Kithara »Packet Toolkit« - Gigabit-Ethernet in Real-Time under Windows

As a specialist for real-time communication and hardware dependent programming Kithara Software has extended their »Packet Toolkit«. It allows realization of communication solutions which use gigabit Ethernet transfer. The »Packet Toolkit« is a programming tool for developers, who want to realize Ethernet data communication in real-time under Windows. This tool thus can be used successfully in the industrial automation, such as PC-based control or motion drive engineering. Up to now the »Packet Toolkit« allows IP data communication for specific fast ethernet cards (IntelPro/100 and

RealTek 8139). Because of further development the software now also supports network interface cards with gigabit Ethernet controllers Pro/1000 of Intel. This enables developers to realize communication applications for fast measurement acquirement or industrial image processing, where gigabit transfer rates are required. Kithara Software focuses on easy applicable tools. This enables the user to develop the application fast and effectively without to spend much effort for practicing. The developer stays in his usual programming environment (C++ or Delphi) and uses here the compact function API.

In order to realize real-time for time-critical applications under Windows, the »Packet Toolkit« replaces the slow Windows driver mechanisms. So it provides the full bandwidth of the connection. Here it allows the immediate real-time reaction to incoming data packets. The »Packet Toolkit« supports the transport of any desired ethernet data packets including IP. It provides functions for CRC calculation and byteorder conversion. Specific features of the Intel Pro/1000 controller family are supported. So the software also provides the transfer of jumbo frames up to 16 KByte. The software runs on the Windows operating systems, including Windows Vista (32 Bit). In order to simplify the programming the software provides an interface for device communication (ReadFile, WriteFile, DeviceIoControl) which allows any desired device names or the generation of virtual COM ports. The »Packet Toolkit« comes with numerous application examples and is integrated in the product range Kithara »RealTime Suite«. Under www.kithara.de a free demo version, further information and a price-list are available. The Kithara Software GmbH, founded 1996, has become a specialist for hardware dependent programming, real-time and communication solutions, especially for the Windows operating systems. Kithara Software focuses on tools for driver development. The company provides real-time extensions for Windows to clients in a broad range of industrial automation. Kithara Software offers easy-to-use tools for hardware dependent programming for PCI and USB and expands the focus to real-time Ethernet communication, such as EtherCAT. Kithara Software GmbH Alte Jakobstr. 82 10179 Berlin Tel. +49 30 2789 67 30 Fax. +49 30 2789 67 320 info@kithara.de