Newsgroups: comp.sys.transputer
From: andyr@wizzy.com (Andy Rabagliati)
Subject: Re: Q: sources for ispy, Parsytec boards
Keywords: ispy sources parsytec request
Organization: W.Z.I.
Date: Wed, 11 May 1994 18:37:51 GMT
Message-ID: <CpnIF4.3Io@wizzy.com>

>The transputer-clusters which I access consist of Parsytec-boards,
>which have a different reset- and error-handling than "normal" boards.
>The old INMOS-Toolset (under MSDOS) provided an ispy, which is missing
>under this version.

The sources for ispy are in two parts - C (for running on the host) and
occam for the transputers.

The C is very portable.

The occam code is for some prehistoric version of the toolset.

I have updated it to the current D7305A - PC occam. When I am happy with
it, I shall put it back on hensa.

The makefile creates C tables of code to be downloaded dynamically to
the transputer network. I have a perl script that replaces the C tool
that used to perform this function.

ispy goes through a number of phases (visible with the /i switch)

1) Are you a T2, T4, or C004 ?
2) Perform internal RAM test
3) What speed, rev transputer are you, what speed link ?
4) Load check core - start doing the same for neighbouring transputers.

Somewhere in stage 4, the core needs to reset neighbouring transputers,
for a Parsytec system. It does not do so presently. However, if one of
those neighboring transputers happens to be yourself (a loopback link)
or a processor closer to the host (a ring, perhaps) ispy could get
lost, as a previously working transputer has been unexpectedly reset.

All phases are under control of the C program, so a different search
algorithm could be implemented, or we could just start again, remembering
not to do the fatal reset this time.

If anyone is serious in doing the work for a Parsytec port, and has
time, has D7305a, a C compiler, and perl, I could lend some assistance.
I do not see it as trivial, though.

I also do consulting.

Cheers,    Andy.


--
To see the world in a grain of sand,        Andy Rabagliati   andyr@wizzy.com
and heaven in a wild flower,                                W.Z.I. Consulting
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand,
and eternity in an hour.	-- William Blake

