DialOut/EZ COM Port Redirector User Guide > Installation > Creating and Configuring Virtual COM Ports

Creating a Virtual COM Port

The DialOut/EZ Redirector requires that at least one virtual COM port be created.

The Select Ports window will show a list of COM ports (in the range of COM1 through COM4096) that are not already in use. Any of these unused COM ports can be selected to become DialOut/EZ COM ports.

To create virtual COM ports, in the Select Ports window, select at least one COM port to be a DialOut/EZ virtual COM port. Corresponding COM port ranges will appear in the lower panel.

Alternatively, the COM port ranges may be directly edited. Use individual COM port numbers (such as 4, 5, 7) and/or ranges (such as 11-18, 30-53) separated by commas. When editing the COM port ranges, the checkboxes in the upper panel will change accordingly. Click OK when finished.

In order to make the built-in COM ports (e.g., COM1, COM2) on a computer available to be virtual COM ports, then disable these ports in the BIOS, and then remove them from the Windows Device Manager.

The license for the DialOut/EZ Redirector will enable a maximum number of active COM ports. Any number of ports may be selected and configured, but only the maximum number allowed by the license key may be used at any one time.

Legacy applications may not be able to use COM ports higher than COM4.

Adding Windows Modem Devices

If the application uses modems, then it may require that a Windows modem device be installed on the DialOut/EZ COM port. If needed, add Windows modem devices to DialOut/EZ COM ports. Otherwise, this step may be skipped.

When the window appears for creating modem devices, click Add to start the Windows modem installation wizard. Do not ask the wizard to detect the modem. Select the correct modem manufacturer and model from the lists. If the correct modem is not listed, then use the Have Disk button to select a *.INF modem driver file. Select one or more DialOut/EZ COM ports on which the modem driver should be installed.

After the initial installation, modem devices may be changed by using the Windows Control Panel.

Modem driver files are supplied by the modem manufacturer. It is very important to use a modem driver that matches the modem hardware on the server. If the wrong modem driver is installed, then the application may have problems using the modem. It may be possible to use one of the Standard modem drivers supplied with Windows, if no other driver is available.

Configuring a Virtual COM Port

In this step, the virtual COM port will be configured and tested. The DialOut/EZ Auto Configure feature will verify the network connection to the server.

In the DialOut/EZ Control Panel, select a virtual COM port in the list, and then click Auto Configure. In IP Address of Server, type in the IP address or hostname of the modem server that will be used by this virtual COM port. In Port Number, type in the TCP port number for which the server provides access to the modem.

If the modem server requires a user login, then type in the values for the Username and Password to be provided by the redirector when the server prompts for the login.

Select the Test for presence of a modem checkbox if the serial device is a modem.

Click Start. Messages will appear in the Status and Log Panels that will show the redirector's interaction with the server. It typically takes 5 to 15 seconds to complete.

Click Use Settings after it has completed successfully. The recommended settings will be applied to the virtual COM port.

If the Use Settings button is not highlighted, then messages in the Status Panel will indicate the issue. See the topic Auto Configure for instructions.

The server failover feature allows more than one IP address or hostname to be entered. See the topic The Control Panel for details on how to use this feature.

Specifying the Credentials Source

The redirector can be configured to obtain the username and password credentials from one of three sources. If the server will not require a user login, then skip this step.

In the DialOut/EZ Control Panel, select the Use Credentials From checkbox, and then choose one of the three credential methods. They are described in detail in The Control Panel section.

If the server is not configured to require user authentication, then the Use Credentials From checkbox must be cleared.

Finishing the Port Settings

The Connection Protocol setting that is determined by Auto Configure will be correct. This setting should not be changed.

If the connection fails, then the redirector can attempt to restore its network connection to the server. To enable this feature for a virtual COM port, select the Recover Failed Connections to Server checkbox.

Configuration of this virtual COM port is now complete.

Configuring Additional Ports

In the DialOut/EZ Control Panel, select a virtual COM port. If the intention is to use the same server and modem, then use the same settings as a previously configured port. Otherwise, configure the COM port by starting at the beginning of this chapter.

To copy the settings of the selected virtual COM port to other virtual COM ports, click Copy Settings To, and then specify the ports that will receive the settings.

Configuring Advanced Options

The DialOut/EZ Redirector Advanced Options have default values that will work for virtually all applications. Experimentation with these settings is strongly discouraged.

The Advanced Options are described in detail in the Advanced Options section.