Virtual COM portOne of the most common applications of a network serial device is to use it to make a standard serial device accessible on a network. To do this, you need to connect a standard serial device to the DB-9 port on the network serial device. Next you need to connect the network serial device to a TCP/IP network using an Ethernet connection, and then install software on a client machine in order to access the network serial device. The software on the client machine communicates with the network serial device and creates (maps) a virtual COM port on your computer system. The virtual COM port is identical to a physical COM port and can be used in the same way. Serial IP extenderYou can use two network serial devices to extend a serial connection over a TCP/IP network.
Serial Over IP (Cat5/6) Extenders Our Serial Over IP Device Servers and extenders offer an efficient, cost-effective solution for adding Serial (RS-232, RS-422, RS-485) devices to an Ethernet network over both short or long distances.
To do this, you need to configure one serial device as a client and the other as a server. The client and server are configured to transmit and receive data to their respective IP addresses and TCP ports. The serial settings must match for all connected serial devices, including the UART on both units. Depending on the serial device that you are using, you can use the provided software or the web interface to set the configurations. UDP to serial adapterYou can use a network serial device to translate UDP data to a standard serial connection.
The serial device is configured to listen for UDP traffic from specific IP addresses and ports, and will asynchronously transmit the data out of the serial port on the device. To do this, you need to configure UART on the network serial device to match the specifications of the serial receiver. To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following:. Ping the serial device. Connect the serial device directly to the computer and ping the device. Connect to the web interface (if there is one) or connect using the included software.Before you begin, make sure that the serial device is on the same network and subnet.
For more information, see this FAQ:. If the device starts with an IP address that is not on your subnet, change your IP address to match the subnet being used before you continue.Ping the serial deviceIf the serial device and your computer are on the same network and subnet, try pinging the device.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows XP, do the following:. Click Start. Click Run. Type ping and press Enter. For example, ping 192.168.0.20.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows Vista or Windows 7, do the following:.
Click Start. Click Accessories. Click Command Prompt.
Type ping and press Enter. For example, ping 192.168.0.20.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows 8, do the following:. Press the Windows key + X. Click Run. Type cmd and press Enter. Type ping and press Enter.
In order for the serial device and your computer to communicate to each other, they both need to be on the same physical network and the same subnet.To connect your serial device and your computer to the same physical network, plug both devices into the same router.Typically, in order for devices to be on the same subnet, the first three numbers of the IP address must match. The fourth number of the IP address must be different, as two devices cannot have the same IP address. For example, if your computer’s IP address is 192.168.0.1, then the subnet is 192.168.0. You can replace the XXX with any number, as long as it is not currently in use by another device. To check whether or not an RS-232 serial port is working, perform an RS-232 loopback test by doing the following:. If your serial port is not female, convert it by taking a female/female cable or gender changer and plugging it into the serial port. Take a metal paperclip or wire and cross pins 2 and 3.
If you look closely at the female end, the pins should be numbered. Open a telnet session on the COM port number of the device that you are testing.
To find out the COM port number, refer to the following FAQ:.Note: To open a telnet session on the COM port, you need a telnet client like PuTTY or Hyper Terminal. Windows XP comes with Hyper Terminal. When the session is open, anything you type into it you should see. The loopback test fails when you cannot see what you are typing.If the loopback test fails, make sure that the serial cable or gender changer that you are using works and that the adapter is in the correct port.You can check multiple ports at the same time by opening multiple sessions, putting the loopback adapter on one port, and trying to type into each session. When you can see what you are typing, you know that the COM port is working and you can see which port number the physical serial port is.
Close the window for the port that you just tested to speed up the testing of the remaining serial ports.For products related to this article, click. WAITING ON INFO FROM ALEXTo check whether or not a RS-422 serial port is working, perform a RS-422 loopback test. Convert your serial port to be female if it is not already. You can do this by taking a female/female cable or gender changer and plugging it into the serial port. Take a metal paperclip or wire and cross pins T- with R- and T+ with R+.
The device or the manual should indicate what pins are T+, T-, R+ and R. Open a telnet session on the COM port number in question. To find out the COM port number of the device you want to test, please see “How do I check to ensure the COM port is listed properly in Windows XP, Vista, 7 or 8?”. To open a telnet session on the COM port, you need a telnet client like PuTTY or Hyper Terminal. Note: Windows XP comes with Hyper Terminal.When the session is open, anything you type into it you should see.
