Server User Manual
    Installing Virtual COM Port 
Manual Documentation Number: ESP901-902_4105m  Chapter 6  43 
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com 
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Pk – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com 
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The  Virtual COM Port feature allows Windows platform software, using 
standard API calls, to be used in an Ethernet application. 
The 
Install Virtual COM Port software adds a Serial Server (COM#) port to the 
computer. This shows up in the Device Manager. The COM number can be 
selected from a list of available numbers. For example, in a computer already 
having a COM1 and COM2, COM3 to COM 254 are available for the 
Serial 
Server. It is recommended that COM Port 5 or higher be selected. The virtual 
COM port looks like a standard COM port to most Windows based applications 
which allows the software to open a connection with the serial port located 
anywhere on the LAN/WAN. When using the virtual COM port the 
Serial 
Server is configured as a TCP or UDP Server. 
Virtual COM Port Installation 
Step 1: From the Windows Desktop, click: 
Start  → Programs → B&B Electronics → VLINX → ESP 
Servers → Install Virtual COM 
The 
Search Setup window will appear. 
Step 2: Select the 
Search all reachable servers check box, then click 
OK. 
Figure 38.  The Search Setup Window 
Installing Virtual COM Port 
44  Chapter 6  Manual Documentation Number: ESP901-902_4105m 
B&B Electronics Mfg Co Inc – 707 Dayton Rd - PO Box 1040 - Ottawa IL 61350 - Ph 815-433-5100 - Fax 815-433-5104 – www.bb-elec.com 
B&B Electronics Ltd – Westlink Commercial Pk – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com 
The program searches the LAN for all available Serial Servers. When 
complete, the Found Server window appears and displays a list of the 
servers that were found. 
Figure 39.  The Found Server Window 
Step 3: Select the Serial Server at the IP Address to be mapped to a 
virtual COM port, then click 
OK. 
Figure 40.  The COMInst Window 
Windows XP provides a notice concerning Windows Logo testing for 
XP. 










