Simcenter Testing Solutions Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx

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This article contains information about the function and operation of the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx. It is part of the Simcenter SCAPTOR family of products which are used for autonomous vehicle acquisition as well as advanced driver assistance acquisition.

The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx is a dedicated device used to transfer autonomous vehicle data gathered by the Simcenter SCAPTOR recorder to a centralized server, cloud, or other storage device.  
 

Contents:
1. What is the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx?
2. System Description
3. Setup and Configuration
           3.1 CLY-System.ini
           3.2 CLY-Network.ini
           3.3 CLY-Profile.ini
           3.4 “1:1 Mode”
           3.5 “Split Mode”
4.  Operations
          4.1 General Menu Operation
          4.2 Booting and Home Menu
          4.3 Initializing Storage Cartridge
          4.4 Copy Operations
          4.5 Storage Cartridge Removal
5. File Server Mode 
6. Transfer Speeds 
7. Dimensions


1. What is the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx?

The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx is a data ingestion system that is directly compatible with the Simcenter SCAPTOR storage cartridges (either 16 or 32 Terabytes). These cartridges can be easily moved back and forth between a Simcenter SCAPTOR Recorder and the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.

The CopyLynx unit has several high-speed interfaces such as 10 gigabit ethernet, USB 3.1, and eSATA. This allows for a straightforward transfer of recorded autonomous vehicle data to a data center or cloud server (Figure 1).

Figure 2: Ethernet (green), USB (blue), eSATA (salmon), hard disk drive (HDD) interfaces on the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.
 

The ports include a storage cartridge connector, four USB 3.0 ports (5 Gb/s), four USB 3.1 ports (10 Gb/s), two LAN ports (1GbE), and two LAN ports (10GbE) and two eSATA 6G ports.

The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx also comes with two eSATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) 6G ports and a 3.5" SATA Hard Disk Drive (HDD).

3. Operation

The setup and built-in display menus of the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx are explained in the next section. 

3.1 Setup and Configuration

Three files must be setup and configured to use the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx: CLY-System.ini, CLY-Network.ini, and CLY-Profile.ini.  These files are pictured in Figure 3.

Figure 3: Configuration files for Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.

These files can be setup with a text editor on an external PC and copied to the CopyLynx via the USB port.

• CLY-System.ini: Main system parameters
• CLY-Network.ini: Ethernet configuration
• CLY-Profile.ini: Pre-defined copy profiles

All events and actions taken on the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx are stored in CLY-System.log file. The log file can be exported to a USB stick via the built-in display menu.

Once the initial configuration of the settings files is finished, the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx will function as a data transfer "appliance" where only a few buttons are needed to operate the unit.

More details and examples of the configuration files below:

3.1 CLY-System.ini

The CLY-System.ini file contains parameters that define the date/time, logging options, and shutdown operation. A complete list of parameters that can be set is shown in Figure 4:

Figure 4: Options for CLY-System.ini file.

The "debug" setting provides the highest level of information about operations being performed on the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.

These settings are applied to the entire system. 

3.2 CLY-Network.ini

The CLY-Network.ini file defines the internet address of the network ports. The parameters are set per port as shown in Figure 5:

Figure 5: Options for CLY-Network.ini file.

The addresses can be fixed or dynamically (DHCP) allocated.  The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx manual has a full list of parameters.

3.3 CLY-Profile.ini

The CLY-Profile.ini file defines how data is copied. It can contain multiple profiles or definitions of how to move data between two interfaces.  For each individual profile definition there is always a source and a target.  The brick storage cartridge is a possible source, while a network drive might be a target.

A typical copy profile consists of four key attributes:

• [Name]: The name of the copy profile
• sourcePath: Data source, for example the brick storage cartridge (BSC)
• targetPath:Data destination, examples include network drive or external hard drive
• copyMode:How the data is to be copied, see below

In a given profile definition, two different "copy modes" are possible:

• "1:1 Mode": Copy operation has one source and one target.
• "Split Mode": Copy operation has one source and multiple targets.

Some example profiles are shown in Figure 6.

