GL Enhances Datacom Analyzer with Client/Server Scripting

14^th, Jun 2019

Welcome to another June 2019 issue of GL Communications' newsletter providing information on our latest tProbe™ Datacom Analyzer/Emulator, an instrument that is designed to test and verify serial data communications circuits and equipment (using built in analysis and emulation applications). Our Datacom Analyzer/Emulator is now enhanced to support the Windows Client/ Server (WCS) scripting software that facilitates remote operation, automated testing using scripts, and multi-site connectivity.

Overview

Data Communications generally refers to legacy interfaces of the recent past before packet technology became popular.  These interfaces and methods of communications are still out there.

GL's Datacom Analyzer/Emulator is an optional board available with GL's tProbe™ T1 E1 Analyzer or is also available as a standalone unit. It is designed for test and verification of data communications equipment and circuits - specifically serial interfaces that provide clock, data, and control signals. It provides software selectable modes to analyze and emulate DTE and DCE interfaces, non-intrusive monitoring for both synchronous (sync), and asynchronous (async) modes.

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Supported Frequencies

Mode	Frequency
	Low	High
Async	75 bps	115.2 Kbps
Sync	300 bps	16.384 Mbps
Manch IEEE	75 bps	1.024 Mbps
ManchGE T	75 bps	1.024 Mbps
NRZI	0.5 Mbps	10 Mbps
ManchDiff	75 bps	1.024 Mbps
ManchFM0	75 bps	1.024 Mbps
ManchFM1	75 bps	1.024 Mbps

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Latest Enhancements

Windows Client/Server Scripted Control Test and Simulation Software

Windows Client / Server provides the capability of remote operation, automation, and multi-site connectivity to the Datacom Analyzer. Datacom in a server mode can be easily controlled through software clients at remote or local sites via TCP/IP sockets. Connectivity can be via Dial-Up, LAN, WAN, or more typically the Internet. Server software runs multiple tasks simultaneously at the request of the client software.

The Server performs the action/task immediately in response to a 'command' initiated by Client and notifies the Client of the result. Multiple tasks can be initiated and executed without completion of previous tasks. WCS commands can be used to perform tasks such as BER testing and Datacom interface configuration.

GL provides sample-working clients in C++, VB, and TCL along with the server. Clients are compatible with any OS, including UNIX, Linux and Windows. Other environments commonly used for client development include Perl, MatLab, Visual Basic, and LabView.

Enhanced Bit Error Rate Tester (Enhanced BERT) measures the correctness of data received on Datacom against a repetitive fixed or pseudorandom pattern for the given transmission. The application generates/detects unframed BER patterns such as - QRSS, 2⁵-1, 2⁹-1, 2¹¹-1, 2¹⁵-1, 2²⁰-1, 2²³-1, All ones, All zeros, 1:1, 1:7, 3 in 24, CSU Loop-Up (0001), CSU Loop-down (001), NIU Loop-UP (11000), and NIU Loop-Down (11100), and user-defined patterns in real-time. Supports predefined error insertion rate and user defined error rates ranging from 0.01 to 1e-009.


GLClient executing Enhanced BERT module scripts

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WCS Enhanced BERT Commands:

bert pattern "qrss" dte1 invert continuous report 10 sec; // Pseudo-random pattern inverted
bert pattern 0xd5 dte continuous report events; // User-defined hex pattern
bert pattern "qrss" dte er 5e-7 continuous report 10 sec; // Pseudo-random pattern with error rate

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Configuring DTE and DCE Simulation

WCS commands are used to configure DTE and/or DCE Interfaces for Loopback, CTS, RTS, DSR, DTR, DCD, RI, RL, TM, LL, Clock settings, Data Rates, Sync and Async mode, Async communications parameters such as Data Bits, Parity Bits, Stop Bits and to get the Signal Line Status as well.

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WCS Datacom Commands:

set dc interface rs232 #*; set data rate 115.2 kbps #*;

set data bits 7 #*;

set parity bits even #*;

set async comm parms 8,none,1 #*; // Restore sensible setting

get txd, rxd, txc, rxc status #*; // txd fails for dce, rxd fails for dce

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Main Features and Applications

• Supported Line interfaces - RS-232, V.35,EIA-530, EIA-530A, RS-449 and X.21
• Allows user to define custom frequency data rate for all encoding options
• Supports Frequency Measurement, PPP Analysis, HDLC Analysis, and Frame Relay Analysis.
• Supports HDLC Tx/Rx Test and HDLC Impairment Utility
• DTE or DCE emulation mode
• SYNC clock source and sense selection
• Sync BER from 300 b/s to 16.384Mbps and Async BER from 300 b/s to 115.2Kbps
• Supports NRZ, FM0, FM1 and Differential Manchester encoding schemes
• Supports handshaking signals control and monitoring
• Precision Delay Measurement, Unframed/Framed, Tx/Rx loopback and Error Insertion applications are provided for intrusive testing
• Supports Full/Fractional Bit Error Rate Testing with detailed logging
• Client Server (WCS) module supports Enhanced BER testing
• A variety “Basic Applications” and “Optional Applications” are available with Datacom cards

For comprehensive information on the application, please visit tProbe™ Datacom Analyzer application web page.

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