Simulator mode

Hi,
I need to run some complex config in simulator mode. I only installed from the CD and did an online upgrade. Does the standard distro include the simulator mode or must I recompile for that?

Secondly, If I did have to do a custom compile, will I still be able to use the standard distro on the same computer? It is a working computer that runs a machine

Use the version installed from packages for controlling your actual machine.
For testing and simulation, get the source with git, and configure both for simulator and for run-in-place.

Run in place means the git-version you build yourself will not be installed it will just sit in the git-directory and can be run from there.
Follow the instructions from the wiki, and at the configure step do:
./configure --enable-simulator --enable-run-in-place

without run-in-place a normal build + install will likely mess up the linuxcnc version you have installed from CD or packages.

Does the standard distro include the simulator mode or must I recompile for that?

If your computer can run the realtime system, it can run the sims too, the simulator package is really only for hardware that cannot run the realtime kernels.

Just check the configs under the sim tab on the startup config tree and choose the nearest to what you want and start from there.
Alternately, as I suggested before, hack the actual config to allow it to run as a sim.

regards

ArcEye wrote:

Does the standard distro include the simulator mode or must I recompile for that?

If your computer can run the realtime system, it can run the sims too, the simulator package is really only for hardware that cannot run the realtime kernels.

Just check the configs under the sim tab on the startup config tree and choose the nearest to what you want and start from there.
Alternately, as I suggested before, hack the actual config to allow it to run as a sim.

regards

Damn, that was not the reply I was hoping for. I run a very complex config that has two 5i23, two 7i33 and four 7i37 cards. There are a lot of custom IO, ladder logic and components. The config is arranged in three HAL files or more. Not a usual type of machine. I am under the impression that it would be more effort to get the simulated HAL environment to work than what it would be to do the real thing.
Why cant I just stick to normal stuff??

I am under the impression that it would be more effort to get the simulated HAL environment to work than what it would be to do the real thing

With that kind of setup you might be right.

If you were going to do a lot of them, you could even program a PLC to simulate a machine connected to the computer, but beyond whatever part you know is tried and proven, you might end up having to do a site visit (unless of course you could get remote access via VNC, with a webcam etc etc................)

I have to go to site eventually with the setup but I was hoping to debug at least the sanity stuff first. Things like typos, duplicate signals and the like. The logic will have to be tested on the machine anyway.

Hi Andy,
I do like the idea of the PyVcp although I have a fairly complex custom panel already. Many of the functions that need to be tested are already on the panel. There is a lot of hydraulic and pneumatic functions on the machine that is controlled from the panel. Part of my mission is to automate and synchronize some of these functions. There are three encoders on the X axis that is 30m long. Some of the logic incorporates some of the switch-over code that you shared with me much earlier on in the project. Now is the time to bring all the functions home and let the machine run itself.

The panel idea might also fall down unless I can load more than one panel. I dont even know if that is possible. If so, then that could be a way to go.
I was told today that I might have to construct several more of these monsters so a test environment is a must.

Silly question, could a large component to simulate the Mesa card IO not work instead of trying to simulate HostyMot2? Maybe coupled with a PyVcp to control some internal functions or variables and loop back the command signal as an encoder count. Then I load that instead of the actual Mesa card stuff. So the system will not have a HostMot2 just a component that provided the connectivity. Even if it is just for the signal names.

So I take it then that I can load multiple PyVcp floating panels?