Deploy: --pipe trim -- named-pipe serials to vRIO/vPLASMA for every mode

Dev-rig policy (2026-07-17): everything on the dev machine runs named pipes
to vRIO until Real-RIO testing -- no com0com. pod-launch --pipe selects the
<mode>_pipe conf (serial1=namedpipe pipe:vrio, serial2=namedpipe
pipe:vplasma); pipe variants of all three deploy templates (auto-staged/
rendered) + a dev-tree net_loop_pipe.conf beside the existing RP one.
Requires the vRIO dist >= 20260716-68e3d1f (VRioPipeService/
VPlasmaPipeService landed there). Arcade cockpits with the physical RIO
keep the plain COM-port confs.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Fable 5 <noreply@anthropic.com>

emulator/deploy/net_loop_pipe.conf.tmpl

@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+# DEPLOY TEMPLATE -- rendered to net_loop_pipe.conf by deploy/configure.ps1 at install.
+# PIPE TRIM: serial1/2 are NAMED PIPES to vRIO (pipe:vrio) + vPLASMA
+# (pipe:vplasma) -- the dev-rig default (launch: pod-launch <mode> --pipe;
+# vRIO dist >= 20260716-68e3d1f speaks the pipe). Arcade cockpits with the
+# REAL RIO/plasma on COM ports use the non-_pipe confs.
+# Tokens (filled by postinstall): @@ROOT@@ = package dir (C:\games\<folder>),
+# @@REALNIC@@ = this pod's NIC GUID fragment, @@MACADDR@@ = stable derived MAC.
+# BattleTech, GO.BAT-style netnub loop (pod stays connected + picks up missions).
+[sdl]
+output=opengl
+priority=highest,highest
+[dosbox]
+memsize=32
+machine=svga_s3
+[cpu]
+core=dynamic
+cputype=pentium
+cycles=max
+[ne2000]
+ne2000=true
+nicbase=340
+# IRQ 10, NOT 3: COM2 (plasma) owns IRQ 3 in-game.
+nicirq=10
+macaddr=@@MACADDR@@
+backend=pcap
+[ethernet, pcap]
+realnic=@@REALNIC@@
+[sblaster]
+sbtype=sb16
+sbbase=220
+irq=5
+dma=1
+hdma=5
+[mixer]
+rate=44100
+blocksize=1024
+prebuffer=60
+[serial]
+serial1=namedpipe pipe:vrio rxpollus:100 rxburst:16
+serial2=namedpipe pipe:vplasma
+[autoexec]
+mount c "@@ROOT@@\ALPHA_1"
+mount d "@@ROOT@@\net-boot"
+d:
+echo === loading NE2000 packet-driver stack (pcap/bridge, port 340) ===
+d:\lsl
+d:\ne2000
+d:\odipkt
+c:
+cd \rel410\bt
+set VIDEOFORMAT=svga
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A240 I7 D3 H6 P300 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+set TEMP=c:\
+set HEAPSIZE=15000000
+set L4GAUGE=640x480x16
+call setenv.bat r f s p
+echo === entering GO.BAT-style netnub loop (waits for console missions) ===
+call d:\loop.bat

emulator/deploy/net_rp_pipe.conf.tmpl

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# DEPLOY TEMPLATE -- rendered to net_rp_pipe.conf by deploy/configure.ps1 at install.
+# PIPE TRIM: serial1/2 are NAMED PIPES to vRIO (pipe:vrio) + vPLASMA
+# (pipe:vplasma) -- the dev-rig default (launch: pod-launch <mode> --pipe;
+# vRIO dist >= 20260716-68e3d1f speaks the pipe). Arcade cockpits with the
+# REAL RIO/plasma on COM ports use the non-_pipe confs.
+# Tokens (filled by postinstall): @@ROOT@@ = package dir (C:\games\<folder>),
+# @@REALNIC@@ = this pod's NIC GUID fragment, @@MACADDR@@ = stable derived MAC.
+# Red Planet 4.10, networked pod boot (console pushes the mission egg over TCP).
+# Loops netnub (loop_rp.bat) so the pod stays connected + picks up missions;
+# runs until the supervisor (pod-launch) kills DOSBox. No single-shot in deploy.
+[sdl]
+output=opengl
+priority=highest,highest
+[dosbox]
+memsize=32
+machine=svga_s3
+[cpu]
+core=dynamic
+cputype=pentium
+cycles=max
+[ne2000]
+ne2000=true
+nicbase=340
+nicirq=10
+macaddr=@@MACADDR@@
+backend=pcap
+[ethernet, pcap]
+realnic=@@REALNIC@@
+[sblaster]
+sbtype=sb16
+sbbase=220
+irq=5
+dma=1
+hdma=5
+[mixer]
+rate=44100
+blocksize=1024
+prebuffer=60
+[serial]
+serial1=namedpipe pipe:vrio rxpollus:100 rxburst:16
+serial2=namedpipe pipe:vplasma
+[autoexec]
+mount c "@@ROOT@@\ALPHA_1"
+mount d "@@ROOT@@\net-boot"
+d:
+echo === loading NE2000 packet-driver stack (pcap/bridge, port 340) ===
+d:\lsl
+d:\ne2000
+d:\odipkt
+c:
+cd \rel410\rp
+set VIDEOFORMAT=svga
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A240 I7 D3 H6 P300 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+set TEMP=c:\
+set HEAPSIZE=15000000
+set L4GAUGE=640x480x16
+call setenv.bat r f s p
+echo === entering netnub loop (waits for console missions; supervisor kills to stop) ===
+call d:\loop_rp.bat

