How to share UART over Ethernet – Software and Hardware methods

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Contents

  1. What is UART?
  2. How UART works?
  3. Software solution to share UART over Ethernet
  4. How to access UART over Ethernet
  5. Hardware UART to Ethernet converter

What is UART?


So what is UART? UART (Universal Asynchronous receiver-transmitter) is a computer component used for bidirectional (full-duplex) communication with other digital units, typically built into microcontroller. It sends and receives data simultaneously through both parallel-to-serial converter for sending and serial-to-parallel converter for recieving.

How UART works?


UART’s main task is to rearrange received and sent data so it can be transmitted through a single wire. Parallel data incoming from the CPU is converted into serial form and at the same time 8-bit serial data received from peripheral device is re-assembled into parallel form. At its simplest, transmitter and receiver are synchronizing through employing start and stop bits along with timing parameters and all the initial data is parallel. For instance, if we need to convert 4-bit data into the serial form, that’s when parallel-to-serial converter comes into play.
And what is more, there is an option to use a remote UART, but only with the use of a hardware UART to ethernet converter or similar software UART program.

Now, in this guide we’ll in basic terms several ways to share UART over Ethernet.

Software solution to share UART over Ethernet


FlexiHub is probably the most efficient software for connecting UART to LAN, Ethernet, WiFi, or the Internet. By simply installing this application on your network computers, you share UART over any distance and make the device plugged into a COM port accessible to multiple users, regardless of their physical location.

UART to Ethernet Converter Software

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Managing serial devices with this UART over WiFi solution is as simple as operating them when they’re directly attached to your machine.

UART to Ethernet Converter Software

Here’s how you can connect to a UART located miles away with FlexiHub:

  1. Register your FlexiHub account. It is a normal registration procedure. Then, start a free trial to be able to connect remote devices.
  2. Install FlexiHub on the computer with the UART that needs to be accessed remotely. Launch the app and sign into the account.
  3. Install FlexiHub on a remote machine. Start the software and sign into the account using the same credentials.
  4. Connect to the UART over the network.
  5. Now you can freely access the remote UART device like it were located near your PC.

How to access UART over Ethernet


Serial to Ethernet Connector software helps you to share serial ports through any network, wireless or not. You’ll be able to obtain data from any COM port in your network whilst have full control of all its features. Serial to Ethernet Connector supports as many as 500 ports at once and has a user-friendly interface so you can switch between then in a really quick and easy way.

On the server side you can make your COM port accessible from other computers, on the client side you can connect to a shared COM port over the network and on top of that there is data exchange through the User Datagram Protocol (UDP).

Just follow these simple steps to share your COM port over network:

Step 1. Download and install serial port redirection software (e.g.Serial to Ethernet Connector) on all the PCs of your network.

Step 2. Open Serial to Ethernet Connector on the PC with port you’d like to share, click on “Server connection” and adjust all the settings as needed then click on “Create connection”.

Step 3. Make sure that the COM port you’re sharing is opened.

Step 4. Open the same software on a PC that needs a shared port connection and choose the “Client Connection” option. Note that port number and remote hostname you enter here must be identical to the ones specified on the server PC.

Step 5. Click “Connect” on client PC and you’ll get a full control of shared serial devices like they’re attached directly to your computer.

The biggest plus of UART to ethernet software is an overall remote control that doesn’t exclude the adjustment of hardware flow control lines and baud rate management.

Next section will provide you with some useful information on hardware UART converter.

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Hardware UART to Ethernet converter


To establish communication between a UART and Ethernet, you can use a special converter - UART TO ETH module. This serial TTL to Ethernet hardware can be easily customized via the web page.

The main features and characteristics of the serial module include:

  • 10/100M auto detect interface;
  • Support for a parallel and crossover cable connections;
  • Availability of different working modes: UDP Client, UDP Server, TCP Server, TCP Client;
  • Possibility to adjust working model settings via a COM port or network;
  • Support for the virtual serial port;
  • An exclusive heartbeat package mechanism that eliminates connect feign death and ensures reliable connections;
  • No packet broadcasting in UDP mode has a better anti-interference ability;
  • Support for RFC2217-like protocol;
  • Works across LAN/Internet (external network), etc.
  • As you can see, this converter is a good solution for local networks and nearby devices. However, if you need to communicate to a UART across longer distances, the software method is more preferable.

FlexiHub

Requirements: Windows XP/2003/2008/Vista/7/8/10/Server 2012
Size: 7MB
Version: 4.0.12820 ()
User rating: (4.8 based on 78+ users )
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