Remote serial port access over Ethernet - software alternative
Serial port is an interface for devices to connect to a computer and exchange information with the system and applications. In serial communication data is transferred one bit at a time, while in parallel communication multiple bits of data are sent simultaneously. For almost two decades serial ports were the most commonly used connections to a computer, and only recently they have been largely replaced by USB ports. However some devices, primarily industrial instruments and tools, still use serial ports for interacting with a computer. These devices are typically large and bulky, and it is not always feasible to move them around to connect to a computer, hence remote serial access over LAN or any other network becomes of critical importance. There are two ways to do it – either with the help of hardware, e.g. a cable, or FlexiHub software.
Using additional hardware to access serial port seems to be a simpler and more straightforward solution, however it is restricted by the length of a cable, while the software solution does not have such limitation. But let us have a closer look at both solutions so you can choose which one suits you best when you need a serial port remote access.
