1 INTRODUCTION

The INS Common Software Part 1, Data Transfer Library (dxf) described in this User Manual, provides services for fast transmission of large amounts of data, normally from LCU platforms to WS platforms. This library was initially intended for transfers of detector data but it can be used for any transfer of data including file transfers.

1.1 PURPOSE

The purpose of this manual is to describe the usage of the functions implemented for the data transfer in the VLT distributed control system, and also to provide other information in connection with the usage of these functions. Furthermore, the information necessary for installing the functions, using them in applications and testing them is provided.

1.2 SCOPE

It is the scope of this document to cover how the dxf functions can be used in applications which have a need for exchanging data. It is beyond the scope of the document to discuss in detail how these data are provided and handled after the reception. The dxf functions serve solely the purpose of ensuring a fast, reliable and user-friendly interface to the communication system.

1.3 APPLICABLE DOCUMENTS

This document and the work performed for the dxf module is based on the following documents:

[1] VLT-SPE-ESO-17240-0629, 1.0 13/04/94 --- Data Transfer Library - Design Document

[2] VLT-PRO-ESO-10000-0228, 1.0 10/03/93 --- VLT Software Programming Standards

1.4 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

The following documents are referenced in this document:

[3] VLT-SPE-ESO-17210-0560, 1.0, 25/01/94 --- CCS Message System - Design Description

[4] VLT-MAN-ESO-17210-0422, 3.0, 09/08/95 --- Q-Server Emulator - qsemu - User Manual

[5] VLT-MAN-ESO-17210-0373, 2.3, 09/02/95 --- LCU Q-Server - lqs - User Manual

[6] VLT-SPE-ESO-17210-0553, 1.0, 02/02/94 --- CCS Error System - Design Description

[7] VLT-SPE-ESO-17120-0270, 1.0, 07/04/94 --- VLT - LAN's Specification

1.5 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS

The following abbreviations and acronyms are used in this document:

API Application Programmatic Interface

CCS Central Control Software

DCS Detector Control SW

FDDI Fiber Distributed Data Interface

HW Hardware

I/O Input/Output

LAN Local Area Network

LCU Local Control Unit

SW Software

VLT Very Large Telescope

WS Workstation

1.6 STYLISTIC CONVENTIONS

The following styles are used:

teletype
for examples extracted from the source code, directory and file names, names of programs and functions, and commands as they have to be typed (e.g. in the installation procedure).

<name>
in the examples, for parts that have to be substituted with the real contents before typing.

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