The loopback test fails when you cannot see what you are typing in this window. You should not upgrade your device's firmware if you do not have any issues with the functionality of your device. The only time you should consider an upgrade is if you are experiencing a problem with the device, and you have confirmed that the firmware addresses this problem.
You can confirm this is the case by reviewing the documentation included with the firmware or by consulting with our Technical Support team. Incorrectly upgrading firmware can result in diminished performance so it is best to contact StarTech.com if you would like to perform this operation. California Proposition 65 WarningWarning: Cancer and reproductive harm — Safety Measures.
If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power. If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open. Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power. Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards.
This 1-Port Serial Device Server lets you remotely access and manage an RS232 serial device over a local or wide area network (LAN/WAN), for a simple and cost-effective serial-over-IP control solution.For more control options, the device server is compatible with the free, StarTech.com NETRSAPP. When coupled with the NETRS232, this handy application for iOS, Android, and Chrome Browser lets you build a custom serial control interface that’s tailored to your specific application. Flexible power and mounting optionsFor installation flexibility across a variety of environments, you can power the device server using the provided 12V DC power adapter, or using the integrated 1030V DC terminal block.Plus, the device server is DIN rail mountable for out-of-the-way installations. Protects your investmentTo help ensure reliable performance and prevent possible damage, the serial device server offers 15KV ESD (Electrostatic Discharge) protection, so you can rest assured that the device server won’t become damaged due to externally generated ESD. Customizable and wide compatibilityThis highly-customizable device server is easy to configure to suit your application. For easy setup, Windows users can use the provided Virtual COM port software, or the versatile web-based interface.The RS232 device server supports Telnet (an operating system independent communication protocol), so it can be integrated into mixed OS environments (Windows, Mac, Linux). Plus, it supports VCOM, TCP Server/Client, UDP, HTTP, DHCP, ICMP(PING), Static IP, and ARP protocols.
Download the application software and manage your serial devices with easeDownload the StarTech.com serial control software from the Apple App Store, the Google Play™ Store, or the Chrome Web Store.The NETRS232 is backed by a StarTech.com 2-year warranty and free lifetime technical support. Virtual COM portOne of the most common applications of a network serial device is to use it to make a standard serial device accessible on a network. To do this, you need to connect a standard serial device to the DB-9 port on the network serial device. Next you need to connect the network serial device to a TCP/IP network using an Ethernet connection, and then install software on a client machine in order to access the network serial device.
The software on the client machine communicates with the network serial device and creates (maps) a virtual COM port on your computer system. The virtual COM port is identical to a physical COM port and can be used in the same way.
Serial IP extenderYou can use two network serial devices to extend a serial connection over a TCP/IP network. To do this, you need to configure one serial device as a client and the other as a server.
The client and server are configured to transmit and receive data to their respective IP addresses and TCP ports. The serial settings must match for all connected serial devices, including the UART on both units.
Depending on the serial device that you are using, you can use the provided software or the web interface to set the configurations. UDP to serial adapterYou can use a network serial device to translate UDP data to a standard serial connection. The serial device is configured to listen for UDP traffic from specific IP addresses and ports, and will asynchronously transmit the data out of the serial port on the device. To do this, you need to configure UART on the network serial device to match the specifications of the serial receiver.
VCOM is software provided to create a virtual serial port on your computer using the serial over IP. When you set it up properly, the network serial devices operate as though they are connected to a physical serial port.Before you continue, make sure that your computer can communicate with the network serial device over your network. For more information, refer to the following FAQ:. Install softwareBefore you configure the VCOM software, make sure that you have downloaded and installed the latest software from the StarTech.com website. To download the driver, navigate to and enter the part number. To troubleshoot this issue, you can try the following:. Ping the serial device.
Connect the serial device directly to the computer and ping the device. Connect to the web interface (if there is one) or connect using the included software.Before you begin, make sure that the serial device is on the same network and subnet. For more information, see this FAQ:. If the device starts with an IP address that is not on your subnet, change your IP address to match the subnet being used before you continue.Ping the serial deviceIf the serial device and your computer are on the same network and subnet, try pinging the device.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows XP, do the following:. Click Start. Click Run. Type ping and press Enter.
