Free Tools for quick Set Up and Operation of CAN Networks

The software tool CANreal is a monitor program for extensive monitoring and analysis and is also used as a test environment for CAN networks. Thanks to its open plugin interface, both supplied and self-written plugins can be used, such as those for CAN Databases (DBC) or J1939.

CANreal has proven effective as a CAN test and monitoring tool. With its wide range of configuration options, the program is also extremely versatile in diagnostics. For example, it is possible to set CAN ID filters for 11- and 29-bit CAN IDs, to log CAN messages and to display signals decoded with DBC files. Moreover, high-resolution time stamps can be evaluated and CAN error detection and a variety of trigger functions can be used. The messages are clearly displayed either as an online list or statically (object mode). The user can configure the columns at will. The timestamps of CAN messages can be displayed as absolute values, with or without a date accurate to the microsecond, depending on the settings. An additional column also displays the relative value with respect to the previous CAN message. For CAN hardware supporting IRIG-B, the transmitted timecode can also be set and put out as a time base.

Furthermore, CAN statistics with a calculation of bus loads and with transmit maps for user-defined CAN messages are available for diagnostics. The logging function offers the possibility to split large data sets into several files, or to overwrite them cyclically for data reduction. Files with recorded frames can be converted to csv files or reloaded into CANreal (offline list) and into esd CAN tools such as CANplot or CANrepro. The statistics function provides detailed information about the CAN network, from the number of CAN frames to error frames and much more.

The single fault diagnosis shows detailed information about faulty CAN messages. A search function with bookmarks allows searching for individual CAN frames or error frames. An advanced search can be defined individually. Since the tool is based on the esd CAN driver with multi-process NTCAN architecture, several instances of CANreal can be opened simultaneously to a CAN network. Alternatively, the CAN network used by an application can be directly observed.

Graphics of data not only show values at a glance but also ratios and proportions. CANplot prepares CAN data and displays it graphically on two freely scalable coordinate axes (online and offline). Thanks to the individual message recognition, criteria such as position in the data field and the data type can be selected and displayed in individual data graphs with color assignment. CAN bus data can be selected according to network number, message identifier and position in the data field. Several numeric data types are predefined for data interpretation. Data formats from Intel and Motorola (Big Endian/Small Endian) are supported. These CANplot features offer easy operation through the toolbar and the self-explanatory interface.

For analyzing CAN communication, the CAN messages previously recorded via CANreal can be repeated with CANrepro. This function allows incoming diagnoses or automated test procedures. The original time sequences remain at the reproduced data and individual CAN IDs can be selected. Using CANrepro a realistic simulation of CAN devices is possible and again the recorded CAN messages can be reproduced. CANrepro offers simple operation through an equally clear user interface.

If executable Python programs (Python scripts) are required, CANscript provides a corresponding GUI frontend allowing execution of PyNTCAN-based scripts for test automation, residual bus simulation, and other applications.

COBview provides the user with a CANopen object overview and enables the modification of device parameters and of network states for testing purposes as well as for the setup of CANopen nodes. In addition, the program helps with the analysis and diagnosis of CANopen nodes and with the search and display of CANopen devices in a CANopen network. The tool offers basic CANopen network management (NMT) functionality (Start Node, Preoperational, Reset, Stop) as well as read/write access to the object library. It lists CANopen objects with all subindexes and makes an object data interpretation. The objects are read by index and displayed in a list of all subindexes. Data interpretation is generic in multiple formats without the need to load EDS files. A bus scan lists all devices on the bus.

The esdACC Error Injection GUI tool provides a free graphical user interface designed for the Error Injection unit integrated into some of esd’s CAN interfaces. Conventional CAN controllers available on the market at present, are not able to send faulty CAN frames due to their design. However, the esdACC CAN IP core, supplemented by the error injection unit, can generate or simulate numerous CAN errors. In addition to the GUI tool, Error Injection can also be configured and used directly via API calls using the NTCAN API. In this way, automated test cases can be realized in complex test scenarios.