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We are experiencing an issue with our internal test script while using the Aardvark Software API. We are working to evaluate a new I2C device to integrate into a system.

Here is a summary of our test procedure:

1. Configure the I2C adapter.
2. Open the device by calling AardvarkApi.aa_open.
3. Call the API ‘aa_i2c_write_read’ to read the data from the power supply unit (PSU).
4. Delay 50ms.
5. Call the API ‘aa_i2c_write_read’ to read the data from the PSU.
6. Delay 50ms.
7. Repeat the step 3 to 6 to read the data 500 times.  Note - the device was not closed while repeating read.

The problem we observed when calling the API command aa_i2c_write_read.

• Sometimes the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter does not send the command to PSU.
• Other times, the Aardvark adapter no longer sends a command when aa_i2c_write_read is called.

What are your recommendations in analyzing the API software, its interactions, and results to identify and fix this issue?

Thank you for your question! While we weren’t able to replicate the issue in our lab, we have some recommendations to help troubleshoot the issue you described.

Troubleshooting Questions

We recommend gathering the following information as a starting point for analyzing the issue:

• What is the return code on aa_i2c_write_read when the issue happens?
• Does the Aardvark adapter work after executing aa_i2c_write_read or must it be rebooted?

To acquire this information and more, we recommend using two of our tools: the I2C/SPI Activity Board and Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer.

Essential Tools for Troubleshooting Data Streams

The I2C/SPI Activity Board can be used to create a prototype or a simulation of the system you are working on, including:

• Debugging a system against working slave devices.
• Identifying which bugs are hardware and which are software.
• Establishing a baseline for software usage.

For an example of using the I2C/SPI Activity Board, refer to the Knowledge Base article How to Read and Write to an I2C EEPROM Using the Aardvark adapter and Control Center. This guide outlines the steps to read and write to the AT24C02 I2C EEPROM included with the I2C/SPI Activity Board. The same procedure can be applied with other devices.

Additionally, to gain insight into bus activity, the Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer can be placed within your setup to capture and log essential data within the Data Center Software. This software allows users to monitor data flow in real time, enabling efficient diagnostics and communication analysis. This bus data can be saved for further analysis and easily shared with remote colleagues.

Watch this video to see how the Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter and the Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer are used to evaluate an I2C system:

Here are more examples about troubleshooting and analysis:

• What Tools Can I Use to Develop, Test, and Debug MCTP Devices?
• How Do I Analyze and Troubleshoot an MCTP Device on the SMBus?

We hope this answers your questions. Additional resources that you may find helpful include the following:

• Aardvark I2C/SPI Host Adapter User Manual
• I2C/SPI Activity Board User Manual
• Control Center Serial Software User Manual
• Beagle Protocol Analyzer User Manual
• Data Center Software User Manual
• Beginners Guide to the I2C/SPI Level Shifter Board
• Beagle I2C/SPI Protocol Analyzer Unboxing and Quick Start

If you want more information, feel free to contact us with your questions, or request a demo that applies to your application.