PortGate/AFDX

ARINC 615A Ethernet/AFDX® protocol conversion tool
Whats makes us tick

TechSAT’s PortGate/AFDX® is a configurable gateway, which can forward UDP-based traffic between AFDX® and Ethernet interfaces, i.e. it is able to move frames from either network to the other without modifying the data.

Use Cases
  • Testing of data loading functionality implementation
  • Gateway function for third-party data loaders
  • FAL data loading
  • Flight line/shop data loading
Benefits
  • Seamless integration with ARINC 615A Netloader for data loading over AFDX/ARINC 664
  • Ethernet/AFDX gateway function for third-party Ethernet-based tools
  • Simulation of network delays and timeouts
Key Features
  • Forwards UDP-based traffic between AFDX® and Ethernet interfaces
  • Translates ARINC 615A over Ethernet to ARINC 615A over AFDX®
  • Turns TechSAT’s family of Ethernet Data Loader products into AFDX® Data Loader tools
  • Fully supports all ARINC 615A operations: FIND/SNIP, Information Operation, Upload Operations, Download Operations
  • Simple configuration using Excel/Open Office or text editor
  • Highly configurable at AFDX® SAP port and VL level

Technical Data

Hardware Requirements
  • AFDX®/ARINC 664 PMC module
Software Options
  • A615A NetLoader (PN 202053)
Operating System Options
  • Windows® XP
  • Windows® 7 32 bit
  • Linux
Part Number
  • 202041

Application Scope
PortGate/AFDX® is a configurable gateway, which can forward UDP-based traffic between AFDX® and Ethernet interfaces, i.e. it is able to move frames from either network to the other without modifying the data.

PortGate/AFDX® combines the functionalities of a router and a gateway in the following way:

  • It can move every single Ethernet frame between different subnets associated to different Ethernet interfaces.
  • It can move every single AFDX® frame between different AFDX® ports associated to different virtual links and interfaces.
  • It can deliver every single Ethernet frame to the AFDX® interfaces and in the reverse direction with automatic IP fragmentation.

Different from a commercial gateway, PortGate/AFDX® does not perform any re-assembly, de-encapsulation, or inspection of the contents of the frames as they pass through, but automatically routes every frame (i.e. every fragment in case of IP fragmentation) according to the
configuration only.

PortGate/AFDX® runs as a console application on Linux and Windows platforms and uses the AFDX®-PMC card from TechSAT.

The PortGate/AFDX® configuration is stored in a comma-separated value (CSV) file, which can be edited with MS-Excel, Open Office, or any text editor. PortGate/AFDX® allows defining the following declarations:

  • Ethernet declarations consisting of Ethernet interfaces, links (i.e. IP addresses), receive and transmit ports
  • AFDX® declarations consisting of AFDX® interfaces, receive and transmit Virtual Links, receive and transmit ports
  • Forwarding rules defining the routing of every frame on a port basis (combination of Ethernet/AFDX® receive ports and Ethernet/AFDX® transmit ports)
  • AFDX® and Ethernet data loading targets used for the data loading support

PortGate/AFDX® allows forwarding data from one receiveport to multiple destinations and allows buffering frameson a forwarding rule basis.

PortGate/AFDX® allows turning an ARINC 615ANetLoader data loading system into an ARINC 615A over AFDX® data loading system with minimal configuration. PortGate/AFDX® can be used as an interconnecting device between Ethernet data loaders (e.g. TechSAT’s NetLoader) and AFDX® targets, providing a suitables olution for loading AFDX® devices.

PortGate/AFDX® is ARINC 665 compliant and fully supports all ARINC 615A operations:

  • FIND/SNIP
  • Information Operation
  • Upload Operations
  • Download Operations

PortGate/AFDX® permits automatic discovery of Ethernet targets and loading of multiple AFDX®/Ethernet devices from one data loader.