I would also take a look at HW Virtual Serial Port, which can map a local serial port to a remote TCP port. I have been using this application with many serial port devices successfully for years in an enterprise environment.
Uninstalling from Windows XP/2000
Follow these steps in the event that you need to uninstall or reinstall
the SDS software on a Windows XP or 2000 system.
- From the Control Panel, select System.
- Click on the Hardware tab.
- Click on Device Manager.
- Expand Multi-port serial adapters and select your Quatech Device Server.
- Right click and select Uninstall.
- At the Confirmation screen, click OK.
- Click Finish at the Completing the Add/Remove Hardware
- Wizard screen.
Well, I tried the HW-VSP software...and it worked! The datanab connected. That was when I discovered that the VSP software had to run 1 instance per port. Ick. I've got at least 4 ports to account for, I really didn't want to have to manage all those separate instances.
I *also* noticed that the Datanab still disconnected ocassionally....so I think that means something may yet be wrong with either the datanab, the quatech, the cqc driver, or the routers/switches between here and there.
In an effort to have all of the virtual ports controlled under 1 roof, I tried the lantronix software again. I *know* that the quatech is connectable at the IP address and port 5000, as the HW-VSP just did it. But no matter what settings I made, nor even turning off the firewall, the lantronix software doesnt get past the "Verifying 192.168...is a valid device". Apparently, it's not.
beelzerob,
One thing I forgot to tell you is to disable NVT, by default it is enabled, and it WILL interfere as you describe. As for 4 instances, I run PC's with more than that, you can start an instance with command line parameters, so it's pretty easy to get up and running (just put the shortcuts in the startup folder). This also allows you to move one serial port to another machine in case you want to test stuff etc. It's good software, so I would give it another shot.
Where is NVT disabled? Is this in redirector or is it somewhere in the Quatech device setup?
I'm hesitant to declare success, but all of the devices have now connected using the older lantronix redirect software (thanks for that link heatvent!). Now to let it sit for a while and see how stable it is.
But if it *does* work, then I'd consider it a pretty painless workaround to make these quatech boxes useful. And I guess it will be an indictment against the Quatech windows drivers!