Re: xAP-Update or config and a tad on discovery - long

[i.bird@xxxx]

>Next up then... How do you configure RBControl to describe your xAP
>Network?

RBControl is currently a test application however, the plan is that it (the
PC app) would send a respond message to get all the connected I/O
controller boards details via their hearbeat. It would then send a targeted
detail status message to each in turn so hopefully it would end up with a
complete list of attached devices and their capabilities and names. The
ensuing heartbeats should be able to confirm the devices are alive. If
another one was added the process could be repeated etc. The 'discovery'
process could be triggered by startup or user intervention.

>I mean, you can set the UID, Instance, Subinstance, Heartbeat interval
>and serial number, but do you change them "manually" (by
getting
>RBControl to send the config messages) and then their state is saved
>away on the device? So there's no "database" of configuration
details
>anywhere, other than on each individual device?

Correct. I wanted everything dynamic where if you want information ask for
it rather than depending on a cache or database. In part this is because I
plan to control these from a standalone embedded controller which does not
have PC resources. It also neatly sidesteps the updating isses of a cache.

>The problem I've got that is generating all these questions is my
>plugin runtime modules can load up any number of plugins. It easier
>than starting 6 different applications or whatever, although that's
>equally possible.

Errr, OK. Doesn't even have to duck as it screams overhead.

>So it has to assign a different UID to each of the plugins. I'm
>wondering about having the xAP logic modules (the plugins) discover
>their own parameters from somewhere else vs saving them locally with
>the module. I'd then be able to set 'global' parameters which they
>could each individually override.

You'll have to expand a bit here as I am obviously missing something.

>If I then move the xAP module from one runtime to another, I have to
>move the configuration parameters.

Or simply requery the attached devices. In testing I think the whole
process takes about 2 seconds for about three modules (guesstimate and with
no other serial traffic).

>Hmmm, I think it's a slightly different problem as you have a
>standalone device and mine float around. Looks like I definitely need
>to setup some individual parameters for each of the modules.

Possibly. I guess it will need to know the boards basic capabilities to get
the best from it. We are heading towards this BASIC schema now so possibly
time to pause and wait for P's input?

>Sorry, just waffling,

You and me both. Make it up as you go along is what I say (under my
breath).

Ian

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