A word of caution. If you do opt for a software emulation of the serial port as a part of your testing strategy, make sure it is only a part. Ensure that your system testing also incorporates testing with a real device. For reproducability, consider setting up your tests and capturing them with a Protocal Analyser and then replaying them for regression testing. I have a strong preference for standalone hardware PAs, but some modern device driver based software PAs are pretty good.

Serial devices have a whole host of failure modes that cannot be easily mocked up. If your device will be any distance from the host PC, and especially if it will live in an electrically noisy environment, you need to test in these kind of environments.


Examine what is said, not who speaks -- Silence betokens consent -- Love the truth but pardon error.
Lingua non convalesco, consenesco et abolesco. -- Rule 1 has a caveat! -- Who broke the cabal?
"Science is about questioning the status quo. Questioning authority".
In the absence of evidence, opinion is indistinguishable from prejudice.

In reply to Re: (OT) How to emulate a serial port under Win32? by BrowserUk
in thread (OT) How to emulate a serial port under Win32? by TGI

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