Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!dank
From: dank@stealth.usc.edu (Dan King)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.programmer
Subject: Serial port sharing?  Hmmm....
Message-ID: <32168@usc>
Date: 22 Apr 91 20:54:30 GMT
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Originator: dank@stealth.usc.edu



As I sit here in an office filled with Macs and wait for the person
next to me to get done using the only machine that has a modem, I'm
struck with (what I feel is a) fantastic idea for a program/init/rdev/
whatever: SerialShare.

It works like this: One user (say, the one with a modem) goes to his
Control Panel (or Chooser?) and tells it to publish serial port A.
Then, another user goes to his Chooser and tells it to attach to 
this published serial port and map it onto his serial port A (ie,
replace his port A with the published port A.  You could also just make
it available through the Comm Toolbox, or whatever).  Then, the second
user could just call up a term program without switching machines.

Has this been done before?  If so, where can I get the program?  If
not, does anyone have any suggestions/caveats I should know before I
start wasting time hacking on this?  Any information would be much
appreciated.

Thanks!
dank