'Nother Mac Inquiry...

G

Geri O'Neil

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Jan 11, 2011
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Sorry for the Mac newbie questions, but I'm stuck on a particular area...

We use a few processors that are controlled via RS232 serial port. And for all these processors, the control software is PC-only, no Mac version available. I've bought and returned 3 Expresscard-to-serial port adapters. In each case, they were advertised as being Mac-compatible, but in each case, this was false. And it's hard to believe that I seem to be the first guy to point this out to the makers of those cards.

Since I'm using Parallels 7 with Win Vista, I tried to get Parallels/Windows to see the Expresscard and go through the "install new hardware" routine, but this never happened, either.

I've searched for a USB-to-serial solution, but again, I haven't seen one with Mac drivers. There IS one at Best Buy that "claims" to be, but I don't want to do the buy and return routine again.

So I am at a crossroad. Should I consider a serial-to-LAN idea? Or has anyone else had success of any kind with this scenario?

Otherwise, my Mac experience has gone pretty well. Thanx for any help...

Geri O
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Geri,

I use USB-serial 'cable' without trouble on Mac / Parallels7 / XP.
I need that for flashing industrial controller(s).

The only thing I remember when setting the rig up is, that I had no problems.

I'll check the hardware and possible specifics later on in the shop and let you know.

w/r
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Geri,

In my experience the more generic the adapter the more likely it is to work. The Radioshack adapter has worked for me with dbx products, but it is expensive. The Keyspan units are what I've kept personally, always been rock solid... and cheap.

If you're still having problems perhaps the problem is with whatever is running your emulation software?
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

I have had good experience with the "Keyspan" device Bennett referred to with DBX Driveracks and Windows boxes - including Windows 7. At work I also installed a Pearle serial to LAN server that's pretty elegant with decent drivers. It was more expensive, but if you've got a permanent config and a number of devices you're trying to control, it's a nice solution.
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

I use the Startech ICUSB232C2 adaptors. This is a 2 port USB adaptor cable. I've used it successfully with DBX products through Parallels to control 2 drive racks at once, no problems. No reason to use express card USB adaptor. USB works just fine, and getting Parallels to recognize USB devices seems a bit easier too.
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Okay, thanx to everyone's help directly or indirectly, I have determined a couple of things...

A. The PDF copy of the complete user manual of Parallels would have been a handy thing to have on hand when I firsted started using it. Getting it tonight and thoroughly reading it tonight has been enlightening.

B. My install of Parallels is corrupt or at least incomplete. I should see an option of which OS to use when a USB device is connected. And where to install the drivers. I've never seen this option. And I'm not seeing the Paralllels preference option at all now, although I remember seeing it at first.

It appears that I need to start over with Parallels and Windows 7 this time.
The guys that sold me the Expresscard to serial unit sent a refund and said to not send it back. They asked me to just let them know if I had any luck installing it either way.

I'll let you know what happens. For now, I gotta get through 4 more days of a new governor's inaugural events. Oh yeah, and get a newly-aquired PM5D ready for a run of shows starting next weekend.

Thanx, all. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Geri O
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Geri,

FYI, I've never used Parallels, only VMWare Fusion... not due to any particular loyalty of close analysis, that's just what I've had. Need to buy another VM now that I'm running OS 10.7 Lion, was going to get the next version of Fusion but maybe someone else knows more? My virtual machine is still running XP!
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Bennett Prescott said:
Geri,

.... Need to buy another VM now that I'm running OS 10.7 Lion, was going to get the next version of Fusion but maybe someone else knows more? My virtual machine is still running XP!
Click to expand...

Hi, Bennett.
You might give VirtualBox a try, it's open source and what do you have to lose? For some applications I have been happy with Wine (or WineBottler).
 
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Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

I use OSX 10.6.8 with Parallels Desktop with both XP and Windows 7 virtual machines, along with a 7 yr old Radio Shack USB to serial adapter. Works fine with a number of DSP's, including Biamp, Symnet, Soundweb Green, XTA, and DBX driverack! I even have that hooked up to a RS232 to RS485 adapter to steer QFlex and DSA column line arrays! I did have to do a little hunting with Google to find drivers for windows 7 though.
 
Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Bennett Prescott said:
Geri,

FYI, I've never used Parallels, only VMWare Fusion... not due to any particular loyalty of close analysis, that's just what I've had. Need to buy another VM now that I'm running OS 10.7 Lion, was going to get the next version of Fusion but maybe someone else knows more? My virtual machine is still running XP!
Click to expand...

Parallels and VMWare Fusion are pretty comparable. They tend to leapfrog each other as new versions are released. Both are solid products. I prefer Parallels, personally simply because I have gotten better support from them for installs. We've installed hundreds of systems and for the most part, it's gone wonderfully. Most of the issues were Windows related problems to start with.

Using the free open source software is also an option. However, that software tends to be a bit less polished. If you're savvy, you can get it to work. Using the packaged products makes it dead simple.

edit: perfect timing. Just ran across this article on MacWorld.

http://www.macworld.com/article/164817/2012/01/the_best_way_to_run_windows_on_your_mac.html
 
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Re: 'Nother Mac Inquiry...

Brian jojade said:
Parallels and VMWare Fusion are pretty comparable. They tend to leapfrog each other as new versions are released. Both are solid products. I prefer Parallels, personally simply because I have gotten better support from them for installs. We've installed hundreds of systems and for the most part, it's gone wonderfully. Most of the issues were Windows related problems to start with.

Using the free open source software is also an option. However, that software tends to be a bit less polished. If you're savvy, you can get it to work. Using the packaged products makes it dead simple.

edit: perfect timing. Just ran across this article on MacWorld.

http://www.macworld.com/article/164817/2012/01/the_best_way_to_run_windows_on_your_mac.html
Click to expand...

+1 to Brian except I use VMware fusion, partially because I use their enterprise software on my servers. The only thing that recently bothered me about Fusion is the lack of a promotional upgrade price. I know its only $50 but it bothers me that they don't care about customer loyalty to extend existing users a discount (unless they believe their product is so good we won't switch...).
 
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