FarSync OEM T4E - 4 port PCI / PCI-X multi clock source synchronous WAN communications card for VoIP

The FarSync OEM T4E PCI / PCI-X intelligent card is a 4 port transparent bitstream / HDLC board with multiple clock sourcing with multipliers and dividers suitable for providing WAN communications for VoIP and other requirements.

Overview

The FarSync OEM T4E card and software is part of a range of FarSite products designed to provide high performance hardware communications solutions for companies who wish to quickly develop their own VoIP and similar communications products without incurring the cost of having to develop and approve hardware. The Developers Toolkit is included with the product.

The T4E is a Universal PCI communications card (PCI and PCI-X compatible) with four independently configurable sync/async serial ports with and external synchronisation capability (eg GPS). Sync operation supports transparent bitstream and bitsync (HDLC) of up to 10 Mbits/s per line with a total card bandwidth of 60 Mbits/s.

One of the unique features of the T4E is the huge variety of clock source options, they can be:

• Internally generated using a local clock generator
• External from the WAN communications line
• External via a special CTbus (H.100) clock bus connector
• Sourced on one port then routed to the others
• Multiplied or divided per port to obtain the required rate
• Independently configurable for each line
  

The transparent bitstream option available with the APIs is suitable for VoIP (as a subsystem), video and voice such as T-DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting), DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) ETI (Ensemble Transport Interface - ETSI 300799).

Windows: The product supports the standard Windows SDCI API, providing applications with direct access to the card's communications port/s for asynchronous, bit synchronous (HDLC) framing, and also transparent bitstream operation for video and voice type applications. The special clocking features are all accessible though the SDCI interface. Async support is also provided by the Win32 COMM interface as well as the SDCI IOCTLs.

Linux: Support is included for the Linux Raw Sockets API that allows HDLC frames and transparent bitstream data to be sent and received. It also allows selection of the full range of clock modes. Full documentation, source code for the Linux driver and a sample application demonstrating both modes of operation is provided.

Typical Applications

The FarSync OEM T4E is particularly suitable for VoIP applications where clock synchronisation or widely variable clock speeds are required. Examples of such applications include:

• Reproduction of legacy Audio streams across the TCP/IP networks (VoIP) using Satellite (GPS) clock source synchronisation
• Interfacing DAB ETI (Ensemble Transport Interface - ETSI 300799) transparent bit streams to Servers
• Interfacing high speed MPEG Video bit streams T-DMB ETI to Servers
• High speed multi-port HDLC framing support for non standard or specialist protocols
• Network clock synchronisation

FarSync OEM T4E Line Status Utility

FarSync OEM T4E Hardware

The card comprises a AMD processor with 1 Mbyte of on board no wait state SRAM. The whole memory space may be mapped via the PCI / PCI-X interface to the PC/Server. The AMD processor contains a quad embedded HDLC / transparent controller with SDMA access (128 buffers per port) and a full range of timers.

The T4E supports four synchronous ports which can run to speeds of up to 8.192 Mbits/s full duplex internally clocked and 10 Mbits/s externally clocked. Total bandwidth supported by the card is 60 Mbits/s. A quad port UART (async controller) is included. Async or Sync operation is dynamically selectable on each port.

Network Interfaces

The multi function line drivers available on the card support RS232C (V.24), X.21 (RS422, V.11), V.35, RS530 (EIA530) and RS449 network interfaces, all soft configurable and protected from static charges by ESD protection devices.

Clock Generation, Detection and Selection

Five on-board frequency synthesisers are configurable for generating clocks for the CTBus (H.100) and/or to the 4 serial ports.