emulator/deploy/vwetest_pipe.conf.tmpl

@@ -0,0 +1,58 @@
+# DEPLOY TEMPLATE -- rendered to vwetest_pipe.conf by deploy/configure.ps1 at install.
+# PIPE TRIM: serial1/2 are NAMED PIPES to vRIO (pipe:vrio) + vPLASMA
+# (pipe:vplasma) -- the dev-rig default (launch: pod-launch <mode> --pipe;
+# vRIO dist >= 20260716-68e3d1f speaks the pipe). Arcade cockpits with the
+# REAL RIO/plasma on COM ports use the non-_pipe confs.
+# Tokens (filled by postinstall): @@ROOT@@ = package dir (C:\games\<folder>),
+# @@REALNIC@@ = this pod's NIC GUID fragment, @@MACADDR@@ = stable derived MAC.
+# VGL_LABS factory cockpit test suite: the stock C:\VWETEST\TEST.BAT chain
+# (DIAGNOSE + AWEUTIL /S on both AWE cards, SETSVGA, VGLTEST\TSTALL.EXE --
+# RIO, plasma, audio, video/Division calibration, Munga-net). Launch:
+# pod-launch test. AWEUTIL's WC-timed init needs the parity-safe EMU8000
+# sample-counter readback (vweawe.cpp, 2026-07-16) -- on older dosbox-x.exe
+# builds it hangs at AWEUTIL. Drops to a DOS prompt when the suite exits.
+[sdl]
+output=opengl
+priority=highest,highest
+[dosbox]
+memsize=32
+machine=svga_s3
+[cpu]
+core=dynamic
+cputype=pentium
+cycles=max
+[ne2000]
+ne2000=true
+nicbase=340
+# IRQ 10, NOT 3: COM2 (plasma) owns IRQ 3 in the suite, same as in-game.
+nicirq=10
+macaddr=@@MACADDR@@
+backend=pcap
+[ethernet, pcap]
+realnic=@@REALNIC@@
+[sblaster]
+sbtype=sb16
+sbbase=220
+irq=5
+dma=1
+hdma=5
+[mixer]
+rate=44100
+blocksize=1024
+prebuffer=60
+[serial]
+serial1=namedpipe pipe:vrio rxpollus:100 rxburst:16
+serial2=namedpipe pipe:vplasma
+[autoexec]
+mount c "@@ROOT@@\ALPHA_1"
+mount d "@@ROOT@@\net-boot"
+d:
+echo === loading NE2000 packet-driver stack (for the Munga-net tests) ===
+d:\lsl
+d:\ne2000
+d:\odipkt
+c:
+cd \vwetest
+echo === VGL_LABS cockpit test suite (stock TEST.BAT) ===
+call test.bat
+echo === test suite exited -- DOS prompt ===

emulator/net_loop_pipe.conf

@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+# Networked pod boot, GO.BAT-style loop (persistent: auto-relaunches netnub
+# after each mission/idle disconnect so the pod stays connected to the console
+# and picks up missions as the operator queues them -- mirrors the real pod's
+# GO.BAT). Same 0x340 NIC fix as net_full.conf (see that file's header).
+# FULL production parity (sound + plasma) as of 2026-07-08: the SBK re-upload
+# per mission is only ~30s (measured), and the instant netnub relaunch is what
+# lets the console recover its TCP session between missions WITHOUT an app
+# restart (netnub exits without FIN; a fast relaunch answers the console's
+# early retransmissions -- sitting at a DOS pause instead wedges the console
+# into multi-minute Mac TCP backoff; that is why retail looped).
+[sdl]
+output=opengl
+priority=highest,highest
+[dosbox]
+memsize=32
+machine=svga_s3
+[cpu]
+core=dynamic
+cputype=pentium
+cycles=max
+[ne2000]
+ne2000=true
+nicbase=340
+# IRQ 10, NOT 3: COM2 (plasma) owns IRQ 3 in-game; see net_full.conf.
+nicirq=10
+backend=pcap
+[ethernet, pcap]
+realnic=DB5521D
+[sblaster]
+sbtype=sb16
+sbbase=220
+irq=5
+dma=1
+hdma=5
+[mixer]
+rate=44100
+blocksize=1024
+prebuffer=60
+[serial]
+serial1=namedpipe pipe:vrio rxpollus:100 rxburst:16
+serial2=namedpipe pipe:vplasma
+[autoexec]
+mount c "C:\VWE\TeslaRel410\ALPHA_1"
+mount d "C:\VWE\TeslaRel410\emulator\net-boot"
+d:
+echo === loading NE2000 packet-driver stack (pcap/bridge, port 340) ===
+d:\lsl
+d:\ne2000
+d:\odipkt
+c:
+cd \rel410\bt
+set VIDEOFORMAT=svga
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A240 I7 D3 H6 P300 T6
+c:\sb16\diagnose /s
+set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
+set TEMP=c:\
+set HEAPSIZE=15000000
+set L4GAUGE=640x480x16
+call setenv.bat r f s p
+echo === entering GO.BAT-style netnub loop (waits for console missions) ===
+call d:\loop.bat

