4Links Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder Version 4 User manual

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User Manual for the
4Links
Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder
Version 4

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Revision History
Version
Date
Notes
4
February 2019
General updates
3
September 2013
Additions to regulatory and specification sections; zero-cost
options listed with cost options.
2
June 2012
Substantial additions and use of new text processing
tools.
1
February 2009
Initial version.
Legal notice and disclaimer: Copyright 2018 4Links Limited, all rights reserved. The name 4Links and the accompanying device are registered as a
Trademark in the European Union and in the United States of America. The name SpaceWire was originated by the European Space Agency whose rights are
acknowledged, and 4Links makes no claim to the word SpaceWire being a 4Links trademark. The information supplied in this document is believed to be
accurate at the date of issue. 4Links reserves the right to change specifications or to discontinue products without notice. 4Links assumes no liability arising
out of the application or use of any information or product, nor does it convey any licence under its patent rights or the rights of others. Products from 4Links
Limited are not designed, intended, authorised or warranted to be suitable for use in
life-support devices or systems. 4Links Limited is registered in England and Wales, with Company Number 3938960. Issued 2nd February 2018
2019 4Links Limited

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Contents
Revision History........................................................................................................................................................2
Introduction..................................................................................................................................................................6
Product Features ......................................................................................................................................................6
Product Options........................................................................................................................................................6
1. General Safety Summary......................................................................................................................................7
1.1. Terms in this Manual.........................................................................................................................................7
1.2. Symbols on the Product.....................................................................................................................................8
2. Description of Operation..........................................................................................................................................9
2.1. General ..............................................................................................................................................................9
2.2. Getting Started ..................................................................................................................................................9
2.3. Standard MSR Capabilities...............................................................................................................................10
2.4. Summary of MSR Options................................................................................................................................12
2.4.1. TT - Time-Tags...........................................................................................................................................12
2.4.2. ER - Event / Error Reporting .....................................................................................................................12
2.4.3. EW - Event / Error Waveforms .................................................................................................................12
2.5. Front-Panel Display..........................................................................................................................................13
2.5.1. Ethernet information................................................................................................................................13
2.5.2. SpaceWire information.............................................................................................................................13
2.6. Communication Protocols ...............................................................................................................................14
3. Specification ...........................................................................................................................................................15
3.1. SpaceWire Links...............................................................................................................................................15
3.1.2. SpaceWire Connectors .............................................................................................................................15
3.1.3. SpaceWire Time Codes.............................................................................................................................16
3.2. The Ethernet Connection.................................................................................................................................17
3.2.1. ICMP Echo (ping) Support.........................................................................................................................17
3.2.2. Full-Duplex Ethernet.................................................................................................................................17
3.3. SMA Synchronization Connectors ...................................................................................................................17
3.4. Discovering a Unit’s Serial Number and Installed Product Options................................................................18

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3.4.1. Installed Product Options.........................................................................................................................18
3.5. The RG408 Hardware Platform........................................................................................................................18
3.5.1. Dimensions ...............................................................................................................................................18
3.5.2. Environmental Requirements...................................................................................................................19
3.5.3. Power Supply............................................................................................................................................19
3.5.4. Handling and Transportation....................................................................................................................21
3.5.5. RG Platform Firmware ..............................................................................................................................22
4. Block Diagram.........................................................................................................................................................22
5. Front Panel Display.................................................................................................................................................24
5.1. Initial (power-up) display.................................................................................................................................24
5.2. Normal (status) display....................................................................................................................................24
6. Front Panel Interactions .........................................................................................................................................26
6.1. IP address.........................................................................................................................................................30
6.2. Time Synchronisation ......................................................................................................................................30
6.3. Health Display..................................................................................................................................................30
7. The MSR Options ....................................................................................................................................................31
7.1. Option TT - Time-Tags......................................................................................................................................31
7.2. Option ER - Event / Error Reporting ................................................................................................................31
7.3. Option EW - Event / Error Waveforms ............................................................................................................32
8. Unit-to-Unit Time-Tag Synchronisation..................................................................................................................33
8.1. Setting the Synchronisation Source.................................................................................................................35
9. Software for the Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder ...................................................................................................38
9.1. Files Supplied with the MSR ............................................................................................................................38
9.2. Data Capture using the msr Program..............................................................................................................39
9.3. Data Inspection and Analysis using the read Program....................................................................................40
9.3.1. Example Output from the read Program..................................................................................................43
9.3.2. Plug-ins for the read Program ..................................................................................................................43
9.4. Waveform Handling.........................................................................................................................................44
9.5. The MSR File Format........................................................................................................................................46
10. Troubleshooting Guide.........................................................................................................................................47

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11. Statement of Volatility..........................................................................................................................................49
11.1. Removing all information from a Unit...........................................................................................................49
11.2. Security Notice...............................................................................................................................................49
12. Product Limitations and Features.........................................................................................................................49
13. Regulatory Information ........................................................................................................................................50
13.1. Electromagnetic Compatibility ......................................................................................................................50
13.2. Product Safety ...............................................................................................................................................50
13.3. Equipment Recycling .....................................................................................................................................50
13.4. Restriction of Hazardous Substances ............................................................................................................50
14. RG408 Product Drawings......................................................................................................................................51
14.2. Front view......................................................................................................................................................51
14.3. Rear view .......................................................................................................................................................52

