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VBar Software and macOS Big Sur

These days, Apple has released the latest version of macOS.
With this version, amongst other changes, Apple has ended support for legacy system extensions (Kernel Extensions, kexts), which means, the USB driver needed for the USB controller on legacy VBars as well as for VBar NEO does no longer work.
There is a newer driver available from the supplier of these USB controllers, but it does not/yet work with our devices.
We can not yet tell if or when this can be fixed, and with which effort.
 
The software itself works, you just might need to install Java.
 
This means, VBar Control Manager works and can be used to register, update and manage VBar devices, but not the VBar NEO Setup Software.
 
But we can offer some hints:
  • if an update is not necessary on the computer in question, it can be postponed
  • if you want to or need to update, please mind that VBar Software does no longer run (and probably also other legacy software/devices, which rely on deprecated technologies)
  • if you buy a new computer … well, rather self-explaining :-)
There are options:
  • install an older version of macOS or even a Windows in a different partition on your Mac, or on an external hard drive, set it up just for mail and internet (Apple ID, Cloud), and install and use the VBar software there as before
    Recommendation: not newer than macOS Mojave, because there, also VBar 5.3 and even 4.0 software will run, if you still want to / need to use these considerably old versions -> how to do? There are umpteen web sites and video tutorials available on the internet which cover this topic #google
  • use Parallels (seems to already support macOS Big Sur) to install and run Windows or better, macOS in a window, as a virtual machine, on your Mac -> More information
  • in the future, probably also other virtualization software will support macOS Big Sur, like VMware Fusion, Oracle Virtual Box, offering more choice
  • use VBar Control Touch and a smart phone, tablet, or your Mac, to manage devices, buy updates, and install via radio link
The next big thing will be the switch to Apple Silicon, away from Intel CPUs—with some transition time, older Applications will be supported for some time, but for how long, and also how virtualization will work then, can’t be told today.