FEATURES.
--- a/FEATURES Tue Nov 25 13:32:20 2008 +0000
+++ b/FEATURES Wed Nov 26 10:35:43 2008 +0000
@@ -4,64 +4,76 @@
$Id$
+vim: spelllang=en spell
+
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General Features:
-* Runs as kernel module for Linux 2.6.
+* EtherCAT master implementation conforming to IEC/PAS 62407.
+ - Runs as kernel module for Linux 2.6.
+ - Multiple masters possible on one machine.
-* Comes with EtherCAT-capable network driver for serveral network interface
- cards.
- - Interrupt-less network driver operation.
- - Easy implementation of additional network drivers through common device
- interface of the master.
- - Runs even with PCMCIA cards.
+* EtherCAT-capable versions of standard Linux drivers for wide-spread
+ Ethernet devices.
+ - Interrupt-less operation of Ethernet devices.
+ - Easy implementation of additional Ethernet drivers through common device
+ interface.
+ - Operation possible with any device supported by the standard drivers,
+ including PCMCIA devices.
-* Supports multiple EtherCAT masters on one machine.
+* Supports any realtime environment through independent architecture.
+ - RTAI, Xenomai, RT-Preempt, etc.
+ - Operation possible without any realtime extension at all.
-* Supports any realtime extension through independent architecture.
- - RTAI, IPIPE, ADEOS, etc.
- - Runs well even without realtime extension.
-
-* Common kernel interface for realtime modules using EtherCAT functionality.
- - Synchronous transmission and reception of EtherCAT frames.
+* Common API for Realtime-Applications in kernel- and userspace.
+ - Requesting and releasing masters.
+ - Dynamic slave configuration, even for slaves that are offline.
+ - Detailed configuration of the slaves' Pdos and Sdos.
+ - Creation of process data domains (see below). Registration of Pdo entries
+ for exchange within a domain.
+ - Monitoring the states of masters, slave configurations and domains.
+ - Sdo handlers for application-triggered CoE transfers (see below).
- Avoidance of unnecessary copy operations for process data.
* Separating slave groups through domains.
- Handling of multiple slave groups with different sampling rates.
- Automatic calculation of process data mapping, FMMU- and sync manager
configuration within the domains.
+ - Process data exchange can be monitored via a per-domain mechanism.
* Master finite state machine (FSM).
- - Bus monitoring during realtime operation.
- - Automatic reconfiguration of slaves on bus power failure during realtime
- operation.
- - Setting slave states during realtime operation.
+ - The same state machine runs both in idle mode and in realtime operation.
+ - Bus monitoring: Slave states are read cyclically. Automatic scanning of the
+ bus after a topology change.
+ - Automatic configuration of slaves, if a application-layer state change is
+ requested.
-* Special IDLE mode, when master is not in use.
- - Automatic scanning of slaves upon topology changes.
- - Bus visualisation and EoE processing without realtime process connected.
+* Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) mailbox protocol.
+ - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves.
+ - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
+ - Sdo transfers both via the application interface and the command-line tool.
-* Implementation of the CANopen-over-EtherCAT (CoE) protocol.
- - Configuration of CoE-capable slaves via Sdo interface.
- - Sdo information service (dictionary listing).
- - Sdo access via the realtime interface.
+* Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) mailbox protocol.
+ - Virtual network interface for any EoE-capable slave.
+ - Both a switched and a routed EoE network architecture is natively supported
+ and configurable with standard tools.
-* Implementation of the Ethernet-over-EtherCAT (EoE) protocol.
- - Creates virtual network devices that are automatically coupled to
- EoE-capable slaves.
- - Thus natively supports either a switched or a routed EoE network
- architecture with standard GNU/Linux tools.
+* Userspace command-line tool 'ethercat'.
+ - Detailed information about master, slaves, domains and bus configuration.
+ - Reading/Writing alias addresses.
+ - Listing slave configurations.
+ - Viewing process data.
+ - Sdo download/upload; listing Sdo dictionaries.
+ - Slave SII (EEPROM) access.
+ - Controlling application-layer states.
+ - Generation of slave description XML from existing slaves.
-* User space interface via a command-line tool 'ethercat'.
- - Detailed information about master, slaves and the bus configuration.
- - Slave SII reading and writing.
+* Seamless integration in any GNU/Linux distribution.
+ - "Linux Standard Base"-compatible init script for master control.
+ - Master and Ethernet device configuration via sysconfig file.
-* Seamless integration in your favourite GNU/Linux distibution.
- - Master and network device configuration via sysconfig files.
- - "Linux standard base"-compatible init script for master control.
-
-* Virtual read-only network interface for debugging purposes and for
- monitoring the EtherCAT traffic (through Wireshark, or others).
+* Virtual read-only network interface for debugging and traffic monitoring
+ purposes (using Wireshark, etc.). No additional hardware necessary.
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