Socat

Socat is a handy open-source command-line tool that's all about making data transfer easy between two separate channels. It's built in C and follows POSIX standards, so it works pretty smoothly on various systems.

Features of Socat

This software supports a bunch of different types of connections like pipes, files, devices (think modems or terminals), SSL, and sockets (both IPv4 and IPv6). It even handles UDP and TCP connections, proxy CONNECT, and can act as a client for SOCKS4. Plus, it can manage multicasts and broadcasts, which is super useful!

What Can You Do with Socat?

You can use Socat for interprocess communication or as a relay for TCP/IP connections. It can also function as a shell interface for UNIX sockets or as a daemon-based socksifier. Another cool feature? You can redirect TCP-oriented software to talk through a serial line!

Command-Line Options

Socat has tons of command-line options to explore! Just type ./socat -h in your terminal emulator to see what's available. This includes options for analyzing file descriptors before running the loop, setting timeouts before closing channels, and managing inactivity timeouts.

Installing Socat

If you're using GNU/Linux, installing Socat is a breeze! Just run the commands ./configure && make, then finish up with sudo make install. Make sure you've got the latest version from Softpas.

Socat really packs a punch with its features and flexibility! Whether you're looking to transfer data between devices or set up complex networking tasks, this tool has got you covered.