DMA error with image acquisition on a single board computer with backplane

[FraserD]

The DMA error is persisting when trying to grab images from a PCI-1409 in a single board computer. This makes LABVIEW crash or windows crash. I have reduced the image size in MAX and it makes it run for longer before crashing, but this is not acceptable.

I have been informed tha tthe error occurs when the PCI bus controller is expecting more data than the frame grabbrer gives it.

I have tried changing slots (both for 1409 and SBC in the passive backplane), using different version of windows (NT and 2000 pro), making changes in Phoenix bios, everything i can think off.

Has anyone had a similar error, especially with an SBC, or have any ideas ?

Before buying new hardware, i will try to put
a faster graphics card in, although aware that it is not really a graphics problem.

[Brent_R]

I am not familiar with any specific incompatibilities with single board computers. Which model of SBC are you using?

As a troubleshooting step, you may want to setup the board and camera on a standard PC, just make sure the problem related to the SBC. Also, with the 1409 in the SBC, try changing the image depth in MAX from 10 bits to 8 bits and watch the behavior. This will effectively cut the data rate in half and and may have an effect on when/how the computer crashes.

Neither of these are permanent solutions, but may help us narrow down the problem.

Regards,

Brent Runnels
Applications Engineer
National Instruments

[FraserD]

Brent,

Thanks for the advice. I have tried all you suggested however. The board and camera work fine on an old pentium II 400MHz 64MB RAM. The SBC is Pentium III 850MHz 512MB RAM.

Changing the image depth and the frame size allow the image grabbing to proceed for several seconds longer than usual, but it will timeout eventually with the DMA timeout error.

The SBC i am using is a Wildcat from Bluechip Technology.

I would appreciate if you could recommend any SBCs which you have dealt with, which you know work with the PCI-1409 ?

thank you,

Fraser Dalgleish