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        Watchdog Timer Interfaces For The Linux Operating System

                Alan Cox <alan@lxorguk.ukuu.org.uk>

             Custom Linux Driver And Program Development


The following watchdog drivers are currently implemented:

        ICS     WDT501-P
        ICS     WDT501-P (no fan tachometer)
        ICS     WDT500-P
        Software Only

All four interfaces provide /dev/watchdog, which when open must be written
to within a minute or the machine will reboot. Each write delays the reboot
time another minute. In the case of the software watchdog the ability to 
reboot will depend on the state of the machines and interrupts. The hardware
boards physically pull the machine down off their own onboard timers and
will reboot from almost anything.

A second temperature monitoring interface is available on the WDT501P cards
and provides /dev/temperature. This is the machine internal temperature in
degrees farenheit. Each read returns a single byte giving the temperature.

The third interface logs kernel messages on additional alert events.

Both software and hardware watchdog drivers are available in the standard
kernel. If you are using the software watchdog, you probably also want
to use "panic=60" as a boot argument as well.

Features
--------
                WDT501P         WDT500P         Software
Reboot Timer       X               X                X
External Reboot    X               X                o
Temperature        X               o                o
Fan Speed          X               o                o
Power Under        X               o                o
Power Over         X               o                o
Overheat           X               o                o

The external event interfaces on the WDT boards are not currently supported.
Minor numbers are however allocated for it.


Example Watchdog Driver
-----------------------

#include <stdio.h>
#include <unistd.h>
#include <fcntl.h>

int main(int argc, const char *argv[])
{
        int fd=open("/dev/watchdog",O_WRONLY);
        if(fd==-1)
        {
                perror("watchdog");
                exit(1);
        }
        while(1)
        {
                write(fd,"\0",1);
                sleep(10);
        }
}


Contact Information

People keep asking about the WDT watchdog timer hardware: The phone contacts
for Industrial Computer Source are:
 
US: 619 677 0877 (sales)  0895 (fax)
UK: 01243 533900
France (1) 69.18.74.30

Industrial Computer Source 
9950 Barnes Canyon Road 
San Diego, CA     

and please mention Linux when enquiring.