Publication No. SBC329-HRM/1
Specifications 125
A.7 Software Support
Abaco’s software strategy allows fully integrated system
-level solutions to be
realized easily and with confidence. Off-the-shelf, layered software modules deliver
the most from low-level hardware features while exploiting the best high level
debug and run-time functionality of popular COTS operating systems and
communications modules.
The software products described below build on those available for previous
generations of products, so providing a common interface for technology inserts.
The Abaco software strategy ensures that customers can develop market-leading
products using the O/S and development environment best suited to their long-term
program requirements.
A.7.1 BIOS
The BIOS provides a foundation layer to interface between the raw board hardware,
with its highly programmable device set-ups and flexibility, and the supported
Operating Systems, which require a straight-forward booting and device interface
model. Much of the board configuration can be altered by the user using BIOS set-up
screens, and these settings are stored in non-volatile memory.
A.7.2 Built In Test
BIT probes from the lowest level of discrete on-board hardware up to Line
Replaceable Unit level within a system, ensuring the highest degree of confidence in
system integrity. BIT includes comprehensive configuration facilities, allowing
automatic initialization tests to be defined for the desired mix of system functionality
and options. Further tests can be invoked interactively, giving BIT a valuable role as
a field service tool. Both object and source code products are available.
A.7.3 Background Condition Screening
BCS supplements the BIT initialization test coverage with further health screening
that can co-exist with a standard COTS Operating System.
In contrast to a traditional BIT-style test, the intensity and coverage of which makes
it destructive to operating systems, the configurable BCS package allows functions
such as periodic check-summing, memory scrubbing, and others to be tailored for
operation alongside the application in on-line conditions. Results are stored in Flash
in the same format as BIT results. Code is available for reading out BIT/BCS results
under LynxOS and VxWorks.