Control of Remote Devices with Serial Ports

If you're trying to do remote control of a device that has a serial port over the Internet (i.e., it's not in the same room or same building as you), then the Traversix Connectivity System may be of interest to you. Details are available at:

Here's a quick summary: The Traversix Connectivity System offers a complete end-to-end solution for securely connecting to serial devices over the Internet without having to change your existing serial application, and without requiring any special firewall configuration. This is achieved by installing the Traversix Connectivity Server at the remote location and the Traversix Connectivity Client on your PC. These two products connect to the Traversix Connectivity Gateway, and allow seamless communication between your PC and the serial device, whether it's in the next room, or on another continent. The connection is encrypted and secure.

Also, because the Connectivity Client creates a virtual serial port on your PC that behaves just like a hardware serial port (i.e., COM1, COM2, COM3, etc.), it is completely compatible with any existing serial application. It handles not just RX/TX, but all RS-232 control signals.

Possible uses: Managing a PBX Modem Replacement Monitoring an elevator Checking on an HVAC system Capturing data from a lab experiment Upgrading an industrial controller

They're selling a starter kit with one Connectivity Server, the software, and a 3-month license to use their Gateway on their web site. If you've got a tough remote connectivity problem, it's definitely worth checking out.