SBS 2008 stealing serial port?

Sp00n · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:15

I have an issue where on reboot, something is getting in the way of my GFI faxmaker service as it cannot talk to the fax modem on the serial port. The workaround is to uninstall the com port and reinstall and then this resolves the issue until the next reboot.

Usually this kind of thing is caused by UPS software trying to communicate on the com port but that's not installed on this server at all.

Its pretty standard software wise with backup exec, sage and exchange and thats about it.

Is there a program I could use to see what is using the com port?

Its a Dell PE2900 if that makes any difference, do they have some kind of port monitoring setup in the BIOS?

Little_Crow · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:27

I'm not massively familiar with SBS 2008, but it looks like it includes a fax system.

Could it be that this is starting up and grabbing the serial port, before GFI faxmaker can?

Sp00n · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:32

I've checked through all of the services and the management console to see if the sbs fax service is on but it doesn't look like it to me.

Sin_Chase · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:39

Stopped the bog standard Windows UPS stuff too?

Sp00n · 7 Aug 2009 at 14:41

2008 doesn't have built in UPS support anymore

Sp00n · 7 Aug 2009 at 16:26

I found the little blighter!

There was a SagePDFprinter setup for whatever reason on COM1, looking through the event viewer the print spooler started before the GFI faxmaker service so it would take hold of com1 and not release until uninstalling and reinstalling the com port.

Typical!