July 7, 2004
Overview
Release 3.5.4 of the Empack software includes Version 3.5.4 of the host libraries and programs and Version 3.5.4 of the Embedded Firmware and FPGA configurations.
The following changes are introduced in this release:
- Solution for Windows device access permissions.
- Support for revision 3 EM6X32C mezzanines.
- Changes to the DSP executable verify operation.
- Changes to some utility programs.
- New and modified diagnostic programs.
- Shared memory bug fixed in the Solaris device driver.
- Update for EM6XC33 mezzanine FPGA configuration.
- Update for embedded code.
- Component versions for this release.
Note:
This release includes a new FPGA configuration. Customers should run the emflash utility after installation.
A new program, named emfixperm, is introduced in this release
that is used to modify the system's access controls for the SCSI
host bus adapters to which Empacks are attached.
The program must be run by the Administrator user.
The Windows Empack installer for Release 3.5.4 and newer offers the
opportunity to run the program as part of the installation procedure.
It can also be run from a Command Prompt window.
The Windows API is also been modified to handle cases when access is
denied to some of the system devices scanned to find Empacks.
The Windows installer is modified to check for, and issue a warning if
it is being run without, Administrator privileges.
Support for Revision 3 EM6X32C Mezzanines
The new EM6X32C mezzanines function properly with existing API functions,
support and diagnostic programs.
However, some precautions should be taken to avoid running the ceramic
DSP32C chips above their rated clock frequencies.
Modifications were made to sections of the API and utility programs
to recognize the new mezzanine revision for purposes of serialization
and setting the default operating frequency.
Changes to the DSP Executable Verify Operation
This is intended for use by diagnostic programs and the global variables
involved are not formally declared in the API's header files.
Currently the emroundmem and emtestmem diagnostic programs
make use of this feature to display details of verification errors.
Changes to Some Utility Programs
The emserial program is fixed to handle cases when the module type
information (stored in the flash memory for base modules or EEPROM of
mezzanines) is not yet initialized or invalid.
New and Modified Diagnostic Programs
The empiomem program has an added fixed-pattern test mode that
is only invoked if specified via command line option.
It also has a new option to increment the test data values
of the self-address and pattern tests for each iteration
when multiple test iterations are requested.
The emroundmem program is modified to fix and improve
error status reported when invoked from the emburn and emdiag
programs.
It also has added verification of DSP program downloads.
The emdiag program includes the following modifications:
The emburn program includes the following modifications:
Configuration files for additional Empack system types are provided
for use with the emdiag program.
Shared Memory Bug Fixed in the Solaris Device Driver
Previous versions had the initial shared memory ID of 0 which caused
the API, upon the very first, usage to attempt removing a shared memory
segment that might be in use by another program.
In most cases the removal would fail and the problem was harmless.
However, if the first Empack access is done by the "root" user
the removal would succeed.
Update for EM6XC33 Mezzanine FPGA configuration
Solution for Windows Device Access Permissions
The default access permissions for some physical devices in
Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP do not allow normal users,
those without Administrator privileges, to access the device objects
required to access Empacks and run Empack programs.
It is also possible that future service packs or updates for Windows 2000
systems will adopt similar access controls.
Revision 3 EM6X32C mezzanines are populated with older DSP32C processors
in ceramic packages.
Those chips are designed to run with the DSP clock between 50 and 60 MHz
as opposed to the newer chips which are capable of running up to 74 MHz.
The EmLoadExec functions is modified to export information
about errors detected during the verify operation (specified with the
EM_COFF_VERIFY option).
The emserial and emwinserial programs are modified to
recognize the revision 3 EM6X32C mezzanines.
The emtestmem program is a new diagnostic program the tests the
memory on EM6X32C and EM6XC33 mezzanines using both the host and the DSPs
to test separate portions of the memory.
Its status display and error reporting are similar to those of the
emroundmem program, indicating success and error counts
for the DSPs and host activity.
The program uses new DSP executables named 32cmem and c33mem.
The Solaris device driver is fixed to initialize its stored value for the
Empack shared memory ID to the value, -1, thereby eliminating a possible
system problem.
The FPGA configuration for EM6XC33 mezzanines is modified to
eliminate some potential timing problems in the host-to-memory interface.