QNX4/6 Message Passing

QNX Newsgroups (Archives) comp.os.qnx
1

Hi,
Quick question:
We have a legacy system built on QNX4.26 (7 nodes). Impractical cost and
schedule wise to upgrade this sytem to QNX6.

We want to interface to a new system (multiple nodes) which must use modern
long-term available PC-104 boards.

If we run QNX6 on these, can they appear as other nodes with message
passing compatibility with the legacy QNX4 computer(s)?

If not, can I purchase additional QNX4 licences. Does modern hardware
support QNX4, or is it problematic (i.e. i2c, usb, CAN, ethernet,
interfaces)?

Or, would I be better off designing a communications protocol to connect
QNX4 to QNX6 computers?

Thank you?

2

omar <abre_kadabre@yahoo.com> wrote:

Hi,
Quick question:
We have a legacy system built on QNX4.26 (7 nodes). Impractical cost and
schedule wise to upgrade this sytem to QNX6.

We want to interface to a new system (multiple nodes) which must use modern
long-term available PC-104 boards.

If we run QNX6 on these, can they appear as other nodes with message
passing compatibility with the legacy QNX4 computer(s)?

Not easily. Somebody built a package to do QNX4 message passing
over TCP/IP to allow QNX4 nodes to talk to QNX6 and Unix machines
using QNX4 style message passing. My google-fu failed in trying
to find it, though.

If not, can I purchase additional QNX4 licences.

Yes, you can purchase additional QNX4 licenses.

Does modern hardware
support QNX4, or is it problematic (i.e. i2c, usb, CAN, ethernet,
interfaces)?

Well, it is more of an issue of does QNX4 support modern hardware.
We are doing some ongoing work adding more ethernet drivers and
other drivers for QNX4, and I know there’s been some work being done
with USB support for QNX4 as well. I don’t think we’ve ever directly
offered i2c or CAN support, but I’m pretty sure there are 3rd party
people who support one or both of those for QNX4.

I think PC104 (PC104+?) boards are generally farther from the cutting edge
of new hardware than desktop machines, and evolve more slowly, so are
more likely to be able to find a stable, supported, configuration that
will have support. But, it will probably require fairly careful
selection of hardware.

Or, would I be better off designing a communications protocol to connect
QNX4 to QNX6 computers?

I expect that would be a larger project, as it would involve not just
designing the connection protocol (probably based on TCP/IP), but also
would involve porting your applications from QNX4 to QNX6.

But, it would give you a longer future support path. It may really
depend on how many years you’re planning to continue to buy & ship
new systems.

-David

QNX Training Services
http://www.qnx.com/services/training/
Please followup in this newsgroup if you have further questions.

3

David,
Thank you for your reply. It was very helpful.
Omar

4

See the Products Section on the BitCrtl Site: http://www.bitctrl.com/ The
product is called QoIP and allows IPC message passes between QNX4 and QNX6
nodes. They also offer an evaluation copy from their web site.

  • Dave Nickerson

“David Gibbs” <dagibbs@qnx.com> wrote in message
news:d8um2k$9un$1@nntp.qnx.com…

omar <> abre_kadabre@yahoo.com> > wrote:
Hi,
Quick question:
We have a legacy system built on QNX4.26 (7 nodes). Impractical cost and
schedule wise to upgrade this sytem to QNX6.

We want to interface to a new system (multiple nodes) which must use
modern
long-term available PC-104 boards.

If we run QNX6 on these, can they appear as other nodes with message
passing compatibility with the legacy QNX4 computer(s)?

Not easily. Somebody built a package to do QNX4 message passing
over TCP/IP to allow QNX4 nodes to talk to QNX6 and Unix machines
using QNX4 style message passing. My google-fu failed in trying
to find it, though.

If not, can I purchase additional QNX4 licences.

Yes, you can purchase additional QNX4 licenses.

Does modern hardware
support QNX4, or is it problematic (i.e. i2c, usb, CAN, ethernet,
interfaces)?

Well, it is more of an issue of does QNX4 support modern hardware.
We are doing some ongoing work adding more ethernet drivers and
other drivers for QNX4, and I know there’s been some work being done
with USB support for QNX4 as well. I don’t think we’ve ever directly
offered i2c or CAN support, but I’m pretty sure there are 3rd party
people who support one or both of those for QNX4.

I think PC104 (PC104+?) boards are generally farther from the cutting edge
of new hardware than desktop machines, and evolve more slowly, so are
more likely to be able to find a stable, supported, configuration that
will have support. But, it will probably require fairly careful
selection of hardware.

Or, would I be better off designing a communications protocol to connect
QNX4 to QNX6 computers?

I expect that would be a larger project, as it would involve not just
designing the connection protocol (probably based on TCP/IP), but also
would involve porting your applications from QNX4 to QNX6.

But, it would give you a longer future support path. It may really
depend on how many years you’re planning to continue to buy & ship
new systems.

-David

QNX Training Services
http://www.qnx.com/services/training/
Please followup in this newsgroup if you have further questions.