emulator/pod-launch/Options.cs

@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ namespace VwePod
 
         public bool NoBridge;
         public bool NoSound;
+        public bool Pipe;
         public bool Mipmap;
         public bool NoFocus;
         public bool DryRun;
@@ -76,6 +77,7 @@ namespace VwePod
                     case "--dosbox-xy": ParseWH(Next(a), out o.DosBoxX, out o.DosBoxY); dosboxXySet = true; break;
                     case "--no-bridge": o.NoBridge = true; break;
                     case "--no-sound": o.NoSound = true; break;
+                    case "--pipe": o.Pipe = true; break;
                     case "--mipmap": o.Mipmap = true; break;
                     case "--no-focus": o.NoFocus = true; break;
                     case "--dry-run": o.DryRun = true; break;
@@ -103,17 +105,20 @@ namespace VwePod
                 ?? throw new ArgumentException("dosbox-x.exe not found under root; pass --dosbox");
             o.DosBoxDir = Path.GetDirectoryName(o.DosBox);
 
-            o.Conf = confArg ?? FirstExisting(Path.Combine(o.Root, o.Mode.ConfBase + ".conf"));
+            // --pipe: the <mode>_pipe conf variant (serials as named pipes to
+            // vRIO/vPLASMA -- the dev-rig trim; real cockpits keep COM ports).
+            string confBase = o.Mode.ConfBase + (o.Pipe ? "_pipe" : "");
+            o.Conf = confArg ?? FirstExisting(Path.Combine(o.Root, confBase + ".conf"));
             if (o.Conf == null)
             {
                 // A .tmpl sitting there means the install was extracted but never
                 // configured -- point at the real fix, not at --conf.
-                bool unrendered = File.Exists(Path.Combine(o.Root, o.Mode.ConfBase + ".conf.tmpl"));
+                bool unrendered = File.Exists(Path.Combine(o.Root, confBase + ".conf.tmpl"));
                 throw new ArgumentException(unrendered
-                    ? o.Mode.ConfBase + ".conf not rendered yet: this install hasn't been configured.\n" +
+                    ? confBase + ".conf not rendered yet: this install hasn't been configured.\n" +
                       "Run postinstall.bat (elevated) from the extracted zip root, or:\n" +
                       "  powershell -File <install>\\deploy\\configure.ps1 -Root <install>"
-                    : o.Mode.ConfBase + ".conf not found under root; pass --conf");
+                    : confBase + ".conf not found under root; pass --conf");
             }
 
             o.RendererExe = rendererArg ?? FirstExisting(
@@ -182,6 +187,9 @@ namespace VwePod
   --no-sound             skip the ~4-min SoundFont upload. WARNING: no AWE32 =
                          no SOS ticks; bt/rp FREEZE at RIO init on the default
                          FAST-clock confs (only safe with a SLOW-clock conf)
+  --pipe                 use the <mode>_pipe conf: serial1/2 as named pipes to
+                         vRIO (pipe:vrio) + vPLASMA (pipe:vplasma). Dev-rig
+                         default trim; arcade cockpits keep real COM ports
   --mipmap               VRVIEW_MIPMAP=1 (RP floor shimmer fix; non-authentic)
   --no-focus             skip the window layout/focus pass
   --dry-run              resolve paths + print the launch plan, then exit");

emulator/pod-launch/README.md

@@ -70,6 +70,7 @@ see `../CAMERA-REVIEW-NOTES.md`. Default mode: `bt`.
 | `--layout cockpit\|explode` | `cockpit` = borderless VDB head windows (default); `explode` = 7-window debug |
 | `--no-bridge` | pod only, no GL render window |
 | `--no-focus` | skip the renderer-topmost / DOSBox-focus pass |
+| `--pipe` | use the `<mode>_pipe` conf: serials as named pipes to vRIO (`pipe:vrio`) + vPLASMA (`pipe:vplasma`), no com0com. **Dev-rig policy (2026-07-17): always `--pipe` on the dev machine** — vRIO dist ≥ `20260716-68e3d1f` speaks the pipe; the plain confs (real COM ports) are for cockpits with the physical RIO/plasma |
 
 ### Window placement (per-rig; normally fixed, overridable per-launch)