For example, ping 192.168.0.20.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows Vista or Windows 7, do the following:. Click Start. Click Accessories. Click Command Prompt. Type ping and press Enter. For example, ping 192.168.0.20.To ping the device using a computer that is running a version of Windows 8, do the following:.
Press the Windows key + X. Click Run. Type cmd and press Enter. Type ping and press Enter. In order for the serial device and your computer to communicate to each other, they both need to be on the same physical network and the same subnet.To connect your serial device and your computer to the same physical network, plug both devices into the same router.Typically, in order for devices to be on the same subnet, the first three numbers of the IP address must match.
The fourth number of the IP address must be different, as two devices cannot have the same IP address. For example, if your computer’s IP address is 192.168.0.1, then the subnet is 192.168.0. You can replace the XXX with any number, as long as it is not currently in use by another device. To check whether or not an RS-232 serial port is working, perform an RS-232 loopback test by doing the following:. If your serial port is not female, convert it by taking a female/female cable or gender changer and plugging it into the serial port.
Take a metal paperclip or wire and cross pins 2 and 3. If you look closely at the female end, the pins should be numbered. Open a telnet session on the COM port number of the device that you are testing. To find out the COM port number, refer to the following FAQ:.Note: To open a telnet session on the COM port, you need a telnet client like PuTTY or Hyper Terminal. Windows XP comes with Hyper Terminal. When the session is open, anything you type into it you should see. The loopback test fails when you cannot see what you are typing.If the loopback test fails, make sure that the serial cable or gender changer that you are using works and that the adapter is in the correct port.You can check multiple ports at the same time by opening multiple sessions, putting the loopback adapter on one port, and trying to type into each session.
When you can see what you are typing, you know that the COM port is working and you can see which port number the physical serial port is. Close the window for the port that you just tested to speed up the testing of the remaining serial ports.For products related to this article, click. You should not upgrade your device's firmware if you do not have any issues with the functionality of your device. The only time you should consider an upgrade is if you are experiencing a problem with the device, and you have confirmed that the firmware addresses this problem. You can confirm this is the case by reviewing the documentation included with the firmware or by consulting with our Technical Support team. Incorrectly upgrading firmware can result in diminished performance so it is best to contact StarTech.com if you would like to perform this operation.
California Proposition 65 WarningWarning: Cancer and reproductive harm — Safety Measures. If product has an exposed circuit board, do not touch the product under power. If Class 1 Laser Product. Laser radiation is present when the system is open. Wiring terminations should not be made with the product and/or electric lines under power. Product installation and/or mounting should be completed by a certified professional as per the local safety and building code guidelines.
Cables (including power and charging cables) should be placed and routed to avoid creating electric, tripping or safety hazards. I have been testing this device in a lab scenario.I agree with the other review that the manual is a joke. It tells you how to mount the device to a rack and install the software, but nothing about what features the NETRS232 offers or what the settings/configurations do. This device has some cool features, but features that will go unused due to the lack of supporting documentation.
The manual available under the support tab is the same useless manual. This is typically not an issue due to all the supporting documentation that can be found on the web, however all links I have found for this device direct me back to the original manual.Besides the manual I am having an issue when trying to gain access to a Cisco Catalyst switch. I can access the switch remotely, however the server is sending extra commands that are messing with communications. For example, ever time I enter a command it repeats the line. I can't even do a full show run, it cuts the output off after the first page due to it sending extra messages.I have tried to correct said issue via trial and error due to the lack of manual/online supporting documentation. Dear JoSkBe,Thank you for reviewing our NETRS232 Serial to IP Ethernet Device Server. We also appreciate your feedback regarding our manual; we are frequently trying to update and improve our documentation, and feedback such as this is very helpful.It seems your Cisco switch is configured in a manner so that messages are displayed on the console as soon as they are produced, often appearing in the middle of command input and output.Please try entering the “logging synchronous” global configuration command on your switch, as this will alter the display of these messages to the console.
When this command is enabled, messages will only appear after you press Return.We're always here to help with our free lifetime technical support. If this didn't resolve your issue please feel free to contact us any time and be sure to reference case # 303-264607.You can also respond here and we will be sure to follow up!Customer SupportStarTech.comhttp://www.startech.com/techsupport.