Sharing COM or RS-232 Port via TCP using TCP COM Bridge Software

Introduction to COM Port Sharing

COM Port Sharing Over TCP is a technique that allows multiple devices to access and communicate through a single serial port over a TCP/IP network. This technology lets users access serial devices from anywhere with an internet connection.By virtualizing serial ports and sending data over TCP or UDP, organizations can extend the reach of their legacy serial equipment, make device management easier, and reduce hardware costs. This method is useful in factories where machines and information are controlled using serial connections.

Common Use Cases for COM Port Sharing

These examples show how useful and useful sharing COM ports can be in many different areas of technology, such as manufacturing, software development, and scientific research.

• Allow multiple applications to use ports simultaneously.
• Use TCP port and IP address to allow remote access to serial devices over a network.
• Help legacy serial devices talk to modern systems.
• Let virtual machines use physical serial ports.
• Enable software applications to share access to a single serial device through a fast TCP connection.
• Improve efficiency in industrial automation and data acquisition systems.
• Enable serial device emulation for testing and development purposes on localhost via TCP sockets.
  

Setting Up COM Port Sharing Through TCP Ports

Understanding TCP COM Bridge Software

What is TCP COM Bridge Software?

TCP COM bridge software is a utility that allows you to share one or more serial COM ports over a network using the TCP/IP protocol. This software bridges serial communication and network communication, allowing devices that traditionally use serial ports to communicate over a modern network infrastructure. Here are some key points about TCP COM Bridge Software:

1. Function: It converts serial data to TCP/IP packets and vice versa, enabling serial devices to communicate over Ethernet or the Internet.
2. Port sharing: Multiple users or applications can access a single serial port simultaneously through the network.
3. Remote access: It provides remote access to serial devices, as long as there is a network connection.
4. Virtual COM ports: The software can create virtual COM ports on client computers, making networked serial devices appear as if they were directly connected.

Benefits of Using TCP COM Bridge Software

• Easy to install and configure.
• Allows remote access to serial devices over TCP/IP networks.
• Reduces physical cabling requirements.
• Enhances security through encryption of TCP traffic.
• Provides virtual COM ports for seamless integration with existing software.
• Supports various serial protocols (RS-232, RS-485, RS-422).
• Windows service mode.

FAQ

Which port number can be used?

TCP COM Bridge lets users choose their own port numbers for sharing COM ports. However, the most common and recommended port numbers are within the range 1024-49151. These ports are available for everyone to use, but some people prefer them for their own special applications.

Is a TCP connection robust?

The TCP COM Bridge is a good way to connect to TCP because it's reliable. It uses regular keep-alive data packets to handle errors and recover from a broken TCP connection.

See also