Nov 8, 2011 - It provides pairs of virtual COM ports that are linked via a nullmodem connetion. One good option is Virtual Serial Port Emulator (VSPE) from Eterlogic It provides an API. 2) The market leaders in chips for USB to serial are Prolific and FTDI. The device that was suggested is a usb to serial device. To all hardware and software the dang thing is A SERIAL PORT. You don't have to fool anything. You don't have to guess. Harry potter deathly hallows part 2 123movies.

1. Usb To Serial Port Emulator Pc
2. Serial Port Emulator
3. Usb To Serial Cable

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.

You can use this software when you need to create several virtual devices to send and receive data

What's new in Virtual Serial Ports Emulator 0.938.4.846:

• Added Spy device
• TcpServer and TcpClient devices now supports COM port read-only and COM port write-only modes
• Fixed bug with localization of the device properties dialog
• Added ability to reorganize devices (move up and down) when emulation is stopped

Read the full changelog

Modern systems come with one or no serial ports, as they use high-speed USB ports to connect to other hardware devices. However, there are some devices that still require serial ports for transferring data. That is where Virtual Serial Ports Emulator comes in.

Designed mostly for helping developers create and test applications that use serial ports, it can generate several virtual devices, some creating virtual ports and some having no relation with the kernel driver.

The following devices can be created: connector (can be opened twice), splitter, mapper (redirects all the requests to another port), pair device (two connected virtual ports), TCP server and client, serial re-director, UDP manager (receives serial port data via UDP connection), bridge (connects two data streams) and spy device (sends the intercepted data to another data stream).

Each one of these simulators has its own characteristics and advantages, but the common one is that they can be used simultaneously by more than one application.

Within the main window of the software, you can view a list of all the devices and their status, as well as a log of all your actions. The right-click menu enables you to edit, delete or reinitialize the selected serial port simulator. You can set the software to automatically remove the kernel device at exit.

Detailed logging, device debugging, TCP keep-alive capability and device re-initialization are other features the application brings to the table.

Usb To Serial Port Emulator Pc

In addition, it provides some advanced tools for professional users. For instance, you can control and monitor devices state on a remote computer by setting up a HTTP server, while the data monitoring tool allows you to know what data is sent and received.

Virtual Serial Ports Emulator is designed to solve compatibility issues with older applications and help you create and use several serial ports at the same time, without having to install hardware components.

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Virtual Serial Ports Emulator was reviewed by Mihaela Teodorovici

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