Summary: From Win2k running in Parallels 5, I need to access the serial port running on a separate Windows box (Win2k or Vista) over the network. Details: My home security system consists of a hardware component and also management software. The software runs on Win2k and interfaces with the hardware via serial port (it only works with COM ports). Up to this point I've used Remote Desktop from my Mac Pro to access the Win2k box; but this is no longer good enough for lots of reasons that I won't get into here. Now I have the security software running in a Win2k VM on my Mac Pro running Parallels 5. I need: 1) the Win2k guest OS to think there is a real COM port available (so I can fool the security software) 2) that COM port to convert to TCP and talk to another computer on the network (addressable via IP or MAC addr & port) 3) the destination computer to receive the traffic via TCP, and forward the commands on to the real serial port (where the security hardware is connected) Does anyone have experience doing this? What software packages would you recommend? I have no budget for purchasing professional software, but this is not a heavily used system, the network traffic is minimal, and I'm the only user and willing to hack/perform workarounds to get this to work. Your help is much appreciated - thanks!
Found pay-for software, need freeware I found and have tested the Serial to Ethernet Connector software from Eltima. It works great, but it's $99.95. I need something that's freeware. The way this works is you install the software on both computers. Configure one to be the server (share a COM port) and configure the other to create a virtual serial port and connect to an IP address (the server). Works transparently so the software running on the client thinks the serial port is local. Any ideas on freeware? Thanks.
