Serial over IP - can someone fill a knowledge gap please?

Networking Solutions Question
1

Hi guys,

So I need to replace a few devices that are dependent upon circuit switched modems which the cell companies are no longer going to support .

The serial protocol is proprietary peer to peer, currently the application dials out with ATD

So when (if?) I move to a device like the TRB-142 I can see that I will have a solution like the following:

image
image1114×865 71.7 KB

(There is an ethernet segment missing until you click on it due to a transparent BG in the source sketch)

I perceive that :

  1. Each remote TRB is acting as a serial over iP server

  2. Unless a private APN / public IP SIM is used, a VPN will be needed due to CGNAT
    (I left that out of the diagram for simplicity!)

  3. Once the connection is established the proprietary serial format can flow laptop to
    equipment, and

  4. There is a need for the red “BOX X” to setup the TLS connection to the remote TRB

given there are multiple TRBs serving out in the field and that the serial protocol is proprietary, what product in the real world fill the role of “BOX X” please

1 to 1 would be simple (another TRB) but one to many looks like a little more intelligence would be needed ?

Many thanks in advance for the clarifications

Regards

BB

3

Greetings,

I am currently working on your inquiry and will get back to you as soon as possible.

Best Regards,
Justinas

4

Greetings,

I have forwarded your inquiry to our Research and Development department. Once I receive their feedback, I will get back to you.

Best Regards,
Justinas

5

Greetings,

Thank you for the detailed information.

1-2. To start with, the TRB142 device can act both as “OverIP Servers” and “OverIP Clients”.
Hence, there is no need to have a private APN or Public IPs for all TRB devices.
VPN is also not needed from a connectivity perspective and might only be relevant if you want to encrypt the traffic from these TRB142 devices for additional security.

3-4. Assuming you have a computer application that can work with your mentioned “Proprietary protocol”, there should be no need for a “Box X” device.
On your computer, you can simply run a “Virtual Serial Port ” application (e.g., from “hw-group” ) which would allow the computer to interpret a TCP/IP connection from the TRB142 device as a serial connection.
With “Virtual Serial Port”, the computer will have an additional COM port, over which it would be able to communicate with the “Eqpt ” device as if it were connected locally.
You will then be able to use this COM port in the “proprietary protocol” application, without the need for the “Box X” device.

Best Regards,
Justinas

6

So VERY sorry for the late reply Justinas !

life got in the way - many thanks