# Virtual COM Ports ## General Usage * Virtual Serial Ports are used to bring COM port compatibility to newer devices/OSs. * They can be used if the target device has no COM ports whatsoever to create a virtual one or to extend capabilities of existing COM port in situations where the old COM port is missing funcionality. ### 1. Device has no COM port * In this situation a third party software creates a network layer between the physical interface (eg. USB or Ethernet) and all data are translated both ways before sending it in either direction ### 2. Extending existing COM port * If device already has a COM port but lacks some capabalities a third party software can be used to create a software layer that can provide these. ## Creating a VCOM * Virtual Serial Port is usually running on one physical port * If multiple physical ports are running a VCOM many problems ***can*** occure if physical interfaces are not properly mapped to other names * It's also possible to run multiple sessions on physical port using several VCOMs that refere to that one port ## VCOM Splitting * Create Virtual COM for each real interface allowing multiple applications running at once on each of the linked VCOMs ## VCOM Mapping * Map physical interfaces to other names using aliases ## VCOM Joining * Join multiple Virtual Serial Ports or Physical Serial Ports to one VCOM allowing one application access multiple devices on different Physical Ports ### Third party software that supports joining: https://freeserialportsplitter.com/ #### Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_COM_port https://freeserialportsplitter.com/ https://www.netburner.com/learn/how-to-create-a-virtual-serial-port/ https://www.rbdinstruments.com/blog/resolving-usb-conflicts-with-virtual-com-ports/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/COM_(hardware_interface)