CIFX/netX device driver for Linux
 
Most operating systems and real-time extensions require a device driver to integrate hardware components. Hilscher CIFX/COMX components require such device drivers as well.

Hilscher offers a series of device drivers for a wide variety of operating systems and Windows real-time extensions.

All Hilscher drivers have a standard user interface (CIFX-API) and are based on a C toolkit that can also be used for developing independent device drivers.

The drivers are fully responsible for administering the communication components, a task that includes loading firmware and configuration files. The user interface contains all of the functions needed to initialize, parametrize and exchange data, and to sort status information.

Depending on the operating system and real-time expansion, the user interface is housed in a DLL or library, and the drivers support existing bus connections (ISA/PCI/PCIe and dual-port memory connections) wherever possible. The C toolkit, and therefore the basis of the drivers’ code, is designed in such a way that an unlimited number of communication components can be used simultaneously. However, the specific characteristics of each operating system must be taken into account.

The CIFX/netX Linux driver allows access to netX-based hardware (such as CIFX50) with the same functions offered by the CIFX Windows driver. The driver is a “userspace” library and is delivered as source code. Hardware is accessed via a UIO kernel module.

Facts at a glance:

• Standard application interface
• Standard code basis (C toolkit)
• Not dependent on field bus system
• Number of supported devices limited only by operating system