Information for Developers
Mainpine is committed to providing the highest levels of developer support, and features that make integration and maintenance as simple as possible.
Sections on this page:
- No Drivers, No Hassle: Standards-based operation and interfaces
- Advanced features through the RockForce API
- Electronic Serial Number
- Debug streams
- Port reset
- Custom functions
- Command set and interfaces
If you have any questions, or would like further information, please contact our support team.
No Drivers, No Hassle
We are commited to making sure that our products function correctly without any proprietary software. The interfaces to each channel emulate a 16550A UART interface. This means that the standard Windows* or Linux* serial drivers will function correctly without any modification. For example, on Windows systems the 'driver' package is simply a .inf file that instructs the operating system in how to enumerate the serial ports and modems. From that point on it is only Microsoft* software interacting with Mainpine hardware.
Although Windows and Linux are the only operating systems we support for end-users, other operating systems that make use of standard serial ports can be used. Please contact us if you are interested in a developer support for alternative operating systems.
Advanced features: The Mainpine RockForce™ API
No proprietary software is required for standard and reliable operation of the RockForce boards. However, there are several extra functions that are available through a 'sideband' API that operates outside of the normal data flows.
This API provides the following features:
Electronic serial number
The API provides access to the electronic serial number that is unique to each individual board. Hardware and firmware revisions are available through standard AT commands through the serial interface.
As well as allowing a quick way of getting the serial number for support purposes, this also enables a developer to license software to function only in conjunction with a specific piece of hardware. For high value software, the embedded market, or sales in regions where copyright law is difficult to enforce, this can protect valuable intellectual property.
Debug streams
During development, or when supporting a customer it is vital to have the right tools at your disposal. Through the RockForce API, real-time debug information can be gathered to give developers feedback from the low-level hardware on events and status.
A standard utility is provided that will capture the debug output, display onscreen and store in a text file on the hard disk. Each instance of the program monitors a particular port, and all ports may be monitored simultaneously if needed.
With assistance from Mainpine's engineering team, this gives unparalleled visibility for those developing applications based on Mainpine hardware.
Port reset
Even with the most reliable hardware, lock-ups can occur over sustained operation for a variety of reasons. With most internal communications boards, a full board or system reset is usually required. With Mainpine hardware, the RockForce API can be used to perform a full hardware-level reset of an individual port. This does not affect operation of other ports, and is fully accessible through software.
If an application loses contact with a specific port, a reset can be automatically issued, and the port will become available within a few seconds. At this point, configuration commands can be sent, and operation can resume.
Custom functions
Mainpine hardware is designed to be modular and versatile. Major components can be reconfigured to provide proprietary functions for OEM and embedded systems. For example, a full encryption-based hardware dongle could be implemented within the existing board hardware alongside existing functions.
Command Set and Interfaces
The Mainpine RockFroce boards support standard AT commands for normal operation. Please contact support for more information on AT commands and supported functions.