[evla-sw-discuss] A MIB requirement

[Bill Sahr]

Steve Durand approached me after the LO-IF PDR with the
following request -

He would like to see some sort of nonvolatile storage
on the MIB to be used to hold initialization parameters
for the devices connected to the MIB.  Additionally,
it should be arranged such that these initialization
parameters are sent to the device(s) (registers
or whatever) as soon as possible in the cold start
sequence.  He was particularly concerned that there
be no delays while network connectivity was checked.
Indeed, he was also considering the case of a device
connected to a MIB, sitting on a test bench, that has
no network connection at all.  Finally, he would like
us to supply him with a number which specifies the delay
between powerup and the sending of the initialization 
parameters, so he can design with that delay in mind.

Steve's request can fairly be considered a requirement.
It interacts with item 4.2.2.13 of Kevin Ryan's initial
draft of the Antenna M&C Requirements document which 
reads, "Hardware shall be responsible for its own safe
operation.  This means that the hardware must be able
to prevent itself from entering into a catastrophic
condition even if commanded to do so."  The _exact_ 
nature of the interaction is unclear to me but,

- Certainly, Steve's request is reasonable.

- How will devices guard against a failure of the MIB ?