TCP/IP Serial Ports Server is an optional component of Virtual Serial Port Tools. It needs to be installed on a computer which serial ports you want to expose on given TCP endpoints to be used by other computers on the network. By default, server is installed as Windows Service and runs even without a logged-on user. In addition, the server may be launched on-demand, providing quick way to share serial devices.
Server component is used to provide remote access to all local serial devices, including legacy serial ports, virtual serial ports or “serial over USB” devices.
Current version always uses all available network interfaces when it listens for incoming TCP connections.
The server can be used in one of the following modes: installed as Windows Service or running as stand-alone process.
The server administrator has to explicitly specify which serial ports are shared on which TCP ports. When TCP/IP Serial Ports Server executes as a stand-alone process, this configuration is done using the TCP/IP Server Command-Line Parameters. When TCP/IP Serial Ports Server is running as Windows Service, configuration is performed using the TCP/IP Server Configuration Utility.
In this mode, server is installed as Windows Service and is configured to run without logged-on user. This is the default mode, configured by server installation utility. Server options are controlled with a help of TCP/IP Server Configuration Utility.
If the user needs to manually configure TCP/IP Serial Ports Server to Windows Service mode, the following command-line parameter may be used:
psip_server.exe -install-service
To remove Windows Service, use the following command-line parameter:
psip_server.exe -uninstall-service
Since installing or removing a Windows Service is a privileged operation, these command-lines must be executed from the elevated command-prompt.
TCP/IP Serial Ports Server supports simple deployment for quick serial sharing experience. All you need is to copy the psip_server.exe file to the target computer and launch it, providing command-line parameters to specify what serial ports and their corresponding TCP ports. See the TCP/IP Server Command-Line Parameters section for more information.