Network steps overview

The NetworkConnection step allows you to establish, validate, and terminate a connection with another network client (such as a computer or network-aware device) on your network. There are 2 available networking protocols: UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and TCP (Transfer Control Protocol).

Once the connection is established, the NetworkReader step allows you to receive data from your client and makes the data available to your project. You can configure the amount of time during which the NetworkReader step will wait for data before reporting a timeout error.

The NetworkWriter step allows you to send data to the client. The data can be anything from a linked value or the result of an expression, to a static string.

To test your NetworkConnection step, you need a networking client that can either open or listen for a connection. The Matrox Network Client utility, installed with Matrox Design Assistant, can do both. In addition the Matrox Network client utility can send data to your project and listen for data from your project. It is available from the Programs Matrox Design Assistant Tools Network Client menu item from the Windows Start menu.

For a diagram illustrating data flow for camera, triggered, and I/O operations, see the Acquisition overview section in Chapter 28: Acquisition.