STAR-System

Support for Python and ARM Targets in STAR-System v5.00

18 February 2022

The STAR-System software suite has provided the drivers, APIs and applications to our SpaceFibre and SpaceWire products for over 10 years and continues to be updated with new features and improvements in each release. The latest major release, version 5.00, includes two features which we regularly receive requests for: an API for the Python programming language and a new Linux installer supporting ARM targets such as the Raspberry Pi and BeagleBone.

Other new features include a new API to support creation and processing of CCSDS Space Packet Protocol and Transfer Frame packets, and new graphical applications providing RMAP Initiator and Triggering functionality. The Source and Sink graphical applications have been updated to include graphs to visually represent statistics when transmitting and receiving, while there are numerous other improvements and bug fixes.

Version 5.00 has been successfully tested on Windows 11 and Linux kernel compatibility has been tested up to kernel v5.16.9. As with all STAR-System releases, version 5.00 is backwards compatible with previous releases and so any software developed for an earlier version will work with this latest release without requiring any modifications.

STAR-System version 5.00 is now available for download for registered users through the Support area of our website. If you don’t already have access to these downloads, please register your product on our Product Registration page.

STAR-System version 5.00 with Python support and new graphical applications

STAR-System is launched!

30 March 2012

STAR-System GUIs

STAR-Dundee is proud to unveil their new software stack: STAR-System.

The new system architecture has been designed as a minimal layer with a single programming interface, STAR-API, that is consistent across all supported operating systems. Written from scratch with the extensive knowledge gained from previous stacks, with all dependencies on third party code removed, has allowed the entire stack to be specifically optimised for speed and efficiency targeting SpaceWire applications.

STAR-API itself has been developed specifically for test and development, not just transmitting and receiving packets, but providing the functionality to, for example, transmit time-codes in sequence with data characters, and terminate packets with EEPs.

STAR-System is the software provided for accessing all new and future router and interface devices. The first STAR-Dundee products using STAR-System are the Mk2 interface device family including PCI Mk2, cPCI Mk2 and PMC Mk2.

STAR-System advances include support for:

  • 64-bit versions of Windows and Linux.
  • Running 32-bit applications on 64-bit operating systems.
  • Newer Linux kernels.
  • Multiple applications accessing the same device at one time.
  • Support for additional operating systems such as QNX
  • … and improved API documentation, examples, and application notes.

 

STAR-System includes GUI applications for both Windows and Linux, provided to make it easier for users to get started using STAR-Dundee devices. The new GUI applications provide a simple interface to the most common functions for users getting started with SpaceWire devices and systems: Device and Link configuration, Transmit and Receive packets, and Transmit and Receive statistics. Additional GUI features to be released very soon include: Packet Generator and Packet Checker, and Error Injection.