Figure 6: Examples for CLY-Profile.ini file. 

More example configurations, including copy mode examples, are covered further in the next sections.

3.4 “1:1 Mode”

If “1:1 mode” is set in the CLY_Profile.ini, data can be copied from one source to one target area.  

For example, data can be copied from:

• Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) to external SATA hard drive bay
• Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) to network or cloud storage

The two options are illustrated in Figure 7 below:

Figure 7: Using “1:1 Mode” in CLY-Profile.ini, data can be transfer from the Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) to either an external SATA hard drive bay or to a network location.

On a target device the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx will create subfolders for each copy process started. The subfolder 
name includes: 

• Timestamp with current system date & time 
• Source Device Serial Number for BRICK Storage Cartridge (if available) 
• Source Partition Label (if available)

Before connecting any target device, ensure there is enough free space for the planned data transfer. The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx won’t delete any files from a target and always creates new subfolders.

3.5 “Split Mode”

If “Split Mode” is defined in CLY_Profile.ini, then multiple files can be copied in parallel to multiple locations as shown in Figure 8 below.

Figure 8: Using “Split Mode” in CLY-Profile.ini, data can be transfer from the Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) to multiple external drives.

This copying is done in either a disk space or speed optimized manner:

• “splitUseMinTargets” is disk space optimized.  The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx will determine the optimal distribution of data files to available targeted storage.  This will be optimized to fill available storage units as completely as possible, even if some target storage locations are not used at all. Multiple files are copied in parallel.
• “splitUseAllTargets” is speed optimized.  It will copy the files evenly between all target storage locations. Multiple files are copied in parallel.

4. Operation

Using the buttons on the front panel, the Simcenter SCAPTOR Copylynx can be booted, cartridges managed, and files transferred.

4.1 General Menu Operation

There are three primary areas used in operating the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx menus as shown in Figure 9:

Figure 9: System lights (left), built-in display (middle), and navigation buttons (right).
 

The three areas are navigation buttons (to the left of the LCD display), LCD panel display, and the system lights (to the right of the LCD display).

The general operation in these areas are shown in Figure 10.

Figure 10: General menu operation.

The system lights indicate the status of the unit with blinking versus steady lights, and by changing colors between red and green.

4.2 Booting and Home Menu

The booting and home menu is used to turn on the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx, remove/add a cartridge, and turn the unit off.  These menu options are shown in Figure 11 below.

Figure 11: The booting and home menu of the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.
 

With the system booted and a cartridge inserted, copying operations can be performed.

4.3 Initializing Storage Cartridge

Connecting or disconnecting a Storage Cartridge uses system specific interface called a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) on top of the Simcenter SCAPTOR recorder.

The Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) is shown in Figure 12: A single cartridge can contain up to 32 Tb of data. 

Figure 12: Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC).

After connecting power to the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx, insert the Brick Storage Cartridge. The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx will automatically start and initialize the Cartridge with the message shown in Figure 13.

Figure 13: Cartridge initialization message.

If a Brick Storage Cartridge is already inserted before connecting power, the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx requires manual start via OK button.

4.4 Copy Operations 

After the Brick Storage Cartridge is properly inserted, files can be transferred either with a manual start or using the pre-defined profiles in CLY-Profile.ini. Before proceeding, wait until the storage cartridge copy processes is finished.

Once the cartridge is inserted and available, from the root menu a copy profile can be selected. Menu operations for selecting a copy profile are shown in Figure 14.  

Figure 14: Copy profile operations.

A copy profile is preset information for a copy operation (for example, copy from SATA drive to network connection) as explained in the previous sections.

During file transfer the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx displays the current progress for each active profile as shown in Figure 15.

Figure 15: Copy status menus from Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.

Depending on the profile configuration several copy processes may be executed simultaneously. The Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx will always process one copy thread per target port. Starting numerous profiles simultaneously should not address the same target twice to avoid write access conflicts.
 

4.5 Storage Cartridge Removal

To unmount storage cartridge, wait until the copy process is finished.  Then press "Unlock Key" on Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC) to securely remove the device from the recorder (Figure 16).

