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4 Host Network-Based MDR
In Host Network-based MDR, the Host computer communicates with the MDR using
TCP/IP. The Host runs the MDR Shell (client) and the MDR board runs the MDR
Server. The connection is TCP/IP over either Ethernet or Shared-Memory Network. The
Ethernet option occupies a PMC slot; therefore, the MDR-250 is required. In the Shared-
Memory Network option, a separate VME SBC is needed to provide a network gateway.
4.1 MDR Host Software
The two main components of the MDR host software package are the MDR Shell and
the MDR API (Application Programming Interface). The MDR Shell is one of the
manual user interfaces of the MDR. It provides a “command line” interface to the MDR.
By normal MDR operations, we mean functions such as setting parameters of a
recording, starting a recording, showing the state of the recorder and copying recordings.
The MDR API is an Application Programming Interface for application programs that
need to control the MDR. The MDR API consists of essentially the same functions as
the MDR shell and communicates with the MDR server in a client-server fashion.
Software structure on MDR host
Currently VxWorks 5.3.1/5.4 (PowerPC processor), Solaris 2.6/7/8 and Windows
NT/2000 are supported.
The MDR unit may be operated with or without an external network. Before accessing
the MDR unit from a networked host, some network configuration parameters have to be
set up. This section describes how to set up the user-definable MDR parameters to
support an external network.
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MDR User Guide
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