RSCAD Software Installation

In this documents the installation of RSCAD is detailed

*** RSCAD versions 2.X and later only support Windows and Linux platforms.
Support for Unix platforms has been discontinued.

1 Downloading the latest RSCAD version

The RTDS Simulator software has been included on a single CD labeled RSCAD
Software Suite. This software includes the RSCAD Graphical User Interface, Power
System Compiler and Libraries and the Control System Compiler and Libraries.

It is recommended that the user download the latest available version of the software
from RTDS Technologies’ website if the version sent on CD is not the most recent. It
should be noted that the file size for a full software download is approximately 150 MB
and hence a reliable, high speed internet connection is recommended. If download is not
possible, then a CD can be sent to you with the latest version of the software.

To download the most recent version of RSCAD the user must log into the Client
Resources area of our website. The web address is: www.rtds.com.

Enter the Client Resources Area

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 Enter Login ID and Password here.

Your user id and password are both case-sensitive. Please contact the individual at
your institution who is responsible for the RTDS in order to get the required userID and
password. Contact RTDS Technologies if no such person can be found.

 user id: xxxxxxx

 password: xxxxxxx

Once logged into the client resources area, the user will see the following introduction
page.

The user can navigate around the

client resources area using the links in
the left hand margin of the page

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The most recent version of RSCAD is available in the ‘Download Area’ or our
customer support site.

Click here to enter the

Download Area of our
customer support site.

1) Click here and this

menu will appear.

2) Choose the Save option and you

will be prompted for a location to
place the download.
3) Browse to a location where the
RSCAD installation files can be
placed and then press Save

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 2 Installing RSCAD

Once the downloading process is completed, the user will be ready to begin
software installation. Go to directory where the RSCAD file was downloaded and
run it by double-clicking on the RSCAD-X.XXX-Setup.exe.

The Installation Wizard will begin the final software installation during which the
user will be prompted step by step. The overall process is illustrated through the
menus shown below.

Initial screen of RSCAD Installation Wizard

User must accept license terms to continue

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 When the Installation Wizard finishes, the RTDS Simulator software will have
been successfully installed on the user’s computer. If the user chose the
recommended settings during the installation procedure, the software will have
been installed in the “C:\RSCAD” directory.

As part of the installation process, a shortcut icon will be created on the user’s
desktop. RSCAD can be launched by double clicking the shortcut icon.
Alternatively, RSCAD can be launched through the Programs menu on the PC.

From Desktop Shortcut

From Program Menu

3 Obtaining a Security Key

Launching RSCAD will result in the “RSCAD software suite” screen to be

displayed. The first time RSCAD is launched the user will receive a security
violation error and will need to submit a request to RTDS Technologies for an
appropriate key. The security key request file will be automatically created
during installation of RSCAD.

1) RSCAD software suite

start-up window

2) Security Violation Error –

The request file is
automatically generated
3) When the request file is ready
the user should access the RTDS
Technologies website by selecting
the ‘www.rtds.com’ button

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In order to submit an RSCAD security key, the user must enter the client
resources area of our web site as was already illustrated in Section 1. Once
inside the secure area, the user should select the “Get Security Key” option
under RSCAD Resources.

To obtain the Security Key

select this option

The basic instructions relating to security key generation are all available on the
website when you click the ‘Get Security Keys’ link. Below is an illustration of
those instructions:

To locate the generated

request file click Browse’.

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If the user has specified the recommended default directory during the RSCAD
installation, the security request file will be located in security directory and will
have the following path: “C\RSCAD\SECURITY\rscad_hostname.req”

1) Select the request file name

2) Select Open

3) Get the security key file

from RTDS Technologies

C:\RSCAD\SECURITY\macname.req

4) Choose Save

5) Browse to the RSCAD

Security directory and
choose Save

6) When download is
complete choose Close

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When the security key has been generated and stored in the appropriate
‘SECURITY’ directory, the user should close the window reporting the security
failure. Assuming the security key is valid and has been placed in the correct
directory, the RSCAD software suite should now start without triggering any
errors.

Close the window

reporting the
security error.

If the window shown above has already been closed then the user should simply
restart RSCAD.

4 Generating the config_file and hubConfig files.

In general, the RTDS simulator requires two hardware configuration files in order
to successfully compile and run simulation cases; one is called config_file and
the other is hubConfig. The contents of these files describe the specific RTDS
simulator hardware that has been supplied to the user.

If the RSCAD software cannot find these two files in the appropriate directory, the
RSCAD program will not start. Fortunately these two files can be automatically
generated by RSCAD if the hardware has been connected and is switched on.

config_file

The config_file is a listing of all the available hardware installed in the simulator
unit. When RSCAD is launched and the config_file does not exist, a window
similar to that shown below will be displayed.

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 If RSCAD is launched before the
config_file exist, this window appears.
Select “Generate configuration file” after
the hardware has been installed and
powered on.

Assuming the hardware is connected and powered on, the first time a user
starts RSCAD they should select “Generate configuration file”. This will bring up
the window shown below where the information about the configuration and
settings of the hardware must be entered.

Starting Rack = Rack # assigned to the first detected rack

Starting IP address = xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx
(Lowest Assigned WIF IP address)
Number of Racks = Number of racks in your simulator

The information for each rack can be entered individually or the process can be
automated by specifying the 1st rack number, 1st IP address and the total number
of racks that make up the simulator.

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hubConfig

The hubConfig file defines the configuration of the Global Bus Hub, hardware
which is required in simulators with more than two racks. In order to generate
this file the user should launch RSCAD’s Runtime module.

Launch RSCAD’s Runtime module

When the user launches RUNTIME for the first time they are asked which type of
Workstation interface card is installed in their simulator. You should select ‘WIF’.

Select ‘WIF’

In the next window that appears, select from the available option. A Global Bus
Hub (GBH) is used when there are more than two racks in a simulator. If your
simulator has a GBH, you will be required to enter its IP address.

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After the appropriate selection has been made, press the ‘Generate’ button to
generate the hubconfig file. Please not that all racks should be powered on and
that no cases should be running on them.

Click ‘Exit’ after the ‘hubConfig’ file has been successfully generated in order to
close the window and start RSCAD’s Runtime module.

5 Setting some options in RSCAD

The final step in the installation of RSCAD is to set two file paths; one to the
desired default text editor used by RSCAD, the other to Adobe Acrobat Reader
which is used to view our Help files.

File paths to RSCAD’s

default text editor and to
Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Installation of the RSCAD software suite is now complete. If the user encounters
any problems with the software download and/or installation process, please
contact the RTDS Technologies support team at rtds@rtds.com.

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