I'm developing a project that has a number of hardware sensors connecting to the deployment machine through RS232 serial ports.
But ... I'm developing on a machine without an physical RS232 serial ports, but I would like to make fake serial ports that I can connect to and output data from with the aim of faking input from hardware sensors.
Does anyone know of a way to create a fake serial port and control it on Windows XP?
5 Answers
If you are developing for Windows, the com0com project might be, what you are looking for.
It provides pairs of virtual COM ports that are linked via a nullmodem connetion. You can then use your favorite terminal application or whatever you like to send data to one COM port and recieve from the other one.
EDIT:
As Thomas pointed out the project lacks of a signed driver, which is especially problematic on certain Windows version (e.g. Windows 7 x64).
There are a couple of unofficial com0com versions around that do contain a signed driver. One recent verion (3.0.0.0) can be downloaded e.g. from here.
I know this is an old post, but in case someone else happens upon this question, one good option is Virtual Serial Port Emulator (VSPE) from EterlogicIt provides an API for creating kernel mode virtual comport devices, i.e. connectors, mappers, splitters etc.
However, some of the advertised capabilities were reallynot capabilitiesat all.
EDIT
A much better choice, Eltima. This product is fully baked. Good developer tech support. The product did all it claimed to do. Product options include both desktop applications, as well as software development kits with APIs.
Neither of these products are open source, or free. However, as other posts here have pointed out, there are other options. Here is a list of various serial utilities:
com0com (current)
com0com - With Signed Driver (old version)
and, yet another place for com0com with Signed Driver(Pete's Blog)
Tactical Software
Termite
COM Port Serial Emulator
Kermit (obsolete, but still downloadable)
HWVSP3
HHD Software (free edition)
I use com0com - With Signed Driver, on windows 7 x64 to emulate COM3 AND COM4 as a pair.
Then i use COM Dataport Emulator to recieve from COM4.
Then i open COM3 with the app im developping (c#) and send data to COM3.
The data sent thru COM3 is received by COM4 and shown by 'COM Dataport Emulator' who can also send back a response (not automated).
So with this 2 great programs i managed to emulate Serial RS-232 comunication.
Hope it helps.
Both programs are free!!!!!
Another alternative, even though the OP did not ask for it:
There exist usb-to-serial adapters. Depending on the type of adapter, you may also need a nullmodem cable, too.
They are extremely easy to use under linux, work under windows, too, if you have got working drivers installed.
That way you can work directly with the sensors, and you do not have to try and emulate data. That way you are maybe even save from building an anemic system.(Due to your emulated data inputs not covering all cases, leading you to a brittle system.)
Its often better to work with the real stuff.
There's always the hardware route. Purchase two USB to serial converters, and connect them via a NULL modem.
Pro tips:1) Windows may assign new COM ports to the adapters after every device sleep or reboot.2) The market leaders in chips for USB to serial are Prolific and FTDI. Both companies are battling knockoffs, and may be blocked in future official Windows drivers. The Linux drivers however work fine with the clones.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged windowsmockingserial-porthardware-interfacevirtual-serial-port or ask your own question.
The main goal of Virtual Serial Port Driver by Eltima Software is creating virtual COM port pairs. Virtual serial ports created in VSPD behave as if they were real ports and are taken for the real ones with the serial applications. Via these ports serial applications can communicate with each other and transfer data via virtual null-modem cable. The data written to one virtual serial port can be instantly read from the other.
Virtual serial ports created in VSPD support all serial port settings, strict baudrate emulation, HandFlow control and signal lines.
After virtual COM port pair was created, one can see these ports in Device manager, moreover these ports are available automatically at system startup, even prior to logon.
Virtual Serial Port Driver is available in a GUI version as well as a driver version with API for those who are going to use it in their own product.
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VSPE is intended to help software engineers and developers to create/debug/test applications that use serial ports. It is able to create various virtual devices to transmit/receive data. Unlike regular serial ports, virtual devices have special capabilities: the same device can be opened more than once. Using VSPE you can share physical serial port data between several programs, create virtual pipes and so on. Version 0.865 includes unspecified updates.
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This article was first published in August 2017 and was updated in March 2018.
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