NAME

       plchostd - Qualcomm Atheros PLC Host Daemon

SYNOPSIS

       plchostd [options] -N nvmfile -P pibfile

DESCRIPTION

       Wait  for  VS_HST_ACTION.IND messages from a local device and service them as described in
       the Qualcomm Atheros Firmware Technical Reference Manual for  powerline  devices.   Unlike
       programs int6khost and int64host, this program uses operating system features available on
       POSIX, Unix, BSD and Linux systems but not available on Microsoft or VxWorks systems.

       To use the program, connect a flash-less device to the host via ethernet then  start  this
       program  with  the  correct  filenames.   The program will automatically respond to device
       requests to download memory configuration, firmware and/or parameters and upload  firmware
       or  and/or  parameters  under device control.  See the Qualcomm Atheros Firmware Technical
       Reference Manual for more information.

       This program is part of the Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Toolkit.  See the plc man page  for
       an overview and installation instructions.

OPTIONS

       -i interface
              Select  the  host Ethernet interface.  All requests are sent via this interface and
              only reponses received via this interface are recognized.  The default interface is
              eth1  because  most people use eth0 as their principle network connection; however,
              if environment string "PLC" is defined then it takes precedence  over  the  default
              interface.  This option then takes precedence over either default.

       -N nvmfile
              The file containing the firmware chain used to boot and flash the device.  The file
              must exist and have a valid NVM file format or it will be rejected.  No assumptions
              are  made  based on filename and no filename conventions are enforced.  The program
              will not over-write this file.  This option and argument are required.

       -n filename
              Use this file to store firmware uploaded from the local device.  The file need  not
              exist  but  an error will occur if it cannot be created or written.  If firmware is
              uploaded to this file, it is used for  subsequent  firmware  downloads  unless  the
              device  requests a factory reset.  In that case, the file specified by option -N is
              used.  This option and argument are optional.  If omitted then the default filename
              host.pib will be used.

       -P pibfile
              The  file  containing  the  parameter chain used to boot and flash the device.  The
              file must exist and have a valid PIB file  format  or  it  will  be  rejected.   No
              assumptions  are  made  based on filename and no filename conventions are enforced.
              The program will not over-write this file.  This option and argument are required.

       -p filename
              Use this file to store parameters uploaded from the local device.   The  file  need
              not  exist  but  an  error  will  occur  if  it cannot be created or written.  Once
              parameters are uploaded to this file, it is used for subsequent parameter downloads
              unless  the  device  requests a factory reset.  In that case, the file specified by
              option -P is used.  This option and argument are optional.   If  omitted  then  the
              default filename host.nvm will be used.

       -q     Suppress status messages on stderr.

       -s pathname
              The  server  socket  pathname.   Automatically open this Unix socket and post event
              information to it for the benefit of other host processes.

       -S filename
              The file containing the softloader chain used to flash the device.  The presence of
              this  file causes the device to be flashed once it has booted.  The file must exist
              and have a valid PIB file format or it will be rejected.  No assumptions  are  made
              based  on  filename and no filename conventions are enforced.  The program will not
              over-write this file.  This option and argument are required.

       -t timeout
              Read timeout in milliseconds.  Values range from 0 through UINT_MAX.  This  is  the
              maximum  time  allowed  for  a  response.   The default is shown in brackets on the
              program menu.

       -v     Print additional information on stdout.  In  particular,  this  option  will  print
              incoming and outgoing Ethernet frames on stdout.

       -w wakeup
              Wakeup  time  in  seconds.  If no VS_HST_ACTION.IND message is received within this
              time period then the process will wakeup and perform  periodic  functions  such  as
              posting network topography to the server socket specified by option -s.

       -?, --help
              Print  program  help  summary  on  stdout.  This option takes precedence over other
              options on the command line.

       -!, --version
              Print program version information on stdout.  This  option  takes  precedence  over
              other  options  on  the command line.  Use this option when sending screen dumps to
              Atheros Technical Support so that they know exactly  which  version  of  the  Linux
              Toolkit you are using.

ARGUMENTS

       None.

REFERENCES

       See  the  Qualcomm  Atheros  HomePlug  AV  Firmware  Technical  Reference  Manual for more
       information.

EXAMPLES

       The following example starts the host server.  The -N and -P options are always  required.
       Option  order  is not important.  Control does not return to the console until the program
       is terminated by the user using CTRL-C or another command line interrupt.

          # plchostd -N test.nvm -P test.pib -n temp.nvm -p temp.pib

       The next example does the same but spawns  the  program  as  an  independent  process  and
       returns  control  to the console.  In this case, that process must be terminated or killed
       using an appropriate command such ad kill.

          # plchostd -N test.nvm -P test.pib -n temp.nvm -p temp.pib -d

DISCLAIMER

       Atheros HomePlug AV Vendor Specific Management Message  Entry  structure  and  content  is
       proprietary  to  Qualcomm Atheros, Ocala FL USA.  Consequently, public information may not
       be available.  Qualcomm Atheros reserves the right to modify message structure and content
       in  future  firmware releases without any obligation to notify or compensate users of this
       program.

SEE ALSO

       plc(1), int64host(1), int6k(1), int6kboot(1), int6khost(1)

CREDITS

        Charles Maier