ReadyFlow - Board Support Package

Users of card-cage based instrumentation often find themselves frustrated by the fact that when their new devices are delivered, they are unable to put them to immediate use. Because these instruments are largely software controlled, a certain amount of programming is generally necessary in order to put the new cards through their paces. Then, if something does not go as planned, there is no way of knowing for sure whether the problem lies with the new code you’ve written, or with the hardware itself.

To address this issue, Pentek has developed the ReadyFlow Board Support Package for all its board-level products. These packages:

Provide development tools for quick start-up through application completion
Allow programming at high, intermediate and low levels to meet various needs
Are illustrated with numerous examples
Include complete source code for all board functions
Include complete documentation and definitions of all functions

What’s Included in the Package

In general, functions appropriate to the board-level product, such as:

A “How to” section

Build object libraries
Compile and link application programs

C-callable functions

Initialization and test
Data movement and communications
Backplane I/O
Mezzanine peripheral I/O
Control of board resources

Utilities

Flash memory program loaders

The package contains C-language examples that can be used to demonstrate the capabilities of Pentek products. The examples included provide the answers to most of the questions that occur with first-time users of our products. These programming examples will also help you get an immediate start on writing your own application without having to reinvent the wheel. They provide sample code that is known to work, giving you, the new user, a means of verifying that your board set is operational.

ReadyFlow Board Support Packages are designed to reduce development time not only during the initial stages, but any time new hardware is added to the system. All packages are built with a consistent style and function naming convention. Similar parameters on different boards have similar function calls, thereby allowing immediate familiarity with new hardware as it’s added, further shortening the learning curve.

What Development Environments are Supported?

The ReadyFlow Board Support Package for C6000 processor boards is written to work seamlessly with the Texas Instruments DSP/BIOS real-time kernel which is included free of charge with TI’s Code Composer Studio.

Developers using PowerPCbased embedded processor boards have traditionally used either Wind River’s VxWorks environment, supported by the Pentek Model 4996 VxWorks Board Support Package, or a Linux environment. ReadyFlow offers an additional option: integrated support for eCos, an open source, royalty-free, real-time operating system intended for embedded applications.

eCos-based applications can be developed with GNU open source development tools including the GCC C-language compiler, GDB debugger and Insight GUI interface for GDB. ReadyFlow packages for PowerPC-based processor boards include the board support package, a complete distribution of eCos, GNU code development tools, complete documentation and example applications.

Embedded Configurable Operating System (eCos)

ReadyFlow offers PowerPC software developers a powerful new option for embedded application development. ReadyFlow includes integrated support for eCos, an open source, royalty-free, real-time operating system intended for embedded applications. As an alternative to costly operating systems, eCos-based applications can be developed with free GNU open source development tools including the GCC C-language compiler, GDB debugger and Insight GUI interface for GDB.

ReadyFlow packages for PowerPC based processor boards include an eCos enabled board support package, a complete istribution of eCos, GNU code development tools, complete documentation and example applications.

eCos Core Components

Designed as a full-featured, real-time operating system, eCos delivers a complete suite of functions needed in many embedded applications including:

Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL) -provides a software layer that gives access to hardware.
Kernel - includes interrupt and exception handling, thread and synchronization support, a choice of scheduler implementations, timers, counters and alarms.
ISO C and Math Libraries - provide standard compatibility with function calls.
Device Drivers - include standard serial, Ethernet, Flash ROM, and others.
GDB support - provides target software for communication with a GDB host enabling application debugger.

eCos is Highly Configurable

A key feature of eCos is its highly configurable design. The kernel is scalable to include only the components needed for a specific application, allowing a small efficient footprint for simple applications, or a full-featured configuration for more complex systems. In addition, eCos can be built without an actual kernel for applications that might not need multitasking, further reducing the memory footprint and improving execution speed.

eCos configuration is performed through the graphical configuration tool shown below. The user interface displays the properties of each component including parameters, switches, sizes, component description, etc. thereby allowing developers to easily rebuild the kernel as needed.

Kernel Benchmarks

Applications developed with eCos can benefit from excellent kernel run time performance. Below are timing benchmarks generated on the Model 4205 MPC7457 I/O processor board running at 1 GHz and configured with a 2 Mbyte L3 cache:

Function		Average Time (usec)
Thread Switch		0.59
Put or Get Mailbox		0.29
Mailbox Put/Get		0.77
Post Semaphore		0.14
Wait Semaphore		0.16
Post/Wait Semaphore		0.80
Wait for Flag [AND]		0.21

eCos Features

Real-time performance
Low interrupt latency
Low task switching latency
Small memory footprint
Deterministic behavior
Highly configurable
Full feature set
Open source kernel
No runtime licensing, fees or royalties
Open source GNU development tools

