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Configuring Sapera
Viewing Installed Sapera Servers
The Sapera configuration program (Start • Programs • DALSA • Sapera LT • Sapera Configuration) allows the user to see all available Sapera servers for the installed Sapera-compatible boards.
The System entry represents the system server. It corresponds to the host machine (your computer) and is the only server that should always be present. As shown in the following screen image, server index 1 is the installed X64-CL iPro board.
Increasing Contiguous Memory for Sapera Resources
The Contiguous Memory section lets the user specify the total amount of contiguous memory (a block of physical memory, occupying consecutive addresses) reserved for the resources needed for Sapera
buffers allocation and Sapera messaging. For both items, the Requested value dialog box shows the
driver default memory setting while the Allocated value displays the amount of contiguous memory that has been allocated successfully. The default values will generally satisfy the needs of most applications.
The Sapera buffers value determines the total amount of contiguous memory reserved at boot time for the allocation of dynamic resources used for host frame buffer management such as DMA descriptor tables plus other kernel needs. Adjust this value higher if your application generates any out-of-memory error while allocating host frame buffers. You can approximate the amount of contiguous memory required as follows:
X64-CL iPro Series User's Manual
Installing the X64-CL iPro • 19
• Calculate the total amount of host memory used for frame buffers
( number of frame buffers • number of pixels per line • number of lines • (2 - if buffer is 10 or 12 bits) ).
• Provide 1MB for every 256 MB of host frame buffer memory required.
• Add an additional 1 MB if the frame buffers have a short line length, say 1k or less
( the increased number of individual frame buffers requires more resources ).
• Add an additional 2 MB for various static and dynamic Sapera resources.
• Test for any memory error when allocating host buffers. Simply use the Buffer menu of the
Sapera Grab demo program (see "
Using the Grab Demo " on page 53
) to allocate the number of host buffers required for your acquisition source. Feel free to test the maximum limit of host buffers possible on your host system – the Sapera Grab demo will not crash when the requested number of host frame buffers cannot be allocated.
Host Computer Frame Buffer Memory Limitations
When planning a Sapera application and its host frame buffers used, plus other Sapera memory resources, do not forget the Windows operating system memory needs. Window XP as an example, should always have a minimum of 128 MB for itself.
A Sapera application using scatter gather buffers could consume most of the remaining system memory.
When using frame buffers allocated as a single contiguous memory block, typical limitations are one third of the total system memory with a maximum limit of approximately 100 MB. See the Buffer menu of the
Sapera Grab demo program for information on selecting the type of host buffer memory allocation.
Contiguous Memory for Sapera Messaging
The current value for Sapera messaging determines the total amount of contiguous memory reserved at boot time for messages allocation. This memory space is used to store arguments when a Sapera function is called. Increase this value if you are using functions with large arguments, such as arrays and experience any memory errors.
20 • Installing the X64-CL iPro
X64-CL iPro Series User's Manual
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