Maximum number of IOCards on a PC

[MortenHa]

Hi folks!
Perhaps this question has been asked before, but I'm unable to find it:

What is the maximum number of Master Cards you can connect to a single PC?

There's 4 Mastercards to one USB Expansion Card. So the real question is how many USB Expansion Cards can you connect to a single PC ?

Is it ultimately limited by the hardware adress space or the software?

Regards
Morten

[deering]

.

"it is possible to connect more than one USB card to one PC; this is only limited by the number of free USB ports on the computer"

from the description of the USB card on the OC site.

[MortenHa]

Thanx deering!
But I find that answer from OC a bit unprecise. The USB standard makes it possible to connect over a hundred USB devices (127 to be exact). Lets say for arguments sake that connect 100 USB Expansions boards. That would yield 28800 (72*4*100) inputs alone.

That would mean that there's a software limitation. SIOC can handle 10000 variable links. To either hardware or software. Let's keep it simple and say that for one hardware link you need one software link. That means that one PC can handle 5000 generic inputs/outputs. Which means that you can connect 42 (5000/(72+45)) master card to one computer.

Would that be about right?

[capetonian]

Darn, .. what in heavens name would one do with all those inputs??

I think Morten is planning on scrapping his earlier sim and building something like the ISS or an Orbiter.

[MortenHa]

Yes my intentions is to simulate the USS Enterprise from StarTrek. But first I need to buy me a house to fit the flightdeck

The discussion is purely academic. But people asks me this question on many occasions when they see our sim.

Got tired of saying 'enough!'

[capetonian]

Yes my intentions is to simulate the USS Enterprise from StarTrek. But first I need to buy me a house to fit the flightdeck

The discussion is purely academic. But people asks me this question on many occasions when they see our sim.

Got tired of saying 'enough!'

Now that would be cool , .. especially if you have a door on the second floor with a board on it "FLIGHTDECK" ... open the door, up a small flight of stairs and then onto a massive flightdeck, ... .

Cool, . keep us posted




No seriously, .. it is an interesting question and I too am curious about what the answer will be!

[deering]

Thanx deering!
But I find that answer from OC a bit unprecise. The USB standard makes it possible to connect over a hundred USB devices (127 to be exact). Lets say for arguments sake that connect 100 USB Expansions boards. That would yield 28800 (72*4*100) inputs alone.

That would mean that there's a software limitation. SIOC can handle 10000 variable links. To either hardware or software. Let's keep it simple and say that for one hardware link you need one software link. That means that one PC can handle 5000 generic inputs/outputs. Which means that you can connect 42 (5000/(72+45)) master card to one computer.

Would that be about right?

OC probably have it right. No need to utilise all the I/O on every attached card.

If you need more variables, run multiple instances of SIOC.

Jim