Readme for WatchCard PCI OS/2 Device Driver         4 Dez 2002 


Introduction

WatchCard PCI is a Watchdog PCI adapter card available from antrax Datentechnik GmbH.
This driver is not supported by the manufacturer and the author of this software is
not related to this company.
A detailed description of the hardware and Windows programming manuals can be found at
http://www.antrax.de. The function calls provided by this software is identical to
the original Windows part, so it is not described in here.

Basically the WatchCard is a programmable downcounting timer, that resets the PC
if the timer counts down to zero. During normal operation, a software reloads the
timer periodically, so it usually never counts down to zero.
If the reloading software stops or hangs in case of a system fault, the WatchCard
timer is not reloaded anymore and counts down until it resets the PC mainboard.


File list:

watcrd10.txt     Info file
wcpci.txt        This file
wcpci.sys        WatchCard PCI Device Driver
wcpci.dll        Dynamic link library for wcpci.sys
pmwc.exe         PM appliction
wcpci.lib        Import library for wcpci.dll
wcpcidll.h       Include file for wcpci.dll
wctest.exe       Test program
wctest.c         Source for wctest.exe


Installation

Copy the files to any directory of your choice, e.g. D:\WCPCIPDD

Add this line to the CONFIG.SYS file:
DEVICE=D:\WCPCIPDD\WCPCI.SYS

During system boot, the driver checks for the presence of the WatchCard PCI and determines
its memory address. If the WatchCard is not found or another problem occurs the driver
will not load.

The file wcpci.dll can reside in the same directory as the executable (pmwc.exe, wctest.exe)
is located or somewhere in your LIBPATH, e.g. C:\OS2\DLL
It is a function wrapper, that communicates with the Device Driver wcpci.sys and exports the
WatchCard functions WC_* to other applications.
If you want to write your own application, you find the prototypes in wcpcidll.h and you can
link with the import library wcpci.lib.


Function Test

It is recommended to not connect the reset line to the mainboard during tests!

The program wctest.exe calls all WatchCard functions which are exported in the wcpci.dll
After the program start, it activates the WatchCard and shows the current value of the counter.
To end the program, press a key. This also deactivates the WatchCard.


PM Application PMWC.EXE

PMWC can be used for basic operating system monitoring. It uses very little CPU time and
ressources, so it can be active all the time.
It shows the remaining counter time and it can be moved on the workplace with mouse button 1.
Mouse button 2 opens a Context Menu with a Settings item. Here you can adjust the WatchCard
counter and the reload time.

It is possible to have a clean file system shut down some time before the hard reset.
The program can of course do this only, if the system does not hang totally.
If Close Applications is checked, all running applications will be terminated as during a
normal system shutdown.


About This Software

This software is free for non-commercial use.
The author is not resposible for any damage or loss of data when using this software.


Contact:
Juergen Dittmer
os2@dttmr.de
www.dttmr.de

Please send feedback by email.

