Low Latency Memory Data Transfer between Two MATLAB instances on Two RTLinux OS Computers

Hi,

Does anyone out there have any experience with real time data transfer between two matlab instances on two computers who may suggest the appropriate configuration?

I'm interested in both the correct use of MATLAB software functions (most likely from Instrument Control Toolbox) and of the best cable connection that optimizes speed and latency of binary data transfers between MATLAB memory's of two RTLinux computers (bandwidth is not an issue as much because the data is not too large that I want to transfer). In other words I'm interested in:

(1) the fastest function call to use within MATLAB (e.g. serial(),udp(),..) to transfer binary data in memory from one MATLAB instance on RTLinux Computer #1 to memory of second MATLAB instance on RTLinux Computer #2. I'm assuming this is using Instrument Control Toolbox, but am open to other solutions.

and

(2) the fastest cable connection between the two laptops (e.g. thunderbolt (if I use two mac's), firewire, usb3.0, GiGE, Ethernet)

Thank you for your help in advance, Deborah

Answer 1

[Walter Roberson]

Some latency information. Caution: they might not be talking about exactly the same setup. In particular some of them concentrate on audio -- but digital audio is a form of data transfer...

https://developer.apple.com/library/mac/documentation/HardwareDrivers/Conceptual/ThunderboltDevGuide/Basics01/Basics01.html

http://www.rme-audio.de/forum/viewtopic.php?id=15601

http://www.gearslutz.com/board/newbie-audio-engineering-production-question-zone/743069-usb-1-1-vs-usb-2-0-vs-firewire-sound-interfaces-latency-issues-please-help.html

http://www.dawbench.com/audio-int-lowlatency2.htm

[Deborah]

Thanks for the links! I'm not sure what drivers are available for each cable connection and which ones are supported by instrument control toolbox to go from computer to computer...

BTW here were a couple links i was looking at for cable comparisons: http://nofilmschool.com/2013/05/macworld-benchmark-battle-usb-3-vs-thunderbolt/ http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/thunderbolt-performance-z77a-gd80,3205-2.html

I'm thinking of USB3 cable connection because thunderbolt may be too new and still learning about it, but I'm not sure which MATLAB command to use in order to send binary data between two computers via USB3 cable.. All i can find is MATLAB's USB-VISA command, which I think is for vendor specific products (agilent, ni, tek) not from one computer to another (from what I can tell, but I am just learning about Instrument Control Toolbox, so I may have missed something)

[Samuel Gray]

You can use usb to serial adapters on each end (which you will have to do anyway if the distance between them is more than 20 feet or so), and just use standard serial commands to transfer the data. But then you could use usb to ethernet adapters just as easily. USB is the gift that keeps on giving.

Answer 2

[Vinod]

Hi Deborah,

Have you taken a look at this?

http://blogs.mathworks.com/loren/2011/05/27/transferring-data-between-two-computers-using-matlab/

If you have gigabit Ethernet connection between the computers, this is about as fast as you can go, without some custom hardware bus between the two computers.

Hope this helps, -Vinod