We have a robot with a number of sealed vessels. The main CPU is running Linux (stock redhat distrib). In normal operation, we have the Linux box controlling a number of sensors via RS232 and RS485 connections. The external world interface is ethernet.

Some of the sensors require windows to run their calibration software. YUK! So what I would like to do is virtualize the RS232 comm port on the Linux box so that the Windows App on the external world can use it.


Sensor<---RS232-->Linux Box<----Ethernet---> * -->Doze App that thinks it is talking to a COM port

The * can be a driver, hardware, pay sofware. I can put anything I want in the way of software on the Linux box. $$$ solutions are an option. I've googled around and there does not seem to be something that will do this particular path.

We can not really afford to open the vessels to tweak a sensor. Each opening costs 10s of man hours to close it.

Something like a virtual serial port on the windows PC that will send redirect traffic over the ethernet. A TCP/IP app on the linux box will then redirect back to RS-232.

I have found windows applications but nothing compatable with linux. You would have to reverse engineer a socket program that would convert incomming TCP/IP traffic back to RS-232.

http://www.brothersoft.com/utilities...ort_44576.html
I also found this:
http://www.tibbo.com/vspdl.php

I think it is realy suitable for you.
http://lpccomp.bc.ca/remserial/

They make serial and 485 to IP devices. Why not use it them? We use them all over the place.