How to access a serial device over the Internet

How to access a serial device over the Internet.

Accessing a serial device over the Internet can be a great advantage and is fairly easy to do with a Serial Device Server. In this example we will use the XS1000 Serial Device Server from www.usconverters.com which has RS232, RS485 and RS422 capabilities.

An overview of the serial over Internet setup is sketched here:

A: Creating A VPN Server on Windows XP/Vista.
Click on the "Start" button.
Go to "Control Panel”
Then open "Network Connections".
Once you are in Network Connections there should be a "Create New Connection" on the left-hand side.
Click “Next” on the initial screen.
Now you should be viewing "Network Connection Type." Click on the very last option "Set up an Advanced Connection."
Click Next. An "Advanced Connection Options Screen should now be visible.
Select "Accept Incoming Connections."
Click Next.
Click Next.
Check "Allow virtual Private Connections"
Click Next.
User Permissions:
Either Add a new user to access the VPN or chose a user from the current list. The username and password combination used will be the Username and Password you connect via the VPN Server Client. Once all the users who you want to give access to have it, click next.
Click Next.
Click Finish.

B: Configuring Your Windows XP/Vista VPN Server.



You should now you have a new "Incoming Connections" icon in the "Network Connections" folder. Right click on the Incoming Connections icon and go to Properties.
Click on the "Networking" Tab.
Select "TCP/IP Protocol"
Click on "Properties"
Click "Specify IP Address"
When using the XS1000 you can for example enter the IP range 192.168.2.5  to 192.168.2.50, just make sure that the VPN Server will not conflict with your personal network.
Optionally check "Allow Computer to assign its Own IP Address”.
The VPN Server is now setup.

C: Step Three: Hardware Firewalls
Most broadband connections, however not all wireless broadband cards, have a Hardware Firewall. Hardware Firewalls are firewalls that are built into a Router or a Modem. Depending on the type of router and firewall these steps will vary.

1. Enter into your Router/Modem (usually 192.168.0.1 or a variant).
2. Enter the user name and password according to your router’s/modem’s instructions.
3. Find the "Advanced Options" or "Port Forwarding"
4. Once on "Port Forwarding," forward these ports: 1723 (both TCP/UDP) to the computer that has the Windows XP VPN Server installed (use Start > Run > cmd > ipconfig /all to find your computer’s IP address)
5. Forward Port: 500 (both TCP/UDP) to the same IP Address.
6. Save this configuration. If your router/modem has to be restarted, do so and wait for the Router/Modem to com back up.
7. Your router/modem should now allow connections to and from the specified IP range.
8. If you have a software firewall you will also have to open ports in the software or completely disable the firewall software

Your PC at the server location is now setup and ready to accept incoming connections from a remote computer.

2. Setting up the client location.

At the computer from where your wish to remotely access the serial device over the Internet (through the VPN server) you now need to setup a VPN client and configure the Virtual COM software. This is also a fairly easy task.

First we setup the Client VPN:
"Connecting to a VPN Remotely."

Making the Connection

1. Click Start
2. Open the Control Panel and open Network Connections
3. Create a New Connection
4. Select "Connect to a Network at my Workplace"
5. Select Virtual Private Network Connection
6. Type in a name for this connection
7. Do Not Dial the Initial Connection
8. Host Name or IP Address: Type in the IP or Hostname of the Remote VPN you are trying to connect to, this would be the PC’s IP address at the server location.
9. Check the checkbox to get a shortcut on the desktop, and click finish.

You are now ready to open the connection to the server location’s computer. You do this by clicking the shortcut for the connection you just created.

3. Setting up the Virtual COM software.

You now need to setup the Virtual COM software which is included with the XS1000.
Simply install and open the program. At the main screen do not search for a device because the program cannot find a device if you are still not connected to the server location.
Enter the parameters at the configuration screen. Remember to enter the password if you have assigned a password at your server location. The IP address is the IP address of the XS1000, default 192.168.2.1:

Click “Create Port” and the program should now connect to the XS1000 through the Internet via the VPN at the server location.
You can use the created virtual COM port as if it was a standard built-in COM port, and you should be able to see the port in Window Device Manager if it has been successfully created.