eCos

Products Supporting ReadyFlow Software

Model 9220 - Triple PMC Expansion Module for VMEbus
Model 7842-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7842 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs, x8 PCIe
Model 7841-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7841-420 - GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7841 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7840 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, x8 PCIe
Model 7742D-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742D - 8-Ch A/D, 2-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7742-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7742 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ V4 FPGAs - PCIe
Model 7741D-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7741D-420 - GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7741D - Quad Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7741-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCIe
Model 7741-420 - GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Interpolation Filter - PCIe
Model 7741 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7740 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA - PCIe
Model 7642-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7642 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PCI
Model 7641-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PCI
Model 7641 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7640-420 - GateFlow Transceiver WB DDC & Interpolation - PCI
Model 7640 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PCI with FPGA
Model 7342-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7342 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 3U CPCI
Model 7341-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7341-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 3U cPCI
Model 7341 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7340-430 - GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 3U cPCI
Model 7340-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 3U cPCI
Model 7340 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 3U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7242D-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7242 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/Virtex-4 FPGAs 6U CPCI
Model 7241D-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7241D-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7241D - Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7241-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - cPCI
Model 7241-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7241 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240D-430 - GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7240D-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7240D - Quad Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7240-430 - GateFlow Transceiver w/256-Ch NB DDC - 6U cPCI
Model 7240-420 - GateFlow Transceiver w/WB DDC & Interpolation - 6U cPCI
Model 7240 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter 6U cPCI with FPGA
Model 7142-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7142 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs PMC/XMC
Model 7141-703 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter Ruggedized PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7141-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PMC/XMC
Model 7141-420 - GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Interpolation Filter PMC/XMC
Model 7141 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7140-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - PMC/XMC
Model 7140-420 - GateFlow Transceiver WB DDC & Interpolation - PMC/XMC
Model 7140 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter PMC/XMC with FPGA
Model 7131 - 16-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D PMC Module
Model 6890 - 2.2 GHz VME Clock, Sync & Gate Distribution Board
Model 6826 - Dual 2 GHz, 10-bit A/D VME Board w/Virtex-II Pro
Model 6822 - Dual 215 MHz A/D Converter VME Board w/FPDP Output
Model 6821-422 - 215 MHz A/D and Digital Receiver Installed Core
Model 6821 - 215 MHz A/D Converter VME Board w/FPDP Output
Model 6532 - 32 Channel 4 Input Narrowband Digital Receiver
Model 6256 - Dual/Quad 105 MHz A/D w/Virtex-II Pro FPGA VIM-2
Model 6251 - Configurable Logic & I/O Virtex-II Pro FPGA VIM-2
Model 6250-404 - Configurable Logic FPGA VIM-2 w/4K FFT & FPDP I/O
Model 6250 - Configurable Logic FPGA VIM-2 Module with FPDP I/O
Model 6236-421 - 14-Bit A/D with Wideband Receiver Installed Core
Model 6236 - 14-Bit A/D & FPGA VIM-2 w/Opt. Digital Receivers
Model 6235-421 - 12-Bit A/D with Wideband Receiver Installed Core
Model 6235-404 - Dual Wideband 4k FFT Receiver VIM-2 Module
Model 6235-401 - Dual Wideband 1k FFT Receiver VIM-2 Module
Model 6235 - 2-Ch. Wideband Dig. Receiver + A/D VIM-2 w/FPGA
Model 6232 - 32-Ch. Narrowband Dig Receiver VIM-4 w/FPDP Inputs w/FPGA
Model 6231 - 16-Channel Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D VIM-2 w/FPGA
Model 6230 - 32-Channel Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D VIM-4 w/FPGA
Model 6229 - Dual Digital Upconverter and D/A VIM-2 Module
Model 6228 - 4-Ch. D/A, Digital Upconverter & FPGA VIM-2 Module
Model 6227 - Parallel Digital I/O VIM-2 Module
Model 6226 - Front Panel Data Port (FPDP) Adapter VIM-2 Module
Model 6223 - 'C40 Comm Port Adapter VIM-2 Module
Model 6216 - Wideband Digital Receiver and A/D Converter VIM-2
Model 6215 - 8 Channel 16-bit 234 kHz A/D Converter VIM-2 Module
Model 6211 - 2 Channel 12-bit 65 MHz A/D Converter VIM-2 Module
Model 6210 - Narrowband Digital Receiver & A/D Converter VIM-2
Model 6099A - 64-512 MByte High-Speed Buffer Memory VME Board
Model 5342-428 - GateFlow Transceiver with Multiband DDC & Interpolation Filter - 3U VPX
Model 5342 - 4-Ch A/D, 1-Ch D/A w/ Virtex-4 FPGAs - 3U VPX
Model 5341-430 - GateFlow Transceiver with 256-Ch NB DDC - 3U VPX
Model 5341-420 - GateFlow Transceiver with WB DDC & Interpolation Filter - 3U VPX
Model 5341 - Dual Digital Up/Downconverter with FPGA, 3U VPX
Model 5331 - 16-Ch Multiband Digital Receiver & A/D - 3U VPX
Model 4293 - Octal C6203 DSP VME Board
Model 4292 - Quad C6203 DSP VME Board
Model 4205 - VIM/PMC Carrier and MPC7457 PowerPC VME Board