Configuring the Real-Time Network

RTX64 provides processing and networking capability through a Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) and an optional RT-TCP/IP protocol stack within the RTSS environment.

• Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) – a network layer that abstracts the network hardware and driver functions from the upper-level protocol stacks and provides management interfaces for those upper layers to easily query for and use available network assets. It is a separate protocol layer from the TCP/IP Stack. Using the NAL, you can more easily take advantage of network functionality such as EtherCAT, TSN (Time Sensitive Networks), and PTP (Precision Time Protocol). See RTX64 Network Abstraction Layer (NAL) for more information.
• TCP/IP Stack – a separate purchasable protocol stack that sits above the NAL and provides deterministic processing and networking capability. See Real-Time TCP/IP Stack for more information.

NOTE: The TCP/IP options will not be available if the TCP/IP component is not activated.

To view a list of supported network cards, go to the IntervalZero Customer Center or contact IntervalZero Customer Support.

The driver source code for all the supported network cards is included in the RTX64 SDK as examples of developing Real-time Network Device (RTND) drivers.

Above: How the RTX64 networking components integrate with Windows.