Lantronix Com Port Redirector, User Manual, Page: 9 / 31

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This chapter includes the following topics:
Topic Page
Overview 1-1
Quick Start 2-3
Overview
Com Port Redirector is a software utility for network-enabling legacy software
applications that do not have network support. Com Port Redirector installs virtual
Windows
®
communication ports. These virtual communication (or com) ports are
redirected over a network to the serial port of a Lantronix device server (see Figure
2-1).
Figure 2-1. Example of How Com Port Redirector Works
In most cases, legacy software that uses the virtual com ports created with Com Port
Redirector encounters no problems and acts as if it were communicating with a
physical com port. Not all software applications, however, are suited for use with
Com Port Redirector.
Serial port software applications are designed for direct communication with the serial
device being managed. However, when device servers are used across a network,
latency can occur with the connection from the software to the managed serial
device. Some software applications have timing constraints for data transmitted and
received on com ports. In some cases, a software application will not wait long
enough to receive a response from the serial device being managed. As a result, the
software assumes the serial device is not responding and times out.
Com Port Redirector™ User Guide 2-1