VSP Name Selection
VSP name drop-down box selects the port name that will be associated with this VSP .
The number of ports you can have under Windows is virtually unlimited. The VSP Manager lets you create any port in the range between COM1 and COM255*.
There are no rules on what name to choose, just make sure that you pick the name that can be selected in the application software you plan to use this VSP with. Most programs provide a limited selection of ports (typically, up to COM2 or COM4). Therefore, choosing "COM100" wouldn't be suitable as you will not be able to select this VSP in such software.
The VSP name drop-down box shows the list of available port names. On the screenshot above COM3 is not listed- this happens when the VSP with this name already exists. Notice, however, that ports COM1 and COM2 are not excluded from the list and are marked with icons identifying them as "real" COMs**. Even though these port names are "occupied" the VSP Manager can still "grab" them. For example, if you select COM1 the VSP Manager will automatically substitute a standard COM port driver with the VSPD and assign the name "COM1" to this VSP . From this moment on the COM1 will cease working as a regular COM and will start working as a VSP . Substitution may be necessary when you are dealing with an old application software that only provides a choice of COM1 and COM2 which are usually occupied by real COMs.
When you delete the VSP that substituted a standard COM port the VSP Manager will attempt to restore the original driver. This mostly works but on some systems you may encounter problems (especially under Windows ME ). We have conducted an extensive "research" into the port substitution, only to conclude that it just doesn't work reliably on all systems!
|
We recommend that you do not use port substitution unless absolutely necessary! |
All VSPs appear under the Ports section of the device manager'sdevice list (Control Panel--> System Properties--> Device Manager )***:
* We could extend the number even further but feel that the current range is sufficient for all practical purposes.
** This is system-dependent. Some modern PCs don't have any real COMs.
*** VSP properties cannot be edited from within the device manager