    plchost(1)                                   Qualcomm Atheros Open Powerline Toolkit                                  plchost(1)

    NAME
           plchost - Qualcomm Atheros Powerline Device Host Emulator

    SYNOPSIS
           plchost [options] -N file -P file

    DESCRIPTION
           Wait  for VS_HST_ACTION.IND messages from a local device and service them as described in the QCA Firmware Technical Ref‐
           erence Manual.  This program can be used to demonstrate or verify proper powerline device/host interaction for flash-less
           devices.   This implementation is not production grade and will stop dead - like a bug! - when things go wrong.  Consider
           using the Qualcomm Atheros Embedded API for real-time, production-grade applications.

           Host emulation applies to flash-less device designs where a local host processor provides the  persistent  storage.   The
           local  host  can provide a wide range of intelligent storage functions for a device but this program offers one.  Options
           -N and -P name existing files that store the factory default runtime firmware and parameters, respectively.   Options  -n
           and  -p  name scratch files that will store user firmware and parameters, respectively.  This is similiar to the standard
           Atheros NVRAM scheme but is not the same.

           To use the program, connect a flash-less device to the host via ethernet then start this program with the  correct  file‐
           names.   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
           -F[F]  Flash NVRAM once downloaded firmware has started.   The  same  firmware  and  PIB  are  downloaded,  again,  using
                  VS_WR_MOD  and  written  to  NVRAM using VS_MOD_NVM.  Adding a second F here or another -F anywhere on the command
                  line will perform a forced flash.  When no NVRAM is present, normal and force flash cause the device to upload  to
                  the  host.  When blank or corrupted NVRAM is present, forced flash writes to NVRAM.  This operation will fail when
                  no NVRAM is present.

           -i interface
                  Select the host Ethernet interface.  All requests are sent via this host interface and only reponses received  via
                  this host 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 filename
                  Use  this  fIle to download firmware when requested by the local 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 user.pib will be used.

           -P filename
                  Use this file to download parameters when requested by the local 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 parame‐
                  ter 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 user.nvm will be used.

           -q     Suppress status messages on stderr.

           -Sfilename
                  Use this file to download the softloader when requested by the local 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.

           -t milliseconds
                  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.

           -?, --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  command  starts the host emulator.  The -N and -P options are always required.  Their order is not impor‐
           tant.

              # plchost -N test.nvm -P test.pib -n temp.nvm -p temp.pib
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Waiting for Host Action Requests

              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Host Action Request is (4) configure memory.
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write Memory (00000040:15752)
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Wrote mac-release-X.nvm
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Started BootLoader

              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Host Action Request is (0) initialize device.
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write Memory (00000040:15752)
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Wrote mac-release-X.nvm
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Started BootLoader
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write Memory (00204000:1013952)
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Wrote mac-release-X.nvm
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Write Memory (01F00000:11400)
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:01 Wrote AR7400-WallAdapter-HomePlugAV_NorthAmerica.pib
              eth1 00:B0:52:00:00:03 Started INT7400-MAC-0-0-1008-00-63-20100227-AUTO-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 mes‐
           sage structure and content in future firmware releases without any obligation to notify or compensate users of this  pro‐
           gram.

    SEE ALSO
           plc(1), ampboot(1), amptool(1),

    CREDITS
            Charles Maier <cmaier@qca.qualcomm.com>

    open-plc-utils-0.0.3                                        Mar 2014                                                  plchost(1)

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