DOS and TCP/IP

[mkbragg]

I have a data gathering device at a remote location that I currently access via modem (rs232) using a dos program. I want to replace the modem with ethernet. Is there some kind of converter that would allow me to assign this remote device an IP address and access it all with the same dos programs?

 

[robertjo24]

You may use a single port terminal server on either end, creating a point to point persistent connection via IP. The input/output of the terminal servers are serial.
You may also run a serial port emulator on your PC, and one terminal server out in the field. This works very well. The port emulator will let you assign an IP address to a serial port number (i.e. Comm 4, Comm 5, etc.), and pass your serial data over IP just as it would over the physical comm. port.
As for serial port emulators, I like Serial/IP by Tactical Software (

http://www.tacticalsoftware.com/).

It is very simple, easy to configure, and the price is right. They have a demo you can try.
As for terminal servers, I am sure you could find one searching on the web. We have used Precidia and Cyclades single port terminal servers. The Precidia is very simple to set up and easy to use. The Cyclades (TS-100) is a bit more complex. It operates on Linux operating system, so the initital set up is a little harder, but once you assign an IP address to it, you can use the HTML interface to configure the device. I am sure there are other terminal servers out there to try.
By the way, how were you going to get to the device via IP?

Best of luck.