User manual
    Installing Virtual COM Port 
Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-0504  Chapter 6  37 
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 Park – 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 an ESP904 (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 is available for the ESP904. 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 
ESP904 is configured as a TCP or UDP Server. 
Virtual COM Port Installation 
Step 1: In Windows, select Install Virtual COM from the Programs list. 
Start → Programs → B&B Electronics → VLINX → ESP Servers 
→ Install Virtual COM
The 
Search Setup window will appear. 
Step 2: Click on 
Search all reachable servers and click on OK. 
Figure 23. The Search Setup Window 
 Installing Virtual COM Port 
38  Chapter 6  Manual Documentation Number: ESP904-0504 
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 Park – Oranmore, Galway, Ireland – Ph +353 91-792444 – Fax +353 91-792445 – www.bb-europe.com
The program searches the LAN for all available ESP901/ESP902/ESP904 
Serial Servers. When complete, the 
Found Server window appears and 
displays a list of the servers that were found. 
Figure 24. The Found Server Window 
Step 3: Highlight the Server at the IP Address to be mapped to a virtual 
COM port, then select 
OK. 
Figure 25. The COMInst Window 
Windows XP provides a notice concerning Windows Logo testing for XP. 










