A new software design and development effort has produced a Java (Sun Microsystems, Inc.) version of the award-winning Tempest software (refs. 1 and 2). In 1999, the Embedded Web Technology (EWT) team received a prestigious R&D 100 Award for Tempest , Java Version. In this article, " Tempest " will refer to the Java version of Tempest , a World Wide Web server for desktop or embedded systems.
Tempest
was designed at the NASA Glenn Research Center at Lewis Field to run on any platform for which a Java Virtual Machine (JVM, Sun Microsystems, Inc.) exists. The JVM acts as a translator between the native code of the platform and the byte code of Tempest , which is compiled in Java. These byte code files are Java executables with a ".class" extension. Multiple byte code files can be zipped together as a "*.jar" file for more efficient transmission over the Internet. Today’s popular browsers, such as Netscape (Netscape Communications Corporation) and Internet Explorer (Microsoft Corporation) have built-in Virtual Machines to display Java applets.
Embedded Web Technology.
The popularity of Java has given Sun Microsystems, Inc., the ability to support a large number of platforms and operating systems. Tempest was able to leverage this popularity and make it attractive for a wide range of users to employ Tempest as a platform-independent web server.
Tempest was designed with features allowing ease of installation in embedded or desktop computers. Separate configuration files are one of these features. The user can modify the configuration files to limit client access to the server according to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses or to specific user ID and password combinations that force clients to identify themselves as valid users. Other configuration files include a file that links stored images to specific user ID’s for the customization of web pages served by Tempest and a file that contains pseudo commands for other executables on the server. The pseudo commands work in conjunction with Tempest ’s dynamic web page feature or custom <TEMPEST> tags to modify the contents of web pages as they are served.
Command line options allow users to specify Tempest port numbers and persistent or nonpersistent connections, and to enable or disable a debug feature, a logging feature, or the client ID and password authorization.
Tempest requires little minimum memory (<200 kilobytes) and computer resources. Its source code is available through participation in the EWT Workshops and is well documented for those who wish to customize the code. A user manual and design manual are also available.
Existing applications of Tempest include remote control of video cameras (pan, tilt, zoom, and focus), science experiments for education (ref. 2), and applications in the automotive, medical, instrumentation, machine control, and communications industries. Tempest is being applied in-house in Glenn’s Satellites and Networking Branch, Manufacturing Engineering Division, and External Programs Directorate.
Glenn contacts: David W. York, (216) 433–3162, David.W.York@grc.nasa.gov; Maria Babula, (216) 433–5221, Maria.Babula@grc.nasa.gov; Joseph G. Ponyik, (216) 433–8592, Joseph.G.Ponyik@grc.nasa.gov; and Lisa M. Lambert, (216) 433–3994, Lisa.M.Lambert@grc.nasa.gov
Authors: David W. York and Joseph G. Ponyik
Headquarters program office: OLMSA
Programs/Projects: VIC, EWT, SEMAA, AEL, FCF, LTP
Special Recognition: Tempest , Java Version, received a 1999 R&D 100 Award.
Definitions of NASA Headquarters Program Offices
Last updated April 24, 2000, by Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
Responsible NASA Official:
Gynelle.C.Steele@nasa.gov
216-433-8258
Point of contact for NASA Glenn's Research & Technology reports:
Cynthia.L.Dreibelbis@nasa.gov
216-433-2912
SGT, Inc.
Web page curator:
Nancy.L.Obryan@nasa.gov
216-433-5793
Wyle Information Systems, LLC
