Reliance Electric AutoMax PC Link DCS Communication Interface Linux API

The DASTEC Corporation Reliance Electric AutoMax PC Link DCS Communication Interface Linux API allows the user to develop application programs that exchange data via SST's PC Link and/or RE2-PCI interface cards. These cards are designed to make the computer function as a drop on an AutoMax/DCS Network or on an AutoMax/DCS Remote I/O Network. The PC Link is the ISA version of the card while the RE2-PCI is the PCI version.

Linux device drivers for both the ISA and PCI versions of the interface cards are provided as part of the API. The API provides a library of high level 'C' callable functions that work in conjunction with the PC Link Linux device drivers to put and retrieve register data to and from the card(s).

The Reliance Electric AutoMax PC Link DCS Communication Interface Linux API enables a system to act as any valid drop and can have any valid drop depth, initiating read and write operations on behalf of the system applications. With the API, the application can operate as a slave or master to other peer devices, initiating read and write operations on behalf of the system. The API allows the system to be functionally equivalent to a Network Communications module.

The API consists of three functional components:

• Loadable device driver modules
• Binary loader programming use to load executive to cards
• 'C' callable library to be linked with the application

Device Drivers

Two loadable device driver modules are provided; one for the ISA card (PC Link) and one for the PCI (RE2-PCI) card. Either one or both of these modules can be loaded at the same time. The loadable device driver modules provide access to the PC Link cards under the Linux operating system.

Loader Program

The binary loader program is used to load a PC Link executive program onto cards via the device drivers. The binary Network Communications executives downloaded are provided by SST.

'C' Callable Library

The user written application gains access to the PC Link cards for the purpose of retrieving and writing drop register data via the API's library. The library contains all the functions required to open/close cards, read/write register data and to receive unsolicited notifications of register data changes.

Specifications:

• Supported Platform:
  • Device Drivers: Linux operating system with kernel 2.4
  • API: gcc version 2.9 and gcc version 3.2
• Supported Hardware:
  • ISA: AutoMax PC Link Interface Module (M/N 57C445)
  • PCI: 5136-RE2-PCI
• API Supports
  • Loading card binary executive.
  • Opening and closing cards for application access.
  • Exchanging register data via read/write requests.
  • Monitoring selected drops for data changes (unsolicited support).
  • Multi-threaded support.
  • Multiple user applications can use the API simultaneously.

Ordering Information

Product Name:

Reliance Electric AutoMax PC Link DCS Communication Interface Linux API

Platform Part Numbers:

Platform	Part Number
Linux	LINUX-PCLKDCSAPI

Contact DASTEC about other supported platforms or to inquire about supporting other platforms.