System information

7
Monitor Packet
Information on
Parallel Data Buses
Your networking hardware uses
parallel data buses such as
UTOPIA or a proprietary parallel
interface to communicate between
communications processors, net-
work processors, custom ASICs,
or physical interface chip sets.
The data communications tool set
allows developers to view parallel
bus data at a protocol level on the
logic analyzer.
With a higher abstraction view of
the data combined with the
powerful time-correlation features
of the logic analyzer, Agilent
Technologies equips designers
with a new debugging capability
to find complex system-level bus
interaction problems combined
with protocol information from
parallel data paths.
The powerful protocol trigger
macro allows easy trigger setup by
eliminating the need to manually
configure the trigger sequencer for
complex measurements. All
custom-defined protocol fields
or layers are supported in the
trigger macro.
All packets or cells are time-
stamped in the logic analyzer for
time-correlation measurements
with other system buses such as
a microprocessor, memory inter-
face, PCI bus, or other UTOPIA
bus. All state listing and waveform
displays in the logic analyzer are
time-correlated with global mark-
ers for a complete view of the sys-
tem. With this tool, it is possible
to trigger the logic analyzer with a
microprocessor event and see
what is happening on a parallel
data bus with protocol information.
By monitoring multiple time-
correlated data buses, you can
monitor a packet entering one
ASIC and see how long it takes for
the packet to reach another part of
the system. The powerful trigger
can also monitor a packet entering
one port and trigger if the packet
has not reached another port by a
designated time.
The data communications tool
set supports data buses up to 32
bits wide.
Data Communications Tool Set
Obtain Answers to the
Following Questions
• What is the time difference
between two or more data paths
and/or a microprocessor?
• Did a packet make it through the
switch or router?
• Why did a packet take so long to
go through the switch or router?
• Where did an illegal packet come
from?
• What is the latency on packet
information?
• What is corrupting packets?
Product Description
The Agilent Technologies B4640B
data communications tool set adds
protocol analysis capabilities to
the logic analyzer for viewing par-
allel data buses in a switching or
routing system. Each protocol
layer is displayed with a different
color in the logic analyzer lister
display to allow easy viewing of
the protocol data. Payload infor-
mation is included after the header
in a raw hex format. Filters are
included to allow many different
views of the data. Protocol layers
can be collapsed or expanded to
create a custom view of the data
acquired in the logic analyzer.
With the filters, you can concen-
trate on the data of interest for a
particular measurement.