FEATURES
changeset 1319 38da03647aee
parent 1083 1322dc34cb37
child 1320 9ddbfb2f284d
equal deleted inserted replaced
1318:76b4014391bd 1319:38da03647aee
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     3 This is the FEATURES file of the IgH EtherCAT Master.
     3 This is the FEATURES file of the IgH EtherCAT Master.
     4 
     4 
     5 $Id$
     5 $Id$
     6 
     6 
       
     7 vim: spelllang=en spell
       
     8 
     7 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     9 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
     8 
    10 
     9 General Features:
    11 General Features:
    10 
    12 
    11 * Runs as kernel module for Linux 2.6.
    13 * EtherCAT master implementation conforming to IEC/PAS 62407.
       
    14   - Runs as kernel module for Linux 2.6.
       
    15   - Multiple masters possible on one machine.
    12 
    16 
    13 * Comes with EtherCAT-capable network driver for serveral network interface
    17 * EtherCAT-capable versions of standard Linux drivers for wide-spread
    14   cards.
    18   Ethernet devices.
    15   - Interrupt-less network driver operation.
    19   - Interrupt-less operation of Ethernet devices.
    16   - Easy implementation of additional network drivers through common device
    20   - Easy implementation of additional Ethernet drivers through common device
    17     interface of the master.
    21     interface of the master.
    18   - Runs even with PCMCIA cards.
    22   - Operation possible with any device supported by the standard drivers,
       
    23     including PCMCIA devices.
    19 
    24 
    20 * Supports multiple EtherCAT masters on one machine.
    25 * Supports any realtime environment through independent architecture.
       
    26   - RTAI, Xenomai, RT-Preempt, etc.
       
    27   - Operation possible even without any realtime extension.
    21 
    28 
    22 * Supports any realtime extension through independent architecture.
    29 * Common API for Realtime-Applications in kernel- and userspace.
    23   - RTAI, IPIPE, ADEOS, etc.
    30   - Requesting and releasing masters.
    24   - Runs well even without realtime extension.
    31   - Dynamic slave configuration, even for slaves that are offline.
    25 
    32   - Detailed configuration of the slaves' Pdos and Sdos.
    26 * Common kernel interface for realtime modules using EtherCAT functionality.
    33   - Creation of process data domains (see below). Registration of Pdo entries
    27   - Synchronous transmission and reception of EtherCAT frames.
    34     for exchange within a domain.
       
    35   - Monitoring the states of masters, slave configurations and domains.
       
    36   - Sdo handlers for application-triggered CoE transfers (see below).
       
    37   - VoE handlers for Vendor-specific mailbox protocols (see below).
       
    38   - Similar userspace implementation of the kernel API via a C-library.
    28   - Avoidance of unnecessary copy operations for process data.
    39   - Avoidance of unnecessary copy operations for process data.
    29 
    40 
    30 * Separating slave groups through domains.
    41 * Separating slave groups through domains.
    31   - Handling of multiple slave groups with different sampling rates.
    42   - Handling of multiple slave groups with different sampling rates.
    32   - Automatic calculation of process data mapping, FMMU- and sync manager
    43   - Automatic calculation of process data mapping, FMMU- and sync manager
    33     configuration within the domains.
    44     configuration within the domains.
       
    45   - Process data exchange can be monitored via a per-domain mechanism.
    34 
    46 
    35 * Master finite state machine (FSM).
    47 * Master finite state machine (FSM).
    36   - Bus monitoring during realtime operation.
    48   - The same state machine runs when the master is idle and also when an
    37   - Automatic reconfiguration of slaves on bus power failure during realtime
    49     application is connected.
    38     operation.
    50   - Bus monitoring. Slave states are read cyclically. Automatic scanning of the
    39   - Setting slave states during realtime operation.
    51     bus on a topology change.
    40 
    52   - Automatic configuration of slaves, if a application-layer state change is
    41 * Special IDLE mode, when master is not in use.
    53     requested.
    42   - Automatic scanning of slaves upon topology changes.
       
    43   - Bus visualisation and EoE processing without realtime process connected.
       
    44 
    54 
    45 * Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) protocol.
    55 * Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) protocol.
    46   - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves via Sdo interface.
    56   - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves.
    47   - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
    57   - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
    48   - Sdo access via the realtime interface.
    58   - Sdo transfers via the application interface and the command-line tool.
    49 
    59 
    50 * Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) protocol.
    60 * Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) protocol.
    51   - Creates virtual network devices that are automatically coupled to
    61   - Creates a virtual network interface for any EoE-capable	slave.
    52     EoE-capable	slaves.
    62   - Natively supports either a switched or a routed EoE network
    53   - Thus natively supports either a switched or a routed EoE network
    63     architecture.
    54     architecture with standard GNU/Linux tools.
       
    55 
    64 
    56 * User space interface via a command-line tool 'ethercat'.
    65 * Userspace command-line tool 'ethercat'.
    57   - Detailed information about master, slaves and the bus configuration.
    66   - Detailed information about master, slaves, domains and bus configuration.
    58   - Slave SII reading and writing.
    67   - Reading/Writing alias addresses.
       
    68   - Listing slave configurations.
       
    69   - Viewing process data.
       
    70   - Sdo download/upload; listing Sdo dictionaries.
       
    71   - Access to slave registers.
       
    72   - Slave SII (EEPROM) access.
       
    73   - Requesting application-layer states.
       
    74   - Generation of slave description XML from existing slaves.
    59 
    75 
    60 * Seamless integration in your favourite GNU/Linux distibution.
    76 * Seamless integration in any GNU/Linux distribution.
    61   - Master and network device configuration via sysconfig files.
    77   - Master and Ethernet device configuration via sysconfig file.
    62   - "Linux standard base"-compatible init script for master control.
    78   - "Linux standard base"-compatible init script for master control.
    63 
    79 
    64 * Virtual read-only network interface for debugging purposes and for
    80 * Virtual read-only network interface for debugging and traffic monitoring
    65   monitoring the EtherCAT traffic (through Wireshark, or others).
    81   purposes (using Wireshark, etc.). No additional hardware necessary.
    66 
    82 
    67 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    83 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------