Section 3: Functions and features
Model 2461 Interactive SourceMeter® Instrument Reference Manual
3-156
2461-901-01 A/November 2015
Using groups to manage nodes on a TSP-Link system
TSP-Link groups allow each group to run a different test script simultaneously. This method requires
one TSP-Link network and a single remote connection to the computer that is connected to the
master node.
A group can consist of one or more nodes. You must assign group numbers to each node using
remote commands. If you do not assign a node to a group, it defaults to group 0, which will always be
grouped with the master node (regardless of the group to which the master node is assigned).
The following table shows an example of the functions of groups on a single TSP-Link network. Each
group in this example runs a different test script than the other groups, which allows the system to run
multiple tests simultaneously.
TSP-Link network group functions
Group
number
Group members
Present function
0
Master node 1
Initiates and runs a test script on node 2
Initiates and runs a test script on node 6
In addition, the master node can execute scripts and process run
commands
1
Group leader node 2
Runs the test script initiated by the master node
Initiates remote operations on node 3 through node 5
Node 3 through node 5
Performs remote operations initiated by node 2
2
Group leader node 6
Runs the test script initiated by the master node
Initiates remote operations on node 7 through node
n
Node 7 through node
n
Performs remote operations initiated by node 6
Master node overview
You can assign the master node to any group. You can also include other nodes in the group that
includes the master. Note that any nodes that are set to group 0 are automatically included in the
group that contains the master node, regardless of the group that is assigned to the master node.
The master node is always the node that coordinates activity on the TSP-Link network.
The master node:
•
Is the only node that can use the
execute()
command on a remote node
•
Cannot initiate remote operations on any node in a remote group if any node in that remote group
is performing an overlapped operation (a command that continues to operate after the command
that initiated it has finished running)
•
Can execute the
waitcomplete()
command to wait for the group to which the master node
belongs; to wait for another group; or to wait for all nodes on the TSP-Link network to complete
overlapped operations (overlapped commands allow the execution of subsequent commands
while device operations of the overlapped command are still in progress)