Internally sourced clocks

Internally generated clocks to drive a serial communications port can be derived from either an on-board 8.192MHz clock (32ppm) or an CTBus bus clock and can be set to 160 different frequencies between 300 baud and 8.192 Mbits/s, the complete list is in the table below:

 

Table of internally generated clock rates supported by the T4E
300	600	1200	2400	4800	7200	8000	9600	12000	14400	16000	16800
19200	21600	24000	26400	28800	31200	32000	33600	36000	38400	40000	40800
43200	48000	56000	64000	80000	96000	112000	128000	160000	192000	224000	256000
320000	384000	448000	512000	576000	640000	704000	768000	832000	896000	960000	1024000
1088000	1152000	1216000	1280000	1344000	1408000	1472000	1536000	1600000	1664000	1728000	1792000
1856000	1920000	1984000	2048000	2112000	2176000	2240000	2304000	2368000	2432000	2496000	2560000
2624000	2688000	2752000	2816000	2880000	2944000	3008000	3072000	3136000	3200000	3264000	3328000
3392000	3456000	3520000	3584000	3648000	3712000	3776000	3840000	3904000	3968000	4032000	4096000
4160000	4224000	4288000	4352000	4416000	4480000	4544000	4608000	4672000	4736000	4800000	4864000
4928000	4992000	5056000	5120000	5184000	5248000	5312000	5376000	5440000	5504000	5568000	5632000
5696000	5760000	5824000	5888000	5952000	6016000	6080000	6144000	6208000	6272000	6336000	6400000
6464000	6528000	6592000	6656000	6720000	6784000	6848000	6912000	6976000	7040000	7104000	7168000
7232000	7296000	7360000	7424000	7488000	7552000	7616000	7680000	7744000	7808000	7872000	7936000
8000000	8064000	8128000	8192000

Many other frequencies can be synthesized to order, contact us to discuss your requirements.

Externally sourced clocks

External clocks received from a serial port and used to a drive serial communications port can be any frequency up to 1000KHz.
A CTBus (H.100 bus) clock may be generated from a received serial port clock for the following sub-set of frequencies: 38400, 57600, 64k, 128k, 256k, 512k, 1024k, 2048k, 4096k and 8192k.

Terminal Timing

Terminal Timing is supported to enable system-wide clock synchronisation.

Clock Routing

Clocks sourced from one port can be routed to drive the other ports.

Clock Speed Detection

A 16-bit timer enables differentiation between the clock frequencies, enabling auto-configuration of clock synthesisers when cables are connected.

H.100 Bus - Special clocking options

The T4E supports a subset of the CTBus (H.100) interface to enable synchronisation of serial ports(s) to the H.100 bus (both master and slave modes), with CT_C8_A, CT_C8_B, CT_FRAME_A and CT_FRAME_B signals and jumper-selectable signal terminations. Serial port data is not frame aligned. This is of particular use in VoIP applications where a data on a line must be exactly reproduced at another location without slip.

In CT_Bus Slave mode, the CTBus clock (auto-selected with A being primary) can be used as a clock source to derive serial port clock(s).

In CT_Master mode, the CTbus clock (either A or B) can be derived from either a received serial port clock or an internal oscillator

PC / Server PCI and PCI-X Compatibility

The FarSync T4E card is suitable for systems with a PCI or PCI-X bus, covering single processor systems, all multiprocessor systems and processors featuring HyperThreading technology, including Pentium 4, Xeon and Xeon-MP CPUs. The card is PCI revision 2.2 compliant with support for both 3.3 and 5 volt signaling, the power for the card is taken from the 3.3 volt supply rail. The card may be fitted in either 32-bit PCI bus slots or 64-bit PCI-X bus slots as this Universal PCI card will work perfectly well in both.

If you are not sure about your particular system, contact us and we can provide advice on the card that is most suitable for your System.

Multiple Cards

The drivers supplied with Windows and Linux allow large numbers of ports to be supported by the installation of multiple FarSync OEM T4E cards in a Server. Typically 12 or more cards (48+ ports) can be supported; the card limit is only dependent on the resources available in the host Server.

Windows SDCI API

The FarSync OEM T4E card and software provides support for an enhanced SDCI (Synchronous Dumb Card Interface) API.

Synchronous data

The SDCI API has been extended to allow applications to exactly control the type of data sent and received in both bit synchronous (HDLC framed) data and transparent bitstream formats. The SDCI SDK contains everything a user needs to rapidly develop and test applications for such requirements as supporting specialist synchronous protocols or transparent data requirements such as Audio, MPEG Video T-DMB and DAB ETI. The unique clocking options are selectable and configurable from the API.

