> I understand running a bootloader from a pc through it's serial port to a
> pic.  However, I don't know anything about web programming - I would like
> to know if it is possible to run a bootloader via the web.
> We would like a customer to be able to access our web site and update
> their software without any special equipment other than a serial cable.
> I don't know if a web app can access the serial port on a remote pc - if
> so, then it seems a bootloader set up would be the ideal way to
> accomplish this.

The customer has to cooperate to some degree.  Normal security deliberately
prevent Java applets or whatever from accessing system files, devices, etc.
You could make this very simple by providing a self contained EXE file that
the customer can run.  Of course that will be platform dependent.

> Also, if a web app CAN access remote serial ports, can it query all the
> com ports to see if the bootloader pic is properly attached?  Or does
> this pose some risk to the remote pc?

I wouldn't do this.  You could mess up an unknown device attached to a
serial port that you query.  It would be better to have the customer select
the COM port that the PIC is attached to.  You should still check for the
PIC out there, but at least if it confuses some other device it will be
harder to blame you since the customer chose the wrong port.


********************************************************************
Olin Lathrop, embedded systems consultant in Littleton Massachusetts
(978) 742-9014, olin@embedinc.com, http://www.embedinc.com

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