Can I use the serial port emulator on Windows 7 or other OS than the listed OS?

The serial port emulator from silex is not tested on other OS than the ones listed. Anyway the best solution is always to get an application that is capable of direct network access. Hyperterminal for example can not only access COM1 and COM2, also TCP/IP. In this case you don't need the redirection with the serial port emulator application.

If you need a serial port emulator software for Windows 7 for example you can get a working software from a third company:
http://www.tacticalsoftware.com/products/serialip.htm

Download / 30 days trial license request:
http://www.tacticalsoftware.com/download/serialip.php

Please note that this is not a silex software. We are not liable for support or any other topic related to this 3rd party software. Please contact the company that sells the software if you are unsure about compatibility or any other function or feature you need.

 

How can I test the serial connection?

The easiest way is always to build up a scenario like this:

PC 1 connected via local com port and serial cable to the serial device server. Start hyperterminal on this PC with the following settings:
connect using: COM1 (local com port)
bits per second: 115200
data bits: 8
parity: none
stop bits: 1
flow controll: none

PC 2 is connected to the network and can ping the serial device server. Start hyperterminal on this PC with the following settings:
connected using: TCP/IP (Winsocket)
host address: 192.168.101.178 (example - this is the IP of your serial device server)
port number: 3001 (default setting - check with "sh ip" via telnet on serial device server)

Now if you type something on PC 1 in the hyperterminal application you can see it on PC 2 in the hyperterminal application and vice versa.

You can see that the network connection is fine in general then, the configuration on the serial device server is fine.
Next step would be to use the serial port emulator if necessary. If that works you can switch to your application instead of hyperterminal and your serial device instead of PC 1. Please make sure to adjust the serial interface for your device.

 

How to configure the e-cable mode and what is it good for?

In a normal scenario there is always one active part that builds up the initial connection.
If you have 2 passive devices or a server that is waiting for incoming data you might need to configure one serial device server to send the data active towards a destination.
In this case you should configure the serial device server e-cable mode with the IP of the destination and the port.

This feature also enables you to use 2 serial device servers to create a serial tunnel over the network. One serial device server will build up the connection then. Please do not enable e-cable mode on both serial device servers in this case. One server is always the active part then that builds up the connection.