I have a project that involves integrating and testing devices on a CAN bus, and I'm looking at your Komodo CAN Solo and Komodo CAN Duo Interfaces. Which one would be best to use for executing read and write commands simultaneously from different threads? Also, what software package do you recommend using for this application?

Thanks for your question! To simultaneously execute read and write commands, our Komodo CAN Duo Interface will work best for you. Read and write commands can be executed simultaneously from different threads, when you send the commands through two of the different virtual ports on the Komodo Duo interface. The Komodo CAN Solo Interface, on the other hand, has only one port and can only execute commands one at a time.

For other applications, with synchronization and a locking mechanism, threaded commands can also be executed from the same port (but not simultaneously).

Figure 1: Komodo CAN Duo Interface

Following are the specifications about the Komodo CAN Duo  Interface:

• Transfer rate up to 1 Mbps
• Independent galvanic isolation
• 8 configurable GPIOs
• USB 2.0 full-speed, bus-powered
• Two independent customizable CAN channel, with the protection of independent galvanic isolation per CAN channel.

There are currently a few software packages available for use with either Komodo interface - Komodo GUI Software, Data Center Software, and Komodo API Software. For your application, we recommend using the API software.

• The Komodo Software API can be used to control the Komodo interface, and to customize a program for specific setup requirements. The Komodo API supports multiple OS (Windows, Linux, and Mac), multiple languages (C, Python, Visual Basic, and C#), and includes examples that can be used as-is or customized for your specific needs. You would need to use the API to simultaneously execute your read and write commands.
• The Komodo GUI Software provides full access to all Komodo interface functionality – there is no need to write custom software to control the Komodo interface, easily configure GPIO settings, use the Batch Mode to deliver specific CAN data packets, and more.
• The Data Center Software is a bus monitoring software that displays real-time captured CAN bus data, which can then be filtered. This software simplifies your work by eliminating the need to write custom software to control the Komodo interface, helps with data you analys, and offers multiple views, such as Block and Hierarchical.

  For more information about Komodo API, please refer to the section 5 of the Komodo CAN Interface User Manual. For details about threading, please refer to section 3.8.3 of the Komodo CAN Interface User Manual.

Additional resources that you may find helpful include the following:

• Komodo CAN Interface User Manual
• Komodo API Documentation
• Komodo GUI Software User Manual
• Data Center Software User Manual

We hope this answers your questions. If you have other questions about our CAN interfaces or other Total Phase products, feel free to email us at sales@totalphase.com, or if you already own one of our devices and have a technical question, please submit a request for technical support.