Black Box RS-232, RS-422, RS-485 user manual Using Virtual COM, Supported Firmware, Page

Chapter 5: Using Virtual COM

5. Using Virtual COM

Virtual COM driver mode for windows converts COM data to LAN data to control the RS-232 port on an LES301A via the LAN. By creating virtual COM ports on the PC, the Virtual COM driver redirects the communications from the virtual COM ports to an IP address and port number on an LES301A that connects the serial line device to the network. Figure 5-1 shows the Virtual COM connection diagram.

PC

Physical COM1

Physical COM2

COM3 (Virtual COM port) COM4 (Virtual COM port) COM5 (Virtual COM port) COM6 (Virtual COM port) OS Driver Level:

COM 256 (Virtual COM port)

TCP/IP

network

Hub

Serial Line

Serial Device 1

Serial Line

Serial Device 2

Serial Line

Serial Device 3

Serial Line

LES301A

units

Serial Device 4

Figure 5-1. Virtual COM connection diagram.

5.1 Setup of a Virtual COM Driver

5.1.1 Pre-installation Requirements

The PC’s operating system should comply with the following requirements:

•Processor: Intel® compatible, Pentium® class

•Operating system: Windows® Server 2003, Windows XP, Windows 2000®, Windows NT 4.0 SP5 or later, Windows Me, Windows 98, Windows 95, Microsoft® NT/2000 Terminal Server, Citrix MetaFrame

5.1.2 Supported Firmware

The Virtual COM driver supports firmware AP v3.0 and later of LES301A device servers.

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