Active Port Pro

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Introduction

As a developer working in the Windows environment, you may have encountered the frustrating problem of accessing hardware resources. When an application tries to access an i/o port or physical memory address, an exception occurs, and the application is terminated with an error. This limitation is due to the mechanisms of memory protection and page translation, making it impossible for user applications to access physical memory. In this article, we will explore how Active Port Pro, an ActiveX control, can help you overcome these challenges and make programming hardware devices in Windows as easy as possible.

What is Active Port Pro?

Active Port Pro is an ActiveX control designed to control and manage any types of hardware devices via i/o ports, as well as access the physical memory of a computer. Initially developed to simplify programming hardware devices in Windows, Active Port Pro has become a powerful tool for developers, allowing them to perform complex operations with ease and often without writing a single line of code. With its compatibility with all commonly used programming languages (including .NET languages) and all operating systems of the Windows family (including Windows 2003), Active Port Pro is an essential tool for any Windows developer.

What is Active Port Pro Used For?

1. Fast Direct Access to I/O Ports of Various Hardware Devices

Operating systems based on Windows NT (Windows NT/2000/XP/2003) forbid accessing the i/o ports of hardware from user applications. This restriction is due to the fact that by default i/o operations from user applications are forbidden in a special internal operating system table called an I/O Permission Map. With Active Port Pro, you can correct this I/O Permission Map in such a way that your application will get the same privileges while working with i/o ports as the kernel of the operating system. Moreover, you can do it with a few mouse clicks without a single line of code!

2. Fast Direct Access to Physical Memory Addresses

Very often software developers face the problem of accessing the physical memory of a computer. There are typical situations when direct access to physical memory is necessary: controlling ISA or PCI devices, reading configuration information from the BIOS data area, etc. As any up-to-date operating system, Windows uses memory protection and page translation making it completely impossible for a user application to access physical (not virtual) computer memory. With Active Port Pro, accessing the physical memory of a computer is as simple as writing one line of code!

3. Solving the Problem of Compatibility for Applications Working with Hardware in Various Operating Systems

Any software developer has probably encountered the situation when some program working with hardware runs perfectly on Windows 95/98/Me and is terminated with an error when being launched on Windows NT/2000/XP/2003. Active Port Pro is compatible absolutely with all operating systems from the Windows family (including early versions of Windows 95). All you have to do to overcome the application incompatibility effect is to drag Active Port Pro onto the form of your application. And you do not have to write any additional code!

4. Solving the Problem of I/O Ports Virtualization

Quite a few developers think that they have full access to i/o ports in operating systems based on Windows 9x (Windows 95/98/Me). Actually, it's not so. In these operating systems, I/O Permission Map also forbids all operations with ports for user applications, as it is the case with operating systems based on Windows NT. When your application tries to access some i/o port, there also occurs an exception. But the application is not terminated because this exception is intercepted either by the operating system kernel or by one of its low-level drivers. Then the driver (or the OS kernel) can do anything with the request of your application: it can perform the operation, it can delay it, or it can do whatever it finds necessary. It is called i/o ports virtualization. Using Active Port Pro, you can easily get around the problem of ports virtualization and get genuinely direct access to hardware!

5. Managing Any Types of Hardware Devices Easily

Apart from standard features used for accessing i/o ports and physical memory, Active Port Pro has a number of additional features making it easier to work with hardware devices. For example, such features include getting the base addresses of COM and LPT ports and managing CMOS memory.

Conclusion

Q: What is Active Port Pro and how does it work?

A: Active Port Pro is an ActiveX control designed to control and manage any types of hardware devices via i/o ports, as well as access the physical memory of a computer. It works by providing a direct interface to the i/o ports and physical memory, allowing developers to access hardware resources without the need for kernel-mode drivers or complex low-level programming.

Q: What are the benefits of using Active Port Pro?

A: The benefits of using Active Port Pro include:

  • Fast direct access to i/o ports and physical memory
  • Simplified programming of hardware devices
  • Compatibility with all commonly used programming languages and operating systems of the Windows family
  • Ability to manage hardware devices easily
  • Solving the problem of compatibility for applications working with hardware in various operating systems
  • Solving the problem of i/o ports virtualization

Q: What types of hardware devices can I access with Active Port Pro?

A: Active Port Pro allows you to access a wide range of hardware devices, including:

  • ISA and PCI devices
  • COM and LPT ports
  • CMOS memory
  • BIOS data area
  • Other hardware devices that use i/o ports

Q: Is Active Port Pro compatible with all operating systems of the Windows family?

A: Yes, Active Port Pro is compatible with all operating systems of the Windows family, including:

  • Windows 95
  • Windows 98
  • Windows Me
  • Windows NT
  • Windows 2000
  • Windows XP
  • Windows 2003
  • Windows Vista
  • Windows 7
  • Windows 8
  • Windows 10

Q: Can I use Active Port Pro with .NET languages?

A: Yes, Active Port Pro is compatible with all .NET languages, including:

  • C#
  • Visual Basic .NET
  • C++/CLI
  • F#

Q: How do I get started with Active Port Pro?

A: To get started with Active Port Pro, simply download and install the control, and then drag and drop it onto your form. You can then use the control's properties and methods to access hardware devices and perform other tasks.

Q: What kind of support does Active Port Pro offer?

A: Active Port Pro offers a range of support options, including:

  • Online documentation and tutorials
  • Sample code and examples
  • Technical support via email and phone
  • Regular updates and bug fixes

Q: Is Active Port Pro a free control?

A: No, Active Port Pro is a commercial control that requires a license fee. However, a free trial version is available for download, allowing you to test the control before purchasing a license.

Q: Can I use Active Port Pro in commercial applications?

A: Yes, Active Port Pro is licensed for use in commercial applications. However, you must obtain a commercial license and agree to the terms of the license agreement.

Conclusion

Active Port Pro is a powerful tool for Windows developers, allowing them to access hardware resources and perform complex operations with ease. With its compatibility with all commonly used programming languages and operating systems of the Windows family, Active Port Pro is an essential tool for any Windows developer. If you have any further questions or need more information, please don't hesitate to contact us.