Optimizing multi-card setup

Rob van Berkel · Post by **Rob van Berkel** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 8:34 am

Hello group,
I have recently purchased a Scope SRB card to accompany my Pulsar2 and XTC boards. I can just add the scope board in the PC, trying to find a free IRQ, and have fun, but I wonder if I could optimize the setup, technically.
I was for example thinking to put the pulsar2 IO board on the Scope board, making it the 'master-board' but will that do anything to interrupt- or pci-bandwidth usage?
I read somewhere that I should install the Scope board first, but my SFP is registered to the Pulsar2 board, so that will not be possible.
Do the boards share PCI-bandwidth with each other or does only one board generate PCI-traffic?
Any ideas, thoughts and advice is greatly apreciated.
Cheers,
Rob

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 10:08 am

Hi Rob,

Let's take an example of 3 different cards: Scope SRB, Pulsar2, Pulsar1.

Moving the IO board to Scope card sounds logical, it's leaner on STDM: most processing is done one the Scope, and mixers can be locked to that card as well as software IO (see cset.ini).

Then there's the Pulsar2, now an SRB since Scope took the IO daughterboard, and a Pulsar1. The Pulsar2 has 2 STDM, I never encountered STDM problems on that card. The Pulsar1 has only one STDM connector, I did experience a couple of issues with that. So...

I would install Pulsar2 (SRB) in the first PCI slot. Scope with IO daughterboard in second, Pulsar1 in third. Then edit cset.ini and make sure Scope is adressed to for the software IO. Other setups will work too of course! It's a bit of a workaround, but is probably the best optimised configuration, as I recently explained to someone who experienced STS and STDM problems. The tips solved both of his problems.

yes, only the card who comes first for cset.ini is used for PCI traffic. The registration keys are valid as long as the card to which the registration is given, is installed correctly on that machine. Doesn't matter where you put itm as long as it's there

Here's a topic from over one year ago, dealing w same issue... http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... 7&forum=19

Rob van Berkel · Post by **Rob van Berkel** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 5:18 pm

Atomic!
Funny to read the old thread... I participated in it, I had a scope back then but had to sell it because I needed the Euro's
But now I have a scope again, and was in doubt about what to do. Forgot what I did and what I advised a year ago. Guess the years start counting

What entries in cset.ini are you referring to?
About the DSP count mentioned in the old thread: I verified that when adding the io-board to the scope you loose one dsp. When the scope is like a SRB all 15 DSP's are available.
Cheers,
Rob

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[ This Message was edited by: Rob van Berkel on 2003-10-29 17:20 ]

bassdude · Post by **bassdude** » Wed Oct 29, 2003 6:25 pm

You shouldn't have to hunt around for irq's. Just share the one irq with all 3 boards.

at0m · Post by **at0m** » Thu Oct 30, 2003 4:56 am

While your installing a new card, check out the IRQ priority order:

http://www.planetz.com/forums/viewtopic ... tart=80&82

[ This Message was edited by: at0mic on 2003-10-30 05:18 ]

Sunshine · Post by **Sunshine** » Fri Oct 31, 2003 4:34 am

What about optimizing two Scopes?

I´ve made the experience that two Scopes cascaded to 30 dsps, both set to IRQ 5, will give about 70% of the dsp power. Only when set to IRQ 5 and 10, I could nearly max out both cards. I was able to utilize 95% dsp power. My findings have been confirmed by Creamware tech support. Has anyone made similar experiences?

Bernhard/

[ This Message was edited by: Sunshine on 2003-10-31 10:15 ]