Using Communications Applications When RAS Server is Running

 Last reviewed: January 19, 1996
Article ID: Q126437
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 3.5
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 3.5

SUMMARY

You may be unable to access a serial port in a communication application while the Windows NT Remote Access Service (RAS) server software is running. For example, if the RAS server service is running, and you have configured RAS so that your modem on COM1 accepts RAS dial-in, the following error message appears if you attempt to use COM1 in Windows NT Terminal: 

   The selected COM port is either not supported or is
   being used by another device.

   Select another port.
You can temporarily disable the RAS server service, so you can use the COM port to dial out using another communications application, by writing a simple batch file.

MORE INFORMATION

Use the following batch file to temporarily stop the RAS server service and run Windows NT Terminal: 

   net stop remoteaccess
 c:\winnt\system32\terminal.exe
   net start remoteaccess
Save the batch file and create an icon for it. The batch file disables the RAS server service, making the port available for dial- out, and then restarts the RAS server service once you quit your communications application.

NOTE: This procedure is not necessary if you dial-out using the RAS client software. The RAS client temporarily disables the RAS server service so that the port can be used for dialing-out.

Stopping the RAS server service stops the service for all serial ports that have been configured to allow dial-in. If you have multiple ports configured for dial-in, you may want to reserve one of the ports for dial- out by not configuring it to allow RAS dial-in, rather than disabling the RAS server service.

Only user accounts that have permission to start and stop a service can use this workaround.

KBCategory: kbnetwork
KBSubcategory: ntras
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.50 prodnt

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Last reviewed: January 19, 1996
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