Question Accessing COM Port from Ethernet

[DylanXXX]

I currently managing 2 POS Devices in a Restaurant. The POS is using Windows 7.

1 POS located on the first floor has a printer connected via COM1 port. The printer itself has an LPT Port, the printer comes with an LPT to COM Port. 1 POS located on the second floor doesn't have any printer. (more like an Ordering Station)

What I want is when I ordered from the ordering station I want to print the orders to the printer on the first floor.

I used software from Serial over Ethernet, it works like a charm. But since it was on beta, the trial period is expired today.

Other methods I have tried :

1. Sharing the printer like any modern printer: failed.
2. creating a TCP/IP Port by typing the 1st Floor POS: failed.
3. Searching international forum for my case: from what I found, all referring to use (and buy) software for it.

My question is: is there anyway to share the COM port from 1st Floor POS so it's accessible from POS on the 2nd floor directly from Windows without using anykind of softwares?

 

[kanewolf]

The printer has a standard parallel port. Does the application software REQUIRE use of the serial port? If not, I would recommend that you buy an ethernet print server, and then install the printer as a network device. As long as the software supports a standard printer definition, you should be able to have the printer on the network and print to it.

 

[jsmithepa]

buy an ethernet print server

He doesn't want to spend$ any.

Plus knowing how these bus apps work, they probably wrote their own printer driver so you have to go back to them for accessories/solutions.

But hey, don't hurt trying, if it works and cheaper than a software license, or maybe a yearly subscription nonsense.

 

[kanewolf]

Plus knowing how these bus apps work, they probably wrote their own printer driver so you have to go back to them for accessories/solutions.

That is why my first question was if the application REQUIRED a serial port.

And, not wanting to spend $$$ ... I only provide a reasonable and appropriate technical option. An ethernet print server is less than $100, so I don't believe it is an unreasonable approach for a business.

 

[Alabalcho]

From the creators of com2com: http://tcp2com.sourceforge.net/
You'll have to spend some time configuring it.