Introduction

This tutorial provides step-by-step instructions on how to create EPICS support for a simple serial device. The steps are presented in a way that should make it possible to apply them in cookbook fashion to create support for other serial devices. For comprehensive description of all the details of the I/O system used here, refer to the GPIB documentation.

This document isn't for the absolute newcomer though. You must have EPICS installed on a system somewhere and know how to build and run the example application. In particular you must have the following installed:

• EPICS R3.14.2 or higher
• An up-to-date version of modules/bus/gpib/gpibCore

Yes, gpibCore, since serial devices can now be treated in much the same way as GPIB (IEEE-488) devices. Current versions of the EPICS gpibCore module contain a special 'GPIB' driver capable of communicating with devices connected to serial ports on the IOC or with devices connected through Ethernet/Serial converter boxes.

I based this tutorial on the device support I wrote for a CVI Laser Corporation AB300 filter wheel. You're almost certainly interested in controlling some other device so you won't be able to use the information directly. I chose the AB300 as the basis for this tutorial since the AB300 has a very limited command set, which keeps this document small, and yet has commands which raise many of the issues that you'll have to consider when writing support for other devices.

If you'd like to print this tutorial you can download a PDF version.