A network protocol for data acquisition at NSCL

A network protocol suited for data acquisition, designed and implemented by the authors, is described. The protocol is capable of sustained throughput of 400 Kbytes/s on Ethernet. The protocol has been embedded in a commercial intelligent Ethernet controller that provides a high-level interface to front-end systems in networked data acquisition systems. The discussion covers the protocol design goals, data transmission, link management performance, and the overall project status.<
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