Control Brainbox Serial settings using TCP/HTTP?

[cbutcher]

Using crossrulz post here: VISA TCP versus Raw TCP I was able to get a TCP VISA session over a Brainbox ES-246  using the VISA resource name "TCPIP0::ipaddress::9001::SOCKET", and I can use this successfully if I configure the serial port parameters using the web configuration options (at the ipaddress, using a browser).

This is ok, but I'd prefer to directly set the serial port parameters using LabVIEW.

One option seems to be directly using HTTP - the query parameters can be easily parsed when setting the parameters (an example URL when setting parameters is below):

http://ip.address.here/port.cgi?portmode=0&port=1&override=1&bh=&bdl=19200&baud=19200&databits=7&parity=3&stopbits=1&flow=1&fifo=1&duplex=1&protocol=0&tcpport=9001&timeout=0&trel=1&rip1=10&rip2=10&rip3=100&rip4=51&rtcpport=9001&btnApply=Apply+Changes

but this seems a bit odd. I'll fall back on this if I can't find another option, but does anyone know a better option? (i.e. TCP-based direct connection and commands for the Brainbox?).

I guess I can maybe get these if I install the vendor software and use WireShark, but asking here might be faster 😉

[wiebe@CARYA]

It's always puzzling why a hardware manufacturer would not simply put this in the manual...

[cbutcher]

Yeah, bit annoying. The HTTP GET option seems to be working for me, but it's a slightly heavier dependency than I'd like.

The manufacturer-approved methods are to install some application and use that to change settings, but that's both a) Windows-only, and b) not programmatically accessible, or to use the browser manually (suggested course on Linux).

But I assume their application probably does something differently. I just can't currently be bothered finding a CD drive or changing PC, and I have no interest in adding an arbitrary and unnecessary dependency on installing some exe just to use a serial port... (they also offer a virtual COM port via the application + drivers on Windows, which would be convenient, but I wanted to avoid requiring the driver too if possible, which it is...)

[rolfk]

From reading a bit of the documentation, you get at some point to the description how it works on Linux and there it says to install the Cyclades Serial Client application and the configuration for the Brainbox ES devices to use for this application mentions RFC2217 (which is a Request for Comment for Virtual Comm ports over network).

So seems you need to read through some RFC documents, which is always "fun" to do. And it is some telnet based protocol, so even more "fun".

Some related links are listed here: https://forum.allaboutcircuits.com/threads/understanding-rfc2217-virtual-com-ports.180627/

[cbutcher]

A-ha! Thanks for the pointer, I read through that but failed to notice the rfc reference or grasp the significance.

Unfortunately, the RFC doesn't look like too much fun... but it beats not knowing which direction to wade out in...

My telnet attempts so far are falling flat, but at least I have some belief it should work 🙂

[wiebe@CARYA]

Telnet is for terminals, that are interactive.

If you leave out all interactivity stuff (and you probably can, because you're in control), you usually end up with simply sending and receiving strings.