ethernet IP/TCP packets and serial transmissions from devices using the RS232/RS422/RS485 protocols. To accomplish this feat you will often use a piece of hardware called a serial to Ethernet converter. This small device is also known as a serial device server and models are available in various sizes.
In this article, we will try to figure out how remote RS232 and other serial ports work and talk about the methods to convert RS232 to Ethernet, or in fact, convert any serial port over the network.
A Serial to Ethernet converter is usually used to enable a device with a serial interface to connect to a remote computer over a network. Many industrial and consumer devices are equipped with RS232/RS422/RS485 ports. By using an RS232 to Ethernet converter you can access and control remote printers, barcode scanners, industrial monitoring sensors, and any other network-attached serial device from one central location. This saves time and increases your efficiency.
To conveniently work with such equipment we need to access remote devices, and the easiest way to do it would be to convert a serial port over a network. Serial to Ethernet Converter is an electronic appliance or a specialized software which converts RS232, RS485 or RS422 serial data signals to TCP/IP packets. Both software and hardware Serial to Ethernet Converters works in the same way. The serial port signal goes to the network connection and it is being converted to the dedicated network protocol (TCP/IP/Ethernet). To receive this connection on the remote computer RS232 converter performs the opposite - converts network protocol to the serial signal again.
So, the importance of having RS232 to LAN Converter, when you work with serial devices, is obvious. And there are two ways to complete the remote access for your serial port device or app - software and hardware converters.
When it's not possible to physically connect a COM port peripheral to a hardware serial over Ethernet adapter, you can share the device using a serial over Ethernet software.
The application, Serial to Ethernet Connector, is not limited by the distance. It lets you connect to any number of remote COM ports from your computer regardless of their physical location. To access a serial device over the network, you only need to install the program on the server client sides, and configure connections.
With its help you get access to serial ports supporting various protocols, no matter where they are actually located. Now you can forget your worries about the length of the cable connecting your serial device and computer. Serial to Ethernet Converter allows you to display and access serial ports converted over network, as if they were on your local machine.
Here is your step-by-step guide on COM to Ethernet Converter software use:
That’s it, now you have full access to the functionality of the remote devices.
Hardware converters of RS232 over Ethernet are actually compact servers that connect autonomous devices with serial interface to Ethernet.
If you are going to work with serial ports over network protocols, there’s a good chance that you’ll need a special tool called serial to Ethernet adapter (known alternatively as serial over Ethernet connector or device server). This solution is designed to convert data received from a serial port into TCP/IP data. The tool provides users with the ability to fully interact with remote COM ports without having them physically present on their local machines. Any remote serial port can be shared and accessed over the network with the help of COM to Ethernet solution.
The problem here is that just like any hardware solution, it has certain restrictions:
How to set up RS232 to IP converter hardware:
Now go to Device Manager on your computer – the newly created port should be displayed there. If it is nowhere to be seen, go back to the setup procedure.
Choosing a decent network adapter from a wide variety of brands and configurations available today can be rather challenging, so we prepared a list of five most popular serial to Ethernet converters which stand out for their efficiency and ease of use.
Serial to Ethernet Server by NetBurner
RS232 to Ethernet converter by Perle
Lantronix UDS1100 external device server