I develop a wide range of relatively simple firmware devices. Every one of these ends up talking to the PC (or another device) via the RS232 port in one way or another, so I spend a lot of time implementing and debugging their communication protocols.
My most common use case is to snoop on a program running on my PC that is communicating with a device via the serial port (RS232). I want to see what is sent and when, mangle / delay incoming and outgoing data and perhaps inject data (especially in response to incoming data based on rules).
Free tools
- Free Serial Port Monitor - With a name like that, how didn't I find it? Thanks eledu81
Good commercial tools
- SerialTest - Demo version does no snooping at all, have to pay to get a real trial
- RS232 analyser - Demo version can't monitor, have to pay to get a real trial. Doesn't seem to do software monitoring, only using hardware can it snoop. Has a useful mode where it can act like a simple rs232 device with programmable auto-responses.
- SerialSniffer - again, commercial. Demo doesn't seem to include functionality
- Docklight Has potential, demo looks useful, hardware snooping only and simulation like RS232 analyser
Related
- com0com - Create virtual serial ports on your PC and then connect them to each other to connect one application to another without hardware
What I want right now is basically WireShark for serial. I love the way it snoops and decodes standard network protocols. I just wish it could snoop serial ports (perhaps there is a good plugin?)
Thanks!