Serial Tunneling

Introduction

The NetModule Router serial port server can forward serial lines to virtual COM ports of a PCs. This allows you to remotely access to PLCs and other serial attached devices.

Configuration

Router

  • Enable device server on serial line on NetModule Router
  • Configure “TCP raw” as protocol on IP port in Port Settings
  • Set port number to 2000 (default)
  • Set serial port settings to your needs

On Windows

  • Downlad and install the TCP to Serial Port software https://freecomportredirector.com/
  • Create connection
  • Connect serial port to remote host (Client)
  • Serial Port e.g. COM1
  • Remote IP from the router, e.g. 192.168.1.1
  • Port number 2000

Another example:

Test

  • Connect serial line of the computer to the NetModule router serial interface
  • Configure the serial line of the NetModule Router
  • Use Putty to connect to the virtual COM10 and test the Serial Port over IP connection
  • Use Putty to connect to the COM port of the physical serial line of the PC with the same paramters

On Linux

The socat tool can be used to access the serial interface tunnel via the console using TCP.

The first command is for the connection between IP address and ser2net server on the router

USER
~ $ socat PTY,link=/dev/“virtual interface”,echo=0,wait-slave TCP:“IP-adresse”:“port-nummer”,retry=5

In a second console, the virtual interface is then used for the connection to the serial interface.

USER
~ $ socat STDIO,raw,echo=0,escape=0x03 /dev/“virtual interface“,raw,echo=0 NB2700 login: root Password: NB2700 © 2004-2023, NetModule AG BusyBox v1.30.1 (2023-07-31 14:09:01 UTC) built-in shell (ash) ~ $