RISC Software Tools

Software development tools for the RISC processors on our smPCI^TM modules include C++ compilers, Solaris drivers, demos, diagnostics, and real-time kernels.

C-compilers

An optimizing GNU C++ compiler and assembler for the MIPS R3081, R4700 and (to be released soon) R5000 processors is available from IDT. Included with the compiler is the line-oriented GNU debugger and our own libc which is ported to the kernel. The whole tool chain can be purchased from IDT (www.idt.com or 800-345-7015 #2 for your local sales office).

BSO Tasking also offers a C-compiler, assembler and source level debugger. They can be reached at www.tasking.com or (800) 458-8276.

Greenhills is the third C-compiler available for the MIPS processors. This is the only compiler supported by pSOS and comes bundled with the kernel.

Unix Device Driver

A Solaris device driver provides access to the resources for host applications, configures the VME interface and handles interrupts from the board, passing software signals to the appropriate host processes.

Host Application Library

This C library provides the functionality required to access the module resources and perform I/O, such as loading and running programs, uploading and downloading data, and controlling the TDM interface.

Diagnostic Programs

The source code for all board diagnostics is provided so that users can use them in developing their own applications.

Kernel

The kernel is the Real-Time Operating System (RTOS) controlling the execution of processes on the MIPS. A copy of the kernel is resident on each processor. To ease application development, two kernels are supported. pSOS is a commercially available real-time multi-tasking operating system. WM Kernel (included at no charge with all CAC MIPS boards) provides a UNIX-like environment to ease porting of applications from workstations to the MIPS processors.

The kernel supports:

• standard Unix-like sockets for communications between processes running on the same processor, different processors and on the host workstation.
• multiple processes scheduled by priority on a time-slice basis
• protected address space
• dynamic process creation from host workstation or existing processes
• semaphores provide synchronization between processes on same board
• shared memory between processes on same board
• TDM device I/O for communicating with DSPs and DSP board resources
• direct DSP memory access via VME bus

MIPS Kernel Host Server

This daemon process runs on the host Unix workstation to provide file and socket access by the MIPS kernel. It loads the kernel and provides the interface to start the kernel.

Support Programs

A shell is provided as a development tool for interactive program control which can also be run as a script file. The shell provides application programs with host terminal I/O access.

The debugger interface runs as a task under the kernel and has peek and poke hooks. It uses the serial port on the processor modules for terminal I/O.

Kernel Support Programs:

Host Support Programs: