FESA Instantiation-Unit Documentation
Fesa version 3 User doc.
FESA Team
Copyright CERN&GSI 2012. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction

The instantiation-unit is used to store all front-end specific parameters which are needed by a FESA-class. The XML-schema for this file is created dynamically, according to the class-design of the equipment.

2. Instantiation Unit

The Instantiation-Unit Schema is subdivided into several complementary areas, for which the equipment specialist has to make design choices:

3. Information

All basic information for the instantiation unit is indicated here.

4. Prio-Management

All priorities among all thread can be specified here.

4.1. Classes

All priorities threads regarding their classes can be managed here.

  • Children:
  • 4.1.1. Client-notification-threads

    The priorities for the client notification threads are indicated here. Client notification threads are used to update all middleware-clients. On each property one can change the notif-order attribute of the used client-notification thread.

    All the priorities have to consistent regarding the order of the threads. For example, thread-1 has to be higher priority than thread-2 or thread-default. The default thread has the lowest priority regarding the rest of the thread priorities.

    Moreover, the highest priority among the client notifications threads has to be lower than the server-notif-thread priority.

    4.1.2. Custom-event-sources

    All priorities for each custom-event-source are managed here.

    4.2. Deploy unit

    All common priorities for the classes can be managed here.

  • Children:
  • 4.2.1. Concurrency-layers

    Priorities for each concurrency layer are configured here.

    4.2.2. Common-event-sources

    All priorities for the events-sources are managed here.

    4.2.3. Common-management-threads

    All priorities for the common management threads are managed here.

    4.2.3.1. Signal-handler-thread

    The priority of a signal handler thread is managed here. The signal handler thread takes care about all incoming signals.

    4.2.3.2. Server-notification-thread

    The priority for the server notification thread is indicated here. This thread is used in order to consume and process all notification-messages which are sent by the RT-Side in order to notify clients.

    This priority has to be greater than the client-notification-threads priority and also lower than the rda-server-thread priority.

    4.2.3.3. RDA-server-thread

    The priority for the RDA server thread is indicated here. The RDA-server-thread processes all client get/ set requests and as well manages new subscribers.

    This priority has to be greater than the server-notif-thread priority.

    4.2.3.4. Persistence-thread

    The priority for the persistence thread is indicated here. The persistance thread periodically stores all setting-field data and re-stores it whenever the equipment-software is re-started.

    5. Classes

    Each Fesa-Class requires some configuration that is managed here.

    5.1. Events-Mapping

    If logical events are defined in the design, it is necessary to map these logical-events to real hardware-events.

    In this section, all types of event-configurations can be defined. Later the different devices can use some of these configurations.

    Every device can use a different event-configuration for every event (including the "unused-event-configuration", identified by its name: "NONE"; this disables the event for this device).

    All devices must have an event-configuration for every logical-event, unless the logical-event is marked as optional in the design. It is allowed to map required logical-events to "NONE".

    5.2. Device-Instance

    A device-instance is an software-instance of the corresponding underlying physical device. Since a FESA-class can manage many physical devices of the same type, for each of these physical devices one device-instance has to be defined in the instantiation-document.

    In actions device-instances are needed in order to identify the right device. As well a client needs a device-handle in order to connect to the right devie-instance.

    5.3. Global-Instance

    A global-instance in FESA is used to describe all parts of the class, which are not device-specific. There is only one global-instance in each FESA-class.

    In actions a global-instance is needed in order to use the global-device. As well a client needs a device-handle of the global-device if he wants to connect to it.

    5.4. Multiplexing

    5.5. event-configuration

    An event-configuration describes one explicit logical-event-setup. This setup can be used by the defined devices. (Each device may use a different setup for the same logical-event)

    Dependent on which type you chose for the logical-event, you will have different sub-options.

    5.6. unused-event-configuration

    This event-configuration can be used by each device, which does not want to schedule this event.

    5.7. Timing

    Here you can specify any number of concrete timing-events which should fire this logical-event.

    5.8. Timer

    Here you can specify any number concrete timer-periods which will fire this logical-event.

    5.9. timer-event

    5.10. OnDemand

    Here you can specify any number of on-demand-event-sources which should fire this logical-event.

    5.11. OnSubscription

    Here you can specify any number of subscription-setups, which will fire this logical event, whenever they are updated.

    5.12. on-subscription-event

    5.13. Custom

    Here you can specify any number of custom-event-sources which should fire this logical-event.

    5.14. Device-specific events-mapping

    Here you can choose an event-configuration per logical-event, which should be used for this specific device.

    6. Shared Definitions

    In order to avoid duplication, the context of the chapters below is used by different other chapters.

    6.1. configuration

    All configuration data which is specific for this device can be configured here. As well all configuration-fields with default-node will appear here. A initial value has to be passed to these fields. For more complex types, a bracket-notation can be used.

    6.2. setting

    All setting fields with default-node will appear here. A initial value has to be passed to these fields. For more complex types, a bracket-notation can be used.

    6.3. acquisition

    All acquisition fields with default-node will appear here. A initial value has to be passed to these fields. For more complex types, a bracket-notation can be used.

    6.4. description

    6.5. acceleratorZone

    You need to specify the accelerator zone this device belongs to here. You have to select a valid value from the list

    6.6. accelerator

    Here you need to put in the accelerator to which this device is attached to. You always have to select a valid value from the list.

    6.7. timingDomain

    Here you need to put in the timing domain, which should be used by your device. If your device does not rely on timing, choose "NONE".

    6.8. mainMuxCriterion

    If your device is multiplexed, you can choose a criterion here, in order to specify the depth of the buffers and the names of the slots. If your device is not multiplexed, choose "NONE" here.

    6.9. hw-address

    If you declared configuration data fields in the class design of type hw-address, you have to complete their specification in the instantiation file.

    6.10. Bracket Notation

    For more complex types, like arrays, strings or structures, a bracket notation has to be used to initialize the data container. For multidimensional arrays all rows must have the same number of elements initialized. Here some examples, how the different data-types can be initialized:

    Field data type Example default value
    bool true
    int 1234
    double 1.234e-10
    char array(string) of size 8 myString
    int array of size 4 {1,2,3,4}
    char array-2D of size 4x8 {1,2,3,myString}
    2D double-Array of size 2x3 {{1,2,3},{3,4.567,8.9}}
    Structure (int[2], char[8],bool) {{1,2},myString,true}
    Array of structure(inr,bool) of size 2 {{1,true},{2,false}}
    Bit enumeration {true,1,0,true,0} or 1234(decimal) or 0xAB34(hex)