Asynchronous Data

To operate a port with asynchronous data under Windows 2000/XP, the FarSync driver supports a subset of the standard Win32 COMM API as detailed in Microsoft's MSDN Documentation. This enables applications that currently interface to standard serial ports on Windows to be easily ported to use FarSync ports in asynchronous mode. As an alternative to using the Win32 COMM interface, SDCI clients also have the option of using much of the same code to support FarSync ports in either asynchronous or synchronous modes e.g. the same data transfer IOCTLs.

Sample Applications

A number of easy to follow sample applications are provided demonstrating the wide variety of features available with the card. This includes a kernel mode sample for those customers who require the ultimate performance. GUI based feature demonstration and test utilities are supplied capable of using the wide range of features supported by the card.

Further information on the SDCI API

 

Screenshot of SDCIDemo utility program that tests and demonstrates the FarSync OEM T4E's capabilities

Configuration

The product is easy to install and configure, the T4E card is 'plug-and-play' compatible supporting Windows XP, 2000 and Server 2003. Typically 12 or more cards (48+ ports) can be supported on a single Server; the card limit is only dependent on the PCI slots resources available in the Server. There is On-line help and documentation.

Configuration Utility Screens

Linux Raw Sockets API

The Linux API allows applications to send and receive HDLC format (bitsync) frames and also transparent bitstreams with the raw sockets based API. The sample application supplied with the Developers Toolkit demonstrates both modes of operation.

Data rates of up to 10 Mbits/s are supported, with all the ports individually selectable for speed, clocking direction and mode of operation (HDLC or Transparent). Frame sizes up to 32 Kbytes are supported in HDLC mode to allow support for a wide variety of specialist synchronous protocols. The transparent bit stream is suitable for transparent data requirements such as Audio, MPEG Video T-DMB and DAB ETI. The unique clocking options available with the FarSync OEM T4E are selectable and configurable from the API. The API allow the full range of internal clock speeds to be selected.

The source for the application and drivers is included, with the Linux API manual provided in Abode PDF format. The driver is supported under kernel version 2.4 and 2.6 for both single CPU and SMP 32 and 64 bit machines. Typically 12 or more cards (48+ ports) can be supported on a single Server; the card limit is only dependent on the PCI slots resources available in the Server, the maximum within Linux is 32. For further information on the API see the Linux HDLC / Transparent API Manual (pdf).

Product Packaging

The product includes:

Card drivers for Windows Extended SDCI and Linux Raw Sockets APIs,
Documentation supplied on CD-ROM,
A quick start guide, the communications adapter,
The Developers Toolkit for the SDCI API and Raw Sockets API
Utility applications

Cables for the card have their own product codes and are order separately.

