NCS Brain Server

Starting the server

The server is started with a configuration file for static ports, and a port value for automatic socket connections.

server config.txt 20000

NCS Input File

Brain Block

• Old keywords - new uses
• SERVER - The location of the main server, to be used by all objects giving AUTO to the PORT keyword
• PORT - Given the keyword AUTO, NCS will contact the main server and setup the connection
• New keyword
• SERVER_PORT - The port on the main server to use when automatic configuration is requested

• Old keywords - new uses
• FILENAME - If automatic configuration is used, this will contain a name for identification purposes rather than a server address.
• PORT - Given the keyword AUTO, NCS will contact the main server using the Brain's SERVER and SERVER_PORT

Name assignments

When NCS requests a connection from the server, it will construct a name for the object.

• Brain Commands:
• Brain Type + Brain Job
ex.
TYPE autoPortTest
JOB j_07072004_1

name = autoPortTestj_07072004_1


• Stimulus and Reports
• Brain Type + Brain Job + Filename
ex. (using same Brain information)
FILENAME forwardReward

name = autoPortTestj_07072004_1forwardReward

Client Programs

Once NCS sets up it's server connections, client programs need to be able to find those connections in order to send/receive data.

Open a connection to the main server on the main port and send the following lines (including the newline characters).

"request\n" - keyword for the server
"read\n" or "write\n" - whether you intend to read or write data to the server
"ascii\n" or "binary\n" - what data format you want to receive
"ncs_assigned_name\n" - the name of the socket to find or create

The server will then ensure that data is routed appropriately between the client program and NCS. The client program just continues using the same socket it used to write the original request.

demo clients
writer sending data to NCS
reader getting data from NCS