Debugging and Testing Communications Drivers

There are several tools that may be used for debugging and testing a communication driver, including monitoring software such as WireShark®, the VTScada Source Debugger, and simulators. These tools are described briefly here.

Monitoring Software

This software allows you to view all traffic across the computer's serial or TCP/IP port. You may then verify if the information being sent and received meets expectations.

VTScada Source Debugger

Use this tool to watch variables for value changes, insert breakpoints, and view module content and code.

I/O Device Simulators

Actual I/O device hardware may not be available to test with the communication software. On such occasions, it is helpful to write or obtain a simulator to emulate the I/O device with which communication is desired. A script application written to use the I/O device's protocol and imitate the I/O device's actions can be run in VTScada at the same time as the driver tag. This enables testing of the communication driver without having the I/O device prior to installation on site.