Automated UDP Broadcasts
SCS now allows for real-time distribution of incoming sensor data to potential clients located on the ship's network via UDP/IP. When a line of sensor data is read by the Acquisition service if it is tagged for UDP Broadcast ACQ will send it out onto the network at the same moment it is written to the other output targets such as the database, RAW files, etc. Tagging a data stream for UDP broadcast is accomplished inside CFE.
The first step in tagging a data stream is to open CFE and select the Message Definition you wish to broadcast.
Only Message Definitions can be sent over UDP using this method, if you want to send specific Data Field Definitions you must use a Custom Message.
Once you have selected a Message Definition, click on it's Advanced tab in the editor.
To send it's incoming sensor data out over UDP simply click the checkbox next to Relay Via UDP Broadcast and then enter the UDP Broadcast Port number you want it sent out on.
When your changes are finalized and you publish them ACQ will automatically start sending any data from this Message Definition out over UDP.
To view the UDP broadcasts as they are being sent out you may either listen on the port using a UDP client (outside scope of this document) or open the UDP Broadcasts page located under Data Management in the main menu. Each Message Definition you have enabled for broadcast will show up in the grid on this page along with the latest value sent over the network.
If clients wanting the data are in a different subnet on your network you may have to modify your [managed] switches configurations to allow UDP broadcasts across the boundaries.
Modification of switching configurations should not be done unless you know what you are doing. Be careful not to enable broadcasts off the ship or you may flood your satellite connection with useless data and bog down your bandwidth.