Technical Specifications
Product Name	FarSync OEM T4E
Product Code	FS5444
Warranty	5 years
Port Count and Features	4 Synchronous / Asynchronous ports, soft configurable on each port.
Hardware Features
card type and size	AMD Processor with 1 Mbyte SRAM, Intelligent bus mastering Universal PCI card, Short card (height 107mm, length 167mm), 100 pin HIPPI connector for the network connections, CTBus (H.100 bus) for external clocking connection Memory mapped and DMA PC interface
Network Interfaces	RS232C (V.24, X.21bis) - 25 pin male D type, X.21 (RS422, V.11) - 15 pin male D type, V.35 - MRAC-34 male 'brick' type, RS530 (EIA530) - 25 pin male D type, RS449 - 37 pin male D type
Link speed range Synchronous	X21, RS530, RS449: up to 8.192 Mbits/s internal clocked, 10 Mbits/s externally clocked, V.35: 2 Mbits/s or 8.192 Mbits/s with termination, RS232C: up to 128 Kbits/s
Link speed range Asynchronous	RS232C, X.21: 110, 150, 300, 600, 1200, 2400, 4800, 9600, 19200, 38.4K, 57.6K & 115.2 Kbits/s
Maximum total bandwidth	60 Mbits/s
PCI / PCI-X bus interface	PLX PCI9054 - bus mastering, DMA enabled, Universal signaling PCI-X compatible, PCI v2.2 compliant, Supports 3.3 & 5 volt signaling, Suitable for 32 and 64 bit PCI bus slots
Multiple cards	12 or more; only dependant of the number of PCI slots available on the server
Line indicators	4 LEDs one per port showing line connection status
ESD Protection	Yes, Littelfuse high speed ESD and over-voltage protection
MTBF	141,438 hours calculated using Bellcore Method 1 Case 3, 40 deg.C ambient, 15 deg.C case temperature rise above ambient
Approvals	EN55022 class B, CE, FCC class B
RoHS Compliance	See the RoHS news item
Power requirements	< 1.75 A @ +3.3v, < 10mA @ +/- 12v, < 6 watt. Note: 5 volt supply not required
Line clocking - internal	Internal clock range: over 160 different frequencies between 300 baud and 8.192 Mbits/s. See the complete list. No special cables are required to use internal clocks. Internal clocking is supported on RS530, RS232C, X.21, V.35 and RS449 connections
Line clocking - external	External clocks received from a serial port and used to a drive serial communication sport can be any frequency up to 8.192MHz. For a specific sub-set of frequencies (38400, 57600, 64k, 128k, 256k, 512k, 1024k, 2048k, 4096k, 8192k) an H.100 bus clock may be derived from a received serial port clock.
Terminal timing	Terminal Timing is supported to enable system-wide clock synchronisation.
Clock speed detection	A 16-bit timer enables differentiation between the clock frequencies listed above, enabling auto-configuration of clock synthesisers when cables are connected.
H.100 Bus - special clocking options	The T4E supports a subset of the H.100 interface to enable synchronisation of serial ports(s) to the H.100 bus in both master and slave modes.
Cables	Cables are ordered separately, see the Cables section for details
Software Features
Example Applications	Linux Raw Sockets sample application, Windows SDCI sample application, Windows Kernel level sample application. All example applications are in C, source provided.
Line Drivers	Fully functional bit sync and transparent bitstreaming line drivers supplied for Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003 and Linux. The Linux driver includes source and is supported under kernel versions 2.4 and 2.6 for both single CPU and SMP 32 and 64 bit machines.
Utility Applications	Windows and Linux applications demonstrating the cards features.
Manuals
Programming Manual	Programming Reference manuals in PDF format provided, includes details on the hardware and sample software.
API Manuals	FarSync OEM Linux Raw Sockets Reference Manual, FarSync Windows SDCI SDK Reference Manual

Cables

This four port card uses a single large high density 100 pin HIPPI type connector, all four lines are available though this connector. The quad port cable HCR4 attaches to the T4E card and splits out the four network interfaces into separate network connectors to provide support for EIA-530 and RS232C. X.21, V.25 and RS449 are available through transition connectors. Details of the cables and converters available are listed in the table below. Crossover cables, sometimes referred to as null modem cables are available, they are also detailed in the table.

FarSync OEM T4E - Compatible Cables
Product Name	Cable Photos	Description	Product Code
Cables for the FarSync OEM T4E
HCR4		HCR4, Quad port EIA-530 and RS232C cable, 2.0 metres for use with FarSync OEM T4E cards. Also supports X.21, V.35 and RS449 interfaces with addition of conversion cables TCX1, TCV1 and TC449 respectively.	FS6076
TCX1		TCX1, X.21 (V.11) DB-15M 1 port HCR4 cable to X.21 transition connector for the FarSync OEM T4E card	FS6052
TCV1		TCV1, V.35 V.35M 1 port HCR4 cable to V.35 transition connector for the FarSync OEM T4E card	FS6053
TC449		TC449, RS449 DB-37M 1 port HCR4 cable to RS449 transition connector for the FarSync OEM T4E card	FS6054
Special Purpose Cables for all T-Series cards
Null-MX		X.21 double shielded crossover cable, 15 pin D type female connectors, 0.5 metres. Suitable for FarSync T-Series cards, see pinouts	FS6090
X21-EXT		X.21 double shielded 15 metre extension cable, 15 pin D type female to 15 pin D type male connector	FS6091
Null-MR3		V.24 (RS232C) double shielded crossover cable, 25 pin D type female connectors, 0.5 metres. Suitable for FarSync T-Series cards, see pinouts	FS6092