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        Serial Port Solution >> Virtual Serial Port Kit for Windows CE >> Use on headless device?
        
(Message started by: EricStark on Jul 18th, 2005, 12:01pm)
Title: Use on headless device?
Post by EricStark on Jul 18th, 2005, 12:01pm
Can the VSPK CE product be used on a headless device - one without a display?

Provided that configuration is through the Registry or some sort of file-based information, I'm guessing that the device driver itself does not need the display.

Any help or information would be appreciated!
Title: Re: Use on headless device?
Post by Andrew on Jul 22nd, 2005, 1:51am
Yes. We can provide you a library that could be used by your application for creating pairs of virtual serial ports.
Title: Re: Use on headless device?
Post by EricStark on Jul 22nd, 2005, 8:20am
First, I appreciate your response.  However, that answer, while interesting and indicative of other potentially useful product offering(s), does not answer my question.

My main question is this:  Will the VSPK CE product, as I would order it today for $299USD, run on a headless Windows CE 4.2 device?

Additional questions:  How about Windows CE 5.0 support?  Are instructions available for setting configuration values (since there is no GUI available)?  Has its operation on a headless device been tested by your labs?  Are additional fees associated with the library that your response mentions?

We may be interested in the "library" version, but I was hoping to avoid the overhead of additional software development and the associated risks and complications.  

I should also add that I'm a registered VSPK (PC-based Windows version), and I've been very pleased with its operation and usefulness in testing our PC-based products.
Title: Re: Use on headless device?
Post by Andrew on Aug 2nd, 2005, 2:17am
Dear Eric

ES> First, I appreciate your response.  However, that answer, while interesting and indicative of other potentially useful product offering(s), does not answer my question. My main question is this:  Will the VSPK CE product,  as I would order it today for $299USD, run on a headless Windows CE 4.2 device?

Yes, Eric, it will.

ES> Additional questions:  How about Windows CE 5.0 support?

We haven't tested it on CE 5.0 but our clients have.

ES> Are instructions available for setting configuration values (since there is no GUI available)?  Has its operation on a headless device been tested by your labs?  Are additional fees associated with the library that your response mentions?

This API is included into VSPK CE OEM Package.

Here is API description:
------------------------------
BOOL AddPair(ULONG uPort1, ULONG uPort2);
BOOL RemovePair(ULONG uPort1, ULONG uPort2);
BOOL EnablePorts(BOOL bEnable);

/*
* uPort:  1-10: COM1-COM10,
*        11-20: VCP1-VCP10
*/

ES> We may be interested in the "library" version, but I was hoping to avoid the overhead of additional software development and the associated risks and complications.

Eric, if you need any special requirements, tell us and we'll do our best.

ES> I should also add that I'm a registered VSPK (PC-based Windows version), and I've been very pleased with its operation and usefulness in testing our PC-based products.

Thank you for good words!

We look forward to the development of very promising and mutually beneficial relationship.
Title: Re: Use on headless device?
Post by EricStark on Aug 2nd, 2005, 6:18am
Thanks for your continued attention to this line of questions, Andrew.  I do want to clarify one final point:

From your latest reply, I infer that the API is not included in the $299 license for VSPK CE.  Yet, you claim that this version will run on a headless device.  If so, how does one configure the virtual ports?

Thanks in advance for your continued assistance!
--Eric