4. Creating an eXpressWare enabled VxWorks kernel

4.1. Edit kernel configurations

To be able to create a new VxWorks kernel image from a Curtiss-Wright BSP you need an updated VxWorks Source Build (VSB) project, i.e., the project must be based on a BSP that includes Dolphin eXpressWare drivers. Please refer to the WindRiver documentation for instructions on how to create a VSB project based on a BSP.

Figure 4.1. VxWorks Workbench: Edit Kernel Configurations

VxWorks Workbench: Edit Kernel Configurations

Based on this updated VSB project, a VxWorks Image Project (VIP) must be created. As seen in Figure 4.1, “VxWorks Workbench: Edit Kernel Configurations”, the first step to adding eXpressWare PCIe drivers is to edit the "Kernel Configuration". This is achieved in Workbench by right-clicking on your VIP project (in Project Explorer) and then choosing "Edit Kernel Configuration".

4.2. Adding core eXpressWare components

Figure 4.2. VxWorks Workbench: Include DIS eXpressWare Drivers

VxWorks Workbench: Include DIS eXpressWare Drivers


By choosing "Edit Kernel Configuration", a new editor tab is created, see Figure 4.2, “VxWorks Workbench: Include DIS eXpressWare Drivers”. In this tab, locate the folder "DIS eXpressWare Software Components", found in the "BSP Device Drivers" folder.

By right-clicking on the folder and choosing "Include (Quick)", the default component ("DIS eXpressWare Drivers") is included. Note that including a component should automatically highlight its name in bold, see Figure 4.3, “VxWorks Workbench: Automatic NodeId configuration”.

4.3. Automatic NodeId configuration

The recommended way to configure the PCI Express cluster is by using the automatic NodeId assignment.

Figure 4.3. VxWorks Workbench: Automatic NodeId configuration

VxWorks Workbench: Automatic NodeId configuration


The eXpressWare driver and its user applications require an unique NodeId to be assigned to every compute node in a cluster. This NodeId can be automatically configured based on the geographical address of the board, i.e. the chassis slot it is installed in.

To enable this auto-configuration, include the "DIS eXpressWare Node Auto ID" component as shown in Figure 4.3, “VxWorks Workbench: Automatic NodeId configuration”. More information on Cluster configuration can be found in Section 5, “Configuring the Cluster Nodes”

In case the board does not have a valid geographical address (e.g. XMC boards) and the BSP function returns 0 as the slot number, NodeId 4 will be used by default. In order to avoid conflicts with a board in slot 1 the NodeId for slot 0 can be set by the EXPRESSWARE_SLOT_0_NODEID parameter as shown in Figure 4.4, “VxWorks Workbench: NodeId setting for Slot 0”.

Figure 4.4. VxWorks Workbench: NodeId setting for Slot 0

VxWorks Workbench: NodeId setting for Slot 0


4.4. Adding eXpressWare demo Applications

Select the appropriate SISCI demo and benchmark applications to be included.

Figure 4.5. VxWorks Workbench: eXpressWare applications

VxWorks Workbench: eXpressWare applications


To add examples and benchmarking applications to the kernel image, right click on the "DIS eXpressWare Applications" folder (Figure 4.5, “VxWorks Workbench: eXpressWare applications”). This brings up a pop-up window, see Figure 4.6, “VxWorks Workbench: Select demo applications”, from which you can choose the applications to include. When your happy with your selection, click "Finish".

Figure 4.6. VxWorks Workbench: Select demo applications

VxWorks Workbench: Select demo applications


4.5. Building the new Kernel Images

After adding eXpressWare drivers and applications, you need to build the new kernel image. As shown in Figure 4.7, “VxWorks Workbench: Build Project” below, this is done by right-clicking the VIP project and choosing "Build Project" and then building the preferred kernel target. E.g. Figure 4.8, “VxWorks Workbench: Build specific Target” below shows how to build a U-Boot image. Note that the new kernel image must then be made available for the target during boot.

Figure 4.7. VxWorks Workbench: Build Project

VxWorks Workbench: Build Project


Figure 4.8. VxWorks Workbench: Build specific Target

VxWorks Workbench: Build specific Target


4.6. Booting the new kernel

Boot all target systems using the new VxWorks kernel