Virtual multi-process CAN on Windows

[ptoews]

Are there any options for this? virtual works only within the process, and udp_multicast is not supported on Windows.
Usually we use e.g. socketcan with real hardware, however we need something for simulation and testing, currently we have to jump on a Linux machine for that.

[pedrotrenado]

Two options that work across processes on Windows:

• Vector virtual channels. If the Vector driver (XL Driver Library) is installed, it provides virtual CAN channels even without Vector hardware, and they are shared by every process that opens them. Check the channel index with Vector Hardware Config, then open it with can.Bus(interface="vector", channel=<index>, app_name=None) in each process.
• A small bridge process. Run one process that owns a virtual bus and relays frames to the others over TCP or a local socket. This is a few dozen lines with socket and can.Message, and it keeps everything in pure Python.

udp_multicast would be the natural fit, but as you noted it isn't supported on Windows.