Figure 16: Press the unlock button on the Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC).

Confirm the storage cartridge unlock event with OK Button (Figure 17) and remove the BSC.

Figure 17: OK button.

System will now shutdown to safely remove the Storage Cartridge device (Figure 18).

Figure 18: Message during shutdown.

Wait until Start Screen is displayed before inserting the next storage cartridge.

If any problems occur, all events and actions taken on the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx are stored in CLY-System.log file. The log file can be written to an external USB drive with the appropriate selection in the main menu.

5. File Server Mode

For manual file access to the Brick Storage Cartridge (BSC), USB, or SATA devices the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx supports the File Server mode. This mode is activated via the root menu as shown in Figure 19:

Figure 19: File Server Mode menu settings from built-in display of Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx.

In this operating mode, connected devices are shared via ethernet server message block (SMB) or network file system (NFS) directly to a Client/Workstation computer.
 
1) Configure a CopyLynx Network Port as DHCP Server by importing a valid CLY-Network.ini. Alternatively configure your Workstation as DHCP Server for the CopyLynx.

2) Connect your Workstation directly to the CopyLynx configured Ethernet port as illustrated in Figure 20.

Figure 20: Direct connection for File Server Mode.

3) At your Workstation, map a new network drive. SMB username / password to login from a Windows PC to the CopyLynx network drive is ‘CopyLynx / CopyLynx’.

• Example SMB Share:     ‘192.168.10.1\USB3.0-1’    map USB 3.0 Port 1 via SMB
• Example NFS v3 Share:    ‘192.168.10.1:/var/mnt/BSC’   map BSC via NFS v3
• Example NFS v3 Share:    ‘192.168.10.1:/var/mnt’    map all devices via NFS v3
• Example NFS v4 Share:    ‘192.168.10.1:/SATA-3’    map SATA-3 via NFS v4
• Example NFS v4 Share:    ‘192.168.10.1:/’      map all devices via NFS v4

In File Server Mode the Copy Profiles are blocked. Simultaneous operation of Copy Mode and File Server Mode is not supported.

4) To Exit the File Server Mode, activate menu item ‘File Server Off’ in Root Menu as shown in Figure 21.

Figure 21: File Server mode is disabled from the Root Menu.

This will unmount connected devices, switch to standard Copy Mode, and re-mount all devices.

6. Transfer Speeds

The following guideline (Figure 22) gives an overview of possible speed ranges during file transfer.

Figure 22: Possible data transfer speeds of different destination options.

Many factors will influence the final transfer speed. These are:

• Storage Technology: Conventional Hard Disks, SATA flash or NVMe based storage solutions are available with many combinations of controllers and flash technologies. Additionally, internal cache sizes and   controller configurations together with drive temperatures will affect the possible write speed. Please consult the technical specifications of your target device and interface about specified continuous transfer speeds. 
• Cable and adaptor quality: Shielding, cable length and the general quality of adapters will affect the transfer speed. Make sure to use high quality adaptors and cables following the interface specifications.
• Ethernet Configuration: Ethernet adapters should be configured for best performance parameters. Jumbo Frames support is required on the target device. Additionally, the receive buffer size should be set to the highest possible value (4k or more recommended).
• Hashing Algorithm: CRC calculation during file transfer is software based on the CopyLynx G7 and requires a lot of CPU performance. Activating SHA512 may reduce the maximum transfer speed to 400Mbyte/s with Core i7 processor.
• File Verify: Activating file verify requires full read-back and additional hashing of a file. Compared to hashing   only, the verify option almost doubles the overall transfer time for a file.

7.  Dimensions

The dimensions (in millimeters) of the Simcenter SCAPTOR CopyLynx are shown below in Figure 23.

• Index of Testing Knowledge Articles
• Simcenter SCAPTOR: Validate Tomorrow's Automated Vehicles
• AV and ADAS Sensors
• Camera Recording Tips for Autonomous and Advanced Driving Assistance Systems
• What is lidar?
• Simcenter SCAPTOR MDILink