Softick PPP - Configuring Softick PPP for using with Sony Clies

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USB Port sharing

Standard Serial (COM) ports, parallel ports generally aren't shareable. This means that only one application can "listen" to the port, accept and send data to it. In case another application needs to send data to the port, it should wait until the first application releases the port.

PalmSource has implemented a simple port sharing for USB ports on the Palm OS Platform. Palm OS application can specify so called function ID that identies an application in unique way. Before starting communication, desktop application can query active application function ID to check what an application tries to establish connection with desktop. That's why when you press HotSync button HotSync desktop application is started, and when you attempt to establish PPP connection, Softick PPP accepts it without any user intervention.

Unfortunately, this feature wasn't implemented on most Sony Clies. It is even worse if two applications (for example HotSync and Softick PPP) try to open USB port at the same time, as palmusbd.sys crashes your system.

Exclusive USB Port usage

To workaround this problem Softick PPP (staring from 2.06) has "Exclusive USB" mode. This mode can be turned on from USB Page in Softick PPP configuration dialog. In this mode Softick PPP doesn't try to accept connections from Palm device when HotSync application is active. To let Softick PPP accept connections right click on Softick PPP tray icon and select "Activate PPP" menu item. Softick PPP will shutdown HotSync Manager to prevent system crashes. After that you can try to establish PPP connection from your handheld. When you need to synchronize your Palm powered device select "Shutdown PPP" from menu. Softick PPP will re-launch HotSync manager.

Network HotSync

To avoid Activate PPP/Shutdown PPP switch you may turn OFF USB Exclusive mode and Turn OFF USB connection in HotSync manager. To synchronize your PDA you may use Network HotSync mode. But network HotSync often is slower then HotSync over USB.

If you are going to use Network HotSync on Palm OS 5 device please read the Network HotSync on Palm OS5

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