Reflective memory

Description

The reflective memory (RM) interface is based on special hardware by General Electric (formerly GE Fanuc and VMIC). RM interface boards are available for a variety of systems, such as PCI Express, PCI and VME. The drivers for ibaPDA support the PC components, VMIPCI-5565, 5576, 5579, 5587, 5588 and the current components, PCI-5565PIORC and PCIE-5565PIORC.

The "Direct Memory Access" (DMA) mode is supported for the components, VMIPCI 5565, PCI-5565PIORC and PCIE-5565PIORC.

A maximum of up to 1024 modules are supported per interface.

The number of signals to be used is only limited by the ibaPDA license and the performance of the systems.

Note

Please note that not all of the above components can be used in the current versions of Windows with 64 bit. Details on this can be found in ibaPDA's compatibility overview in the versions_pda.htm file or in the ibaPDA-Interface-Reflective-Memory product manual.

Interface configuration

Swap mode

Select the appropriate swap mode from the drop-down list in this field. The drop-down list provides several options of high- and low byte swapping (Endian Control). Which swap mode is suitable for your configuration depends on the connected source system. The setting is disabled for the newer cards, such as PCI 5565PIORC. You can select the swap mode in the settings of the data module in the General tab.

Memory length limit

This parameter describes the size of the mapped memory space. You should adjust the memory size according to your needs. Reduce the disk space if you don not need that much memory. This will save memory space in the ibaPDA computer.

Node ID

This is the node ID as set on the RM interface board in the ibaPDA computer. It is for display only and cannot be altered here.

Network address offset

This optional setting is only available if a card of VMIC 5576 type is used. The exact setting of a network address offset is required if a 256 kB or a 512 kB card is used in a 1 MB ring.

Check that offsets are on 4-byte boundaries

Usually, the checking of the 4-byte limits is selected by default in order to guarantee a data addressing without gaps. Data of 4-byte size (DINT, DWORD, FLOAT) must always be addressed on a 4-byte offset, relative to the start address.

When addressing data, otherwise than on 4-byte boundaries, be sure to disable this option in order to suppress error messages.

Force 4-byte limit alignment for digital signals

If this option is enabled, it makes sure that the data is always read along 4-byte limits. This is done to prevent sending of wrong data by some Reflective Memory boards if not reading exactly along 4-byte boundaries.

The option is enabled by default if the 5565PIORC component is used.

Available modules

Reflective Memory with up to 1000 analog and 1000 digital signals per module, supports asynchronous mode and DMA
Reflective Memory dig512, with up to 32 × 16 digital signals per module, supports asynchronous mode and DMA
X-Pact Lite, with up to 1000 analog and 1000 digital signals per module, supports asynchronous mode and DMA (only with a license for X-Pact v1 or v2)
HiPAC Request (only with HiPAC interface license)

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