✍️1 - Introduction
Welcome to Using Vehicle Spy with Ethernet, one of the quick start guides for Intrepid’s powerful Vehicle Spy (VSpy) network analysis and diagnostics software. In this guide you will learn about the new VSpy features implemented to support working with Automotive Ethernet, and go “hands on” to perform basic tasks such as viewing Ethernet traffic, decoding Ethernet signal data, and creating and transmitting Ethernet messages.
1.1 About the Vehicle Spy Ethernet Quick Start Guide
The purpose of this guide is to help you quickly get up to speed in using Vehicle Spy with Automotive Ethernet messages and hardware. The guide contains the following six chapters:
Introduction: You’re reading it!
Configuring Vehicle Spy for Ethernet: Explains how to set up Vehicle Spy to use an Ethernet interface and work with Intrepid Ethernet hardware and databases.
Viewing and Analyzing Ethernet Messages and Data: Shows you how to go online to view Ethernet traffic on a database, and how best to work with Ethernet messages and data within Messages View.
Simulating and Reviewing Ethernet Message Files: Demonstrates how to simulate saved Ethernet data for analysis purposes, or simply review the contents of a file.
Receiving Ethernet Messages and Decoding Signals: Walks you through creating an Ethernet receive message in the Messages Editor, including defining a signal, and then simulating a buffer to view decoded data.
Creating and Transmitting Ethernet Messages: Takes you through the process of defining an example Ethernet message with a signal, setting the signal value, and transmitting the message both manually and automatically.
Most people learn more readily by doing than reading. Accordingly, this is an interactive guide that uses examples with step-by-step instructions that you can do on your own computer as you follow along. Many screenshots are provided to help you understand exactly what is happening. Action items, meaning steps where you need to actively do something, are set apart from the rest of the text for greater visibility using a right-facing pointer character (“►”).
1.2 Summary of Ethernet Support Features in Vehicle Spy
Interest in Automotive Ethernet has grown rapidly over the last few years, and Intrepid Control Systems has positioned itself as a leader in the field. If you are new to the technology, you may wish to pick up a copy of Intrepid’s book, Automotive Ethernet - The Definitive Guide (Figure 1). This 1,100+ page reference provides a thorough description of Automotive Ethernet, as well as a comprehensive description of TCP/IP protocols.
Over the last two years, Intrepid has worked hard to implement support for Automotive Ethernet networks within its flagship Vehicle Spy product. Here are just some of the key features that have been added:
• Logon screen shows Ethernet interfaces and allows one to be selected to work with.
• Support for displaying Ethernet messages in Messages View.
• Built-in, independent TCP/IP stack with ability to easily set and change IP address and other parameters.
• Support for TCP/IP and AVB message types (UDP, TCP, ARP, PTP, etc.)
• Custom column sets and filters for Ethernet, TCP, FSA and PTP.
• Messages Editor can generate Ethernet messages with pre-configured headers for IP, TCP, UDP, ICMP and other protocols.
• Automatic default settings loaded for TCP/IP and AVB protocol header fields.
• Ethernet packet template editor allows customization of default settings for protocol headers.
• Support for Intrepid hardware tools (see Section 1.3).
• Support for the standard Ethernet PCAP driver and loading and saving .PCAP files.
• Support for GM-only FSA view and databases, and transmitting/receiving FSA data.
• Details View shows Ethernet messages broken down by layer and protocol with individual signals decoded for TCP/IP, AVB and PTP protocols
• Byte highlighting based on selected protocol and field within Details View.
• Support for .VSB (Vehicle Spy binary) files for Ethernet frames, including saving error frames that are not supported in .PCAP format.
• Support for native MAC address and IP address notation in Messages Editor, Tx Panel and Application Signals.
1.3 Overview of Intrepid Ethernet Hardware Devices
Intrepid Control Systems offers a growing array of network tools to assist you in the development of your Automotive Ethernet network:
• RAD-Moon: A simple media converter that allows a BroadR-Reach (100BASE-T1) device to be connected to a conventional Ethernet network.
• RAD-Star: An active tap that allows messages between two BroadR-Reach devices to be monitored and sent to a PC, and messages also to be sent to BroadR devices from the PC. • RAD-Galaxy: A set of six active taps with a high-speed Gigabit Ethernet connection and many additional features.
• Ethernet Evaluation Board (EEVB): A special board with two complete BroadR-Reach nodes and a Lab Manual with more than 20 hands-on experiments to help you quickly become an Automotive Ethernet expert.
• neoVI FIRE 2: Intrepid’s latest-generation general network interface device includes Ethernet and Diagnostics over IP (DoIP) support.
In addition, Intrepid’s neoVI ION and neoVI PLASMA products support Automotive Ethernet data logging when used in conjunction with a RAD-Galaxy or RAD-Star.
For more information on Intrepid hardware products, please contact Intrepid Control Systems or visit our website at http://intrepidcs.com.
1.4 Recommended Prerequisites for Using this Guide
Due to the large number of features in Vehicle Spy, complete coverage of the program is beyond the scope of this document. We recommend that you be familiar with basic Vehicle Spy operations before continuing, such as how to start VSpy, navigate menus, go online/offline, and switch among VSpy window. Experience with Messages View and the Messages Editor is also recommended. If you are new to Vehicle Spy, you may wish to attend one of Intrepid’s Vehicle Spy Basics training courses, which are offered both in-person and online.
You can use Vehicle Spy Ethernet features either with the Intrepid Ethernet hardware tools discussed in Section 1.3, or simply by monitoring a wired or wireless network interface in a PC. However, in order to take Vehicle Spy online, you will need an Intrepid hardware device with a hardware license. This can be any of the Intrepid Ethernet hardware tools discussed in Section 1.3, except for the RAD-Star or RAD-Moon (which do not use a hardware license). If you have only a RAD-Star or RAD-Moon, you can use any other Intrepid device, such as a ValueCAN or neoVI FIRE / FIRE 2, to activate VSpy.
Figure 2 shows an example of what Vehicle Spy may look like when you first launch it with an Ethernet EVB properly installed. Notice the picture of the device near the bottom of the screen, and its two nodes listed along with their serial numbers and node letter designations (“A” and “B”)
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