I have a software that can send a ASCII string like “alarm1” when something happens in that system, it will send it to a specific IP address via TCP/IP. I downloaded a tool and tested to see that the software sends the ASCII string and that happens:) I just now need to figure out how I can make a sensor that listening to “alarm1” and then change sensor status to alarm state.
I currently have applications that transmit their data via TCP and UDP. However, I am not receiving this data directly via Home Assistant. The solution I use leverages additional infrastructure (that I already have) so, if you don’t want to install more software, this may not be the road you want to follow.
The TCP and UDP packets are received by Node-Red which processes the data and then publishes the payload to an MQTT topic. In Home Assistant, I have MQTT Sensors that are subscribed to the topic and receive the payload.
Simplest example is how my phone reports its battery status to Home Assistant.
MacroDroid runs on my phone and reports the battery status via a UDP packet.
Node-Red receives the UDP packet on port 5010, reformats the payload then publishes it to an MQTT topic named phone/battery.
An MQTT Sensor is defined in Home Assistant and it is subscribed to phone/battery.
There are, of course, other ways to achieve the same result.
