The Open Source real-time PAC system MSX-Box from Addi-Data is now available under the designation MSX-Box-CPCI as a CompactPCI version. The system is suitable for measurement and control tasks in harsh industrial environments, where there are shocks and vibrations. The PAC system functionality is defined by adding CompactPCI boards. With fieldbus interfaces like CAN or Profibus the MSX-Box can easily be integrated in existing facilities. To lower the costs for series, Linux was selected as the operating system. A live DVD with free development tools is used for the development of the applications. In order to guarantee the availability of the MSX-Box-CPCI for years to come, Addi-Data has itself developed the CPU with a MIPS processor.
The real-time PAC system MSX-Box-CPCI is based on standard technologies such as a CompactPCI backplane or Ethernet (TCP/IP). To save a slot, the Gigabit network interface is fitted directly on the CPU board. With the real-time Linux operating system with RTAI expansion, there are no licence costs or update obligations. Free access to software, right to the kernel source code, enables the user to perform in-depth adaptations to the measuring or control system. Addi-Data offers a comprehensive range of CompactPCI boards to set up a measuring or control system with the PAC system MSX-Box-CPCI: digital I/O, analog I/O, counter and motion control boards as well as serial interfaces. Other CompactPCI boards on the market can also be used in the MSX-Box-CPCI if they are supplied with Linux drivers. The live DVD, which is used for the development of the applications, is based on the Eclipse development environment and the Debian distribution. A debug function is available on the MSX-Box-CPCI making it possible to find system errors quickly and easily, in particular during the test phase.
If the user uses Addi-Data boards under Linux outside the MSX-Box-CPCI, for example in a PC, he can now write his applications with the live DVD: the drivers for the latest PCI, PCI-Express and CompactPCI boards are now available on the live DVD, both for the user and kernel mode. The user can adapt the drivers, right to the kernel source code, to his application.