Vanguard VME

Bus Analyzer, Exerciser & Protocol Checker for VMEbus

• Networked VME Bus Analyzer with built-in Ethernet port
• 2-MSample Trace Buffer at 256 bits
• Supports VME, VME64, 2eVME and 2eSST
• Functions operate concurrently and independently
• Protocol Checker and Exerciser

The Vanguard VME Bus Analyzer supports new VME standards—including 2eSST—and is an all-inclusive solution for VMEbus analysis, protocol error detection and exercising.

The bus analyzer can be controlled from a Windows PC and BusView graphical user interface or an Application Programming Interface (API) by way of a USB or Ethernet connection. Ethernet greatly expands the capabilities of the analyzer. It enables the user to connect to other Vanguard analyzers anywhere on the network. The analyzer can be powered through the target system or from an external power supply, as is the case with all Curtiss-Wright analyzers. We offer users extensive online technical support.

State Analyzer
The Vanguard VME’s State Analyzer captures and displays VMEbus activity in Timing or State modes. It employs highly advanced—and simple to use—filtering, triggering and counting capabilities. Curtiss-Wright's VME Bus Analyzers—unlike logic analyzers—know the bus protocol, making it possible for them to derive sampling clocks from the bus cycles at the critical moments. This provides the user a complete trace of all types of activity, including interrupt, arbitration, RMW cycles, block cycles, etc.

Exerciser
The optional (-VE) Exerciser available for the Vanguard VME is a powerful, flexible and simple-to-use Master that includes a DMA engine, a System Controller, a Slave memory, and an Interrupt Generator and Handler. All functions are capable of running concurrently, and test scripts can be made and tasks automated through a flexible script feature. The user interface, featuring dialog boxes, provides for streamlined control of the exerciser. The built-in script recording and playback capability—with programmable delay and loop functions—automates the exerciser.

Protocol Checker
An optional protocol checker (-VP) for the VMEbus is available for the Vanguard VME Bus Analyzer. This valuable, well-rounded feature automatically identifies up to 60 VME errors. The protocol checker makes it possible for users to uncover bus hardware errors without having to understand the nature of the problem. This feature can screen for bus errors in the background while other Vanguard analyzer functions run—such as the state analyzer and the bus utilization statistics. In instances when the protocol checker is utilized as the trigger source for analyzers, the state and timing analyzers will provide a complete account of bus activity around the time of an identified error. This gives the user information that can be used to help identify and correct the issue.