Installing Virtual COM Port
Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-0504 Chapter 6 37
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com
C
Ch
ha
ap
pt
te
er
r
6
6:
:
I
IN
NS
ST
TA
AL
LL
LI
IN
NG
G
V
VI
IR
RT
TU
UA
AL
L
C
CO
OM
M
P
PO
OR
RT
TS
S
The Virtual COM Port feature allows Windows platform software, using standard API
calls, to be used in an Ethernet application.
The Install Virtual COM port software adds an ESP904 (COM#) port to the computer.
This shows up in the Device Manager. The COM number can be selected from a list of
available numbers. For example, in a computer already having a COM1 and COM2,
COM3 to COM 254 is available for the ESP904. It is recommended that COM Port 5
or higher be selected. The virtual COM port looks like a standard COM port to most
Windows based applications which allows the software to open a connection with the
serial port located anywhere on the LAN/WAN. When using the virtual COM port the
ESP904 is configured as a TCP or UDP Server.
Virtual COM Port Installation
Step 1: In Windows, select Install Virtual COM from the Programs list.
Start → Programs → B&B Electronics → VLINX → ESP Servers
→ Install Virtual COM
The Search Setup window will appear.
Step 2: Click on Search all reachable servers and click on OK.
Figure 23. The Search Setup Window
Installing Virtual COM Port
38 Chapter 6 Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-0504
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com
The program searches the LAN for all available ESP901/ESP902/ESP904
Serial Servers. When complete, the Found Server window appears and
displays a list of the servers that were found.
Figure 24. The Found Server Window
Step 3: Highlight the Server at the IP Address to be mapped to a virtual
COM port, then select OK.
Figure 25. The COMInst Window
Windows XP provides a notice concerning Windows Logo testing for XP.