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Introduction
4Links’ EtherSpaceLink family Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder (MSR) is a rack-mounted SpaceWire recorder that
allows SpaceWire traffic to be captured, buffered and transmitted over Ethernet via a TCP/IP socket connection.
TCP/IP is a standard interface mechanism supported by all major operating systems, so no additional software
drivers are required.
The MSR provides for detailed analysis of SpaceWire networks, including routing switches. Recordings can be
made of all of the SpaceWire traffic, with each packet time-tagged to a resolution better than 2 ns. There is no
limit to the length of the SpaceWire packets that may be captured and transferred.
Multiple MSRs can be synchronized to within 10 ns to provide uniform time-tags across a system, even if that
system has many SpaceWire links and the recordings are being made onto different computers. Software is
provided to help manage and search the recordings.
The basic MSR-RG40x unit provides data recording facilities, event reporting and time-tag capture for some
(or all) of the tokens in the SpaceWire streams. It may be extended with an option to provide waveforms that
show the precise state of the SpaceWire signals around the time that an error was detected. This optional
capability can be added as a simple field upgrade by replacing the removable memory card installed in the
front panel of the unit.
The Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder is available to record 1, 2 or 4 SpaceWire links using two adjacent ports per
link. These ports may be mounted on the front panel of the unit (see the picture above), or on its rear panel.
Product Features
Feature
Description
1U support
3U support
SpaceWire
SpaceWire Link rate (Mbps)
400Mbps
400Mbps
Ethernet
Ethernet Speed
1Gbps
1Gbps
Ports
Number of SpaceWire Links
1/2/4
1
Power
Input supply to unit
24V DC @48W
12V DC @15W
Product Options
Option
Description
1U support
3U support
TT
Time Tags
Option
No
ER
Event/Error Reporting
Option
Standard
EW
Event/Error Waveforms
Option
Standard

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1. General Safety Summary
Review the following safety precautions to avoid injury and prevent damage to this product or to any products
connected to it.
To avoid potential hazards, use this product only as specified.
There are no user-serviceable parts inside this equipment.
Do not remove covers.
Do not operate with suspected failures. If you suspect that there is damage to this product, refer to 4Links
for advice.
Do not operate in wet or damp conditions.
Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
Keep product surfaces clean and dry.
Provide proper ventilation. The air inlet and outlet on the rear panel must not be obstructed.
1.1. Terms in this Manual
Caution:
Caution statements identify conditions or practices that could result in damage to this
product or to other property

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1.2. Symbols on the Product
The following symbol may appear on the product:
Caution:
Refer to this user manual for safety information.

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2. Description of Operation
This section describes the main features of the Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder.
2.1. General
The Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder (MSR) is connected to an Ethernet network and passively waits for a
connection from a host computer. Connection is made using a TCP/IP socket, which is flow-controlled and is
capable of recovering from errors that might occur on the network between the user and the EtherSpaceLink unit.
The MSR is identified by an IP address (see section 6.1, “IP address”) that is used by the host computer to make
this connection.
Operation of the Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder falls into two distinct phases:
Data Capture, when SpaceWire traffic is collected, time-tagged and stored to a file on the host computer;
and
Data Inspection and Analysis, which is performed after the data has been captured.
2.2. Getting Started
The MSR is supplied with up to eight active SpaceWire connectors (ports). Each pair of adjacent ports allows a
bidirectional SpaceWire connection (a link) to be monitored and all of the traffic flowing on that connection to be
recorded.
To connect a link through the MSR, unplug the SpaceWire connection that you wish to record from the devices
under test, and use two SpaceWire cables to route it via a pair of ports on the MSR, as shown in figure 2.1.
Figure 2.1: Connecting the MSR into a link under test
To record the traffic on this connection to the file named filename, enter

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msr <IP-address-of-MSR> <filename>
Use CTRL/C to stop the recording at any time.
To view your recording, execute
java -jar read.jar <filename>
Alternatively,
java -jar read.jar <filename> /s 0
provides a summary overview.
You will probably need to pipe the output from this command through a paging program, such as “more” or
“less”, or use the read program’s I/O parameters to direct it to a file, from where it can be viewed by a separate
program.
See section 9, “Software for the Multi-link SpaceWire Recorder”, which discusses the data capture and analysis
phases in more detail and provides further examples.
2.3. Standard MSR Capabilities
All Multi-link SpaceWire Recorders include the following capabilities:
The ability to capture all of the traffic passing along one, two or four bidirectional SpaceWire links, and to
relay it across Gb/s Ethernet to a host computer.
The SpaceWire links to be recorded should be reconnected through the MSR’s front panel connector
ports [or rear connectors on -R suffix units]. Each link should use one of the pairs of ports, 1 - 2, 3 - 4, 5 -
6, and 7 - 8, depending on the number purchased, as shown in figure 2.2.