Ultimate I/O and Ethernet OptoController
Time Synchronization Application

2004-09-28

This utility application is a foreground windows console application. It’s
purpose is to push a time update to either a UIO brain, an LCE controller, or an
M4 OptoController using an Ethernet host port.

Installing
----------

Unzip the folder into a stand-alone directory. Please keep all components in the
same directory. A file named “device_list.txt” must be modified for your
system’s configuration.

Configuring
-----------

Using notepad, edit the “device_list.txt” file.

The records are identified by special character in the first column.

*	The line is a comment.
t	A floating point number representing the number of hours to send updates.
u	An entry to update (IP Address, Port, Timeout, and Device Type)
^	The end of entries (and the end of the file).

When defining a ‘u’ entry, 1 is a UIO or LCE controller, 2 is an OptoController.


Here’s a snipped of the original “device_list.txt” file:

t 1.0
u 10.192.54.41 22001 3000 1
u 10.192.54.47 22001 3000 1
u 10.192.54.79 2001  3000 2
^

Operation
---------

The application is a simple loop. It waits the specified number of hours (in
floating point format) and then pushes the time update to all of the devices in
the list. The loop follows:

Program Entry:
	Initialization.
Loop_Start:
	Update all devices listed in “device_list.txt.”
	Wait the specified number of hours (in second intervals).
	Go back to Loop_Start.

The application does not compute network latency, nor synchronize to the exact
change of the PC’s clock. In short, the updates sent should be within a second
or two of the PC’s clock (and network latency). It’s helpful to have the PC’s
clock NTP or NIST synchronized. You may also purchase GPS connected software and
hardware should the PC be isolated from a reliable Internet connection.

The application utilizes TCP to communicate to the brains and controllers. The
connections are made only before a time update is sent and is immediately closed
thereafter.

The update interval is to allow the user to send updates as necessary. It’s
intended to be no less than one hour and typically updates should be sent every
several hours.

This app provides a way of keeping the brains and controllers consistent in
their time reporting.

Executing the Software
----------------------

To have the application auto-run, create an entry into Start->Programs->StartUp
and add the uio_time.exe into it. Make certain the properties also include the
same folder to “Start In.” When the application executes, a command prompt will
appear.

Errors that appear in the console will most likely be that the device could not
be found on the network. This means that either the device is off-line or exists
at an IP address that is not accessible to the PC.

To manually run the software, open a command prompt. Change directory to the
application folder and then execute the application name.


Questions, Comments, or Suggestions
-----------------------------------

Please send them to:
support@opto22.com
Please indicate about the “UIO Controller Time Sync Utility, Bryce”