FEATURES
branchstable-1.4
changeset 1679 c9abd45c7472
parent 1083 1322dc34cb37
child 1686 e206f4485f60
equal deleted inserted replaced
1678:8bcf058035db 1679:c9abd45c7472
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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.
    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 without any realtime extension at all.
    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).
    28   - Avoidance of unnecessary copy operations for process data.
    37   - Avoidance of unnecessary copy operations for process data.
    29 
    38 
    30 * Separating slave groups through domains.
    39 * Separating slave groups through domains.
    31   - Handling of multiple slave groups with different sampling rates.
    40   - Handling of multiple slave groups with different sampling rates.
    32   - Automatic calculation of process data mapping, FMMU- and sync manager
    41   - Automatic calculation of process data mapping, FMMU- and sync manager
    33     configuration within the domains.
    42     configuration within the domains.
       
    43   - Process data exchange can be monitored via a per-domain mechanism.
    34 
    44 
    35 * Master finite state machine (FSM).
    45 * Master finite state machine (FSM).
    36   - Bus monitoring during realtime operation.
    46   - The same state machine runs both in idle mode and in realtime operation.
    37   - Automatic reconfiguration of slaves on bus power failure during realtime
    47   - Bus monitoring: Slave states are read cyclically. Automatic scanning of the
    38     operation.
    48     bus after a topology change.
    39   - Setting slave states during realtime operation.
    49   - Automatic configuration of slaves, if a application-layer state change is
       
    50     requested.
    40 
    51 
    41 * Special IDLE mode, when master is not in use.
    52 * Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) mailbox protocol.
    42   - Automatic scanning of slaves upon topology changes.
    53   - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves.
    43   - Bus visualisation and EoE processing without realtime process connected.
    54   - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
       
    55   - Sdo transfers both via the application interface and the command-line tool.
    44 
    56 
    45 * Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) protocol.
    57 * Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) mailbox protocol.
    46   - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves via Sdo interface.
    58   - Virtual network interface for any EoE-capable slave.
    47   - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
    59   - Both a switched and a routed EoE network architecture is natively supported
    48   - Sdo access via the realtime interface.
    60     and configurable with standard tools.
    49 
    61 
    50 * Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) protocol.
    62 * Userspace command-line tool 'ethercat'.
    51   - Creates virtual network devices that are automatically coupled to
    63   - Detailed information about master, slaves, domains and bus configuration.
    52     EoE-capable	slaves.
    64   - Reading/Writing alias addresses.
    53   - Thus natively supports either a switched or a routed EoE network
    65   - Listing slave configurations.
    54     architecture with standard GNU/Linux tools.
    66   - Viewing process data.
       
    67   - Sdo download/upload; listing Sdo dictionaries.
       
    68   - Slave SII (EEPROM) access.
       
    69   - Controlling application-layer states.
       
    70   - Generation of slave description XML from existing slaves.
    55 
    71 
    56 * User space interface via a command-line tool 'ethercat'.
    72 * Seamless integration in any GNU/Linux distribution.
    57   - Detailed information about master, slaves and the bus configuration.
    73   - "Linux Standard Base"-compatible init script for master control.
    58   - Slave SII reading and writing.
    74   - Master and Ethernet device configuration via sysconfig file.
    59 
    75 
    60 * Seamless integration in your favourite GNU/Linux distibution.
    76 * Virtual read-only network interface for debugging and traffic monitoring
    61   - Master and network device configuration via sysconfig files.
    77   purposes (using Wireshark, etc.). No additional hardware necessary.
    62   - "Linux standard base"-compatible init script for master control.
       
    63 
       
    64 * Virtual read-only network interface for debugging purposes and for
       
    65   monitoring the EtherCAT traffic (through Wireshark, or others).
       
    66 
    78 
    67 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    79 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------