Mac OS X Prolific PL2303 driver project

Introduction

The goal of this project is to provide a Prolific PL2303 USB serial adapter driver for Mac OS X. This chip is used in various devices like usb serial dongles and as cheap embedded USB bridge in cellphones, GPS receivers and other applications with low data traffic.

Features

This driver implements the common necessary features for a serial connection:
- Unix filedescriptor access (/dev/cu.PL2303-xxx, /dev/tty.PL2303-xxx)
- Different baudrates (like 1200, 4800, 9600, 19200, 115200, 230400)
- Different databytes (5, 6, 7, 8)
- Different stopbits (1, 2)
- Parity check (none, odd, even)
- Manual handshake signal control (RTS, DTR, CTS, DSR, CD, RI)
- Embedded software or hardware handshake
- Sending break signal
- Supports a large range of manufacturers like: ATEN, Prolific, IOData, Elcom, Itegno, Ma620, Ratoc,
Tripp, Radioshack, Dcu10, SiteCom, Alcatel, Samsung, Siemens, Syntech, Speed Dragon Multimedia (MS3303H) and Nokia.

Installation

The driver can be obtained from here. Download the diskimage (dmg) of the latest release. This image contains the installer for the driver. Double click on the icon of the installer to start it. The installer will guide you through the installation process. Finally reboot the machine, although it is possible to load the driver without rebooting via kextload.

Deinstallation

There is no util to support the deinstallation process. Removing the driver can be done manually. Execute the following steps to remove the driver:
- open a terminal
- type: kextunload /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext/
- The command prompt asks for your administrator password
- type: sudo rm -r /System/Library/Extensions/osx-pl2303.kext/
- The command prompt asks for your administrator password
- type: sudo rm -r /Library/Receipts/osx-pl2303.pkg/
- The driver should be uninstalled.

Development

This project is developped in C++ using the XCode 2.2 environment of Apple Computer, inc. The source code including the project descriptor files can be obtained from the project site via Subversion. For debug purposes it is possible to uncommment DEBUG and DATALOG defines in the file osx_pl2303.cpp. Apple's USB Prober can be used to view the debug logs. The current state of this driver is Beta. Please report bugs!

Project page