How to access Hyper-V VM COM1 over network?

Question

Hi,

I have virtual appliance created using hyper-v VM. We want to do its initial configuration through zero touch automation.

How can I access the COM1 of the hyper-v VM over internet so that my service can configure the virtual appliance?

Answer 1

Hello Rahul,

Thank you for your question and for reaching out with your question today.

To access the COM1 port of a Hyper-V virtual machine over the internet, you can use a feature called "Serial over Network" or a remote serial console tool. Here's a general approach you can follow:

1. Enable the COM1 port on the virtual machine: In the Hyper-V Manager, go to the settings of the virtual machine and add a new COM port. Ensure that the "Named pipe" option is selected and note the pipe name.
2. Configure port forwarding: On the host machine or the router connected to the internet, configure port forwarding to forward a specific port (e.g., TCP port 1234) to the virtual machine's COM1 port. This step allows incoming connections from the internet to reach the virtual machine's COM1 port.
3. Set up a remote serial console tool: Install a remote serial console tool on the computer you intend to use for accessing the COM1 port over the internet. Some popular options include "Serial to Ethernet Connector" or "Eltima Serial Port Monitor." These tools allow you to establish a connection to the virtual machine's COM1 port using the specified port number and pipe name.
4. Access the COM1 port remotely: Launch the remote serial console tool, specify the host's IP address and the forwarded port number. Connect to the virtual machine's COM1 port using the pipe name specified in Step 1. This will establish a remote connection to the COM1 port, allowing you to interact with the virtual appliance's configuration.

It's important to note that exposing the COM1 port of a virtual machine directly to the internet may introduce security risks. Ensure you have appropriate security measures in place, such as strong passwords, firewall rules, and monitoring, to protect the virtual machine and the network from unauthorised access.

Additionally, consider using secure protocols (such as SSH or VPN) to encrypt the remote connection and add an extra layer of security.

I used AI provided by ChatGPT to formulate part of this response. I have verified that the information is accurate before sharing it with you.

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Best regards.