xPC Target

Overview

The xPC Target Embedded Option allows you to boot the xPC Target kernel not only from a floppy disk drive, but also from other devices, including a flash disk or a hard disk drive. By using xPC Target Embedded Option, you can configure target PCs to automatically start execution of your embedded application for continuous operation each time the system is booted. You use this capability to deploy your own real-time applications on target PC hardware.

The xPC Target Embedded Option extends the xPC Target base product by adding two additional modes of operation:

• DOSLoader -- This mode of operation is used to start the kernel on the target PC not only from a floppy disk, but optionally to start it from a flash disk or a hard disk. The target PC then waits for the host computer to download a real-time application either using the RS232 serial connection or using TCP/IP network communication. Control and setting of starting, stopping, parameters, tracing, and other properties can be achieved from either the host PC or from the target PC.
• StandAlone -- This mode extends the DOSLoader mode. After starting the kernel on the target PC, StandAlone mode automatically starts execution of your target application for complete stand-alone operation. This eliminates the need for using a host computer and allows you to deploy real-time applications on PC hardware environments.

Whether you are using the xPC Target Embedded Option with the DOSLoader mode or the StandAlone mode, you initially boot your target PC with DOS from virtually any boot device. Then the kernel is invoked from DOS.

Note    The xPC Target Embedded Option requires a boot device with DOS installed. DOS software and license are not included with xPC Target or with the xPC Target Embedded Option.

During setup of either the DOSLoader mode or StandAlone mode, the xPC Target Setup window allows you to create files for installation on the target boot device. One of these files is an autoexec.bat file. When DOS starts, it invokes the autoexec.bat file, which in turn starts the xPC Target kernel on the target PC.

If you do not provide a target application and an autoexec.bat file to invoke your target application, xPC Target Embedded Option starts the kernel on your target PC and is ready to receive your target application whenever you build and download a new one from the host computer.

In comparison, when using xPC Target without the xPC Target Embedded Option, you can only download real-time applications to the target PC after booting from an xPC Target boot disk. Because of this, when using xPC Target without the Embedded Option, you are always required to use a target PC equipped with a floppy disk drive. However, there are several cases where your target system might not have a floppy disk drive or where the drive is removed after setting up the target system. These cases can be overcome by using the DOSLoader mode.

Introduction

DOSLoader Mode Overview