updated: January 30, 2011
RS232 serial ports are present on many older computers and are still used in the workplace on server and client machines. Servers often use the ports to communicate commands or send files that are not transferred via the network. Terminals are the traditional way of administering RS232 serial ports, including their configuration, setup and traffic monitoring. There are various products available, designed specifically to monitor RS232 ports. Terminal type software is often used, as this is the most familiar method for this type of monitoring, but graphical user interfaces are also used to do the same job.
Difficulty: ModerateInstructions1List the basic features you require from RS232 terminal monitoring software. The types of features you will need to consider are an RS232 sniffer, protocol analyzer and packet data logger. In terms of the specific activities you may require, these will probably include the ability to spy, capture, view, log, analyze and test RS232 com port activity.
2Download appropriate software from the Internet. The software should have the capabilities and features required to monitor RS232 com ports to provide an accurate analysis of activity.
3Read the documentation provided by the software and make use of any help systems or support available.
4Monitor RS232 ports using the terminal and the available facilities. This will include command line commands and various buttons to automate tasks. Useful facilities include the toolbar, ASCII chart if one is available, logs and report analysis and perhaps virtual LEDs, to indicate activity for specific communications.
rip dvd to ipod