A multi-function FASTBUS front-end for VAXBI computers

Author

Jost, B. ; Mertens, V. ; Marchioro, A. ; von Ruden, W.

Author_Institution

CERN, Geneva

Volume

36

Issue

5

fYear

1989

fDate

10/1/1989 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1452

Lastpage

1455

Abstract

A versatile and high-performance interface between DEC computers based on VAXBI and FASTBUS has been designed to couple a general-purpose FASTBUS master with a specially developed intelligent module. The hardware capabilities of the interface are discussed, with particular reference to the Aleph event builder (AEB), which is a single-width FASTBUS card based on the MC68020 CPU and the MC68881 floating-point coprocessor, and the AEB-VAX interface. The software, as implemented in the Aleph experiment at the LEP (Large Electron Position) collider, is presented, covering the communication protocol, the software for the high-speed interface to the DEC DRB32 BI adapter, the AEB software, and the VAX software. The results of a performance evaluation for single-word and block transfer actions are presented

Keywords

DEC computers; computer interfaces; protocols; AEB software; AEB-VAX interface; Aleph event builder; Aleph experiment; DEC DRB32 BI adapter; DEC computers; FASTBUS; LEP; Large Electron Position; MC68020 CPU; MC68881 floating-point coprocessor; VAXBI; block transfer actions; communication protocol; high-performance interface; intelligent module; performance evaluation; Communication system control; Computer interfaces; Coprocessors; Data acquisition; EPROM; Fastbus; Hardware; Operating systems; Random access memory; Read-write memory;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Nuclear Science, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9499

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/23.41081

Filename

41081