Pb renaming port com in the Device Manager ---> Ports (Com & Lpt) section

Realport
1

Hello,

I setup a PortServer TS 16 ports equipment on a HP DL 360 G5 server running under Windows 2003 SP2.

At the installation, all the com ports are automatically assigned beginning from first com free (i.e. 3) to com 19.

Now here’s my problem :

I’m changing for example the com assigned to the port 10
previous : com 12
new : com 40
In the Ports (COM & LPT) section under device manager the name of the virtual com port :
previous : Portserver TS 16 Rack - Port 10 (COM12)
new : IT SHOULD BE Portserver TS 16 Rack - Port 10 (COM40)

But the name doesn’t change : it is still … Port 10 (COM12) !!!

I remove the DIGI, restart the server, reinstall the DIGI, still the same problem…

I tried to deal with the registry to find any trace of phantom ports and so on that could interfer, but nothing there.

Is there any solution ?

Thank you.

Christophe

2

Hi Christophe,

Did you receive an error when you tried to renumber the port?
If yes, what was the error message?

If an application had the port open, you should be prompted by Windows to reboot the server.
If the port was not open, you should not have to reboot and the change will take effect immediately.

Are you doing the change at the local machine or remotely?
Try doing the change locally, or you may miss a popup message.

If you recive a message that com 40 is already in use, follow the instructions at this link to remove any phantom ports:
http://www.digi.com/support/kbase/kbaseresultdetl.jsp?id=274
The steps should be correct for Windows Server 2003.

3

OK here are all the results of the differents tests.

I’m going to narrow the example on the configuration of the ports 16 and 15 of mi DIGI PortServer16. My aim is to have the configuration below :

PORT 16 –> COM3
name under device manager, Ports (COM & LPT) : PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 16(COM3)
PORT 15 –> COM4
name under device manager, Ports (COM & LPT) : PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 15(COM4)

1st STEP : before installing my PortServer

Check of the registry :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/COM Name Arbiter
COMDB=03 00 00 00

OK Since i have 2 built-in serial ports.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/HARDWARE/DEVICEMAP/SERIALCOMM
\Device\Serial0 REG_SZ COM1
\Device\Serial1 REG_SZ COM2

OK no phantom com ports

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Ports
COM1 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1
COM2 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1

OK no other com referenced here.

2nd STEP : installing the PortServer driver

I installed my PortServer on my server (W2003 SP2), default installation. All 16 ports are installed as COM ports starting from COM3 ending at COM 18

So going to the Device Manager panel –> Ports (COM & LPT) section, i can see my 16 COM ports displayd this way :

PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 1(COM3)
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 2(COM4)
…
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 15(COM17)
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 16(COM18)

3rd STEP : configuring my port 15 and 16

I go then to the configuration panel of my digi, uncheck all 16 ports in order not to have any com ports configured on my server and apply. There are no virtual com ports anymore.
All the registry is clean, no phantom ports and so on) so I’m back into the same state as in the 1st step.

I then check my port 16 and assign the virtual port COM3 and apply.
I then check my port 15 and assign the virtual port COM4 and apply.
Going to the Device Manager panel –> Ports (COM & LPT) section, i can see the virtual ports com created :
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 16(COM18 )
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 15(COM17 )

Anyway, using HyperTerminal, i can send Hayes command succesfully to the modem using port COM3 or COM4 !!!

Checking the registry, everything is correct :

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SYSTEM/CurrentControlSet/Control/COM Name Arbiter
COMDB=0f 00 00 00 OK Since i have 4 serial ports.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/HARDWARE/DEVICEMAP/SERIALCOMM
\Device\Serial0 REG_SZ COM1
\Device\Serial1 REG_SZ COM2
\Device\PS_COM3 REG_SZ COM3
\Device\PS_COM4 REG_SZ COM4

OK no phantom com ports

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/SOFTWARE/Microsoft/Windows NT/CurrentVersion/Ports
COM1 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1
COM2 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1
COM3 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1
COM4 REG_SZ 9600,n,8,1

OK these are all the COM ports i have.

My problem is still the same : I cannot have the right name displayed in the Device Manager –> Port (COM & LPT)

Reminder : I should have :
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 16(COM3 )
PortServer TS 16 Rack - Port 15(COM4 )

NOTE : i neger got any error message, or message saying that the port is in use…
NOTE 2 : everything was executed on the console session, locally on the machine.

I’m getting confused… It’s as is the server was keeping a trace of the previous installation of the port somewhere and using it to name the virtual com ports created…