Abstract

This paper describes a software package developed in C++ under the Linux environment that is intended for automatic hardware configuration in VME or PCI buses. Based on a generic model, users specify the configuration procedures and data in configuration files. Actual hardware configuration is performed by the software package, accessed through a simple C++ interface. The model is well suited for storage of configuration data in XML files or databases. The package is now being used in the local data acquisition system of the Electromagnetic Calorimeter of the CMS experiment at CERN.

Program summary

Title of program: Generic Configurator

Catalogue identifier: ADUK

Program summary URL: http://cpc.cs.qub.ac.uk/summaries/ADUK

Program obtainable from: CPC Program Library, Queen's University of Belfast, N. Ireland

Computer for which the program is designed and others on which it has been tested: Intel Pentium IV PC

Installations: ECAL Data Acquisition of the CMS experiment at CERN

Operating systems or monitors under which the program has been tested: Linux 2.4.2

Programming language used: C++

Memory required to execute with typical data: depends on the complexity of the module configuration. Test runs requires less then 500 KB

Number of bits in a word: 32

Number of processors used: 1

Distribution format: tar gzip file

Number of bytes in distributed program, including test data, etc.: 234 542

Number of lines in distributed program, including test data etc.: 17 365

Nature of physical problem: Generalization of hardware device configuration procedure in VME or PCI buses.

Method of solution: The developed package uses a generic configuration model that allows users to configure VME and PCI devices. The hardware configuration parameters and the data structures associated to each hardware register are specified in XML files. The package performs the desired configuration using these files along with a description of the hardware access proprieties of each register.

Typical running time: depends on the complexity of the device configuration and on the bus interface. The test runs using a dummy bus adapter requires less then 1 s.

Unusual features of the program: requires the installation of HAL (version 03.03) and the Xerces-C library (version 2.3).

References:

[1] J. Boyer, XML Version 1.0, W3C recommendation, 15 March 2001, http://www.w3.org/.

[2] J. Gutleber et al., Clustered data acquisition for the CMS Experiment, in: H.S. Chen (Ed.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Computing in High Energy and Nuclear Physics, CHEP 2001, Beijing, China, Science Press, ISBN 1-880132-77-X, September 3–7, 2001, pp. 601–605.

[3] V. Brigljevic et al., Using XDAQ in application scenarios of the CMS experiment, CMS CR-2003/007.

[4] A.L. Hors et al., DOM Level 3 Core Specification Version 1.0, W3C working draft 09 June 3, 2003, http://www.w3.org/.

Keywords: Control systems; Data acquisition; Hardware; Configuration; VME; PCI

PACS: 07.05.Dz

Article Outline

1. Introduction

2. Software installation and external dependencies

3. Item Builder

4. Configuration model

5. Configuration procedure

6. Application examples

7. Conclusions

Appendix A. Appendix

Test 1 run input

Test 2 run input

Appendix B. Appendix

Test 1 run output

Test 2 run output

References

This paper and its associated computer program are available via the Computer Physics Communications homepage on ScienceDirect (http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/00104655).