Is it possible to connect to an UDP multicast using the Instrument Control Toolbox?

I would like to make a connection to UDP multicast using the Instrument Control Toolbox. Is it possible to do so?

Answer 1

[MathWorks Support Team]

In R2020b, the "configureMulticast" feature was added, enabling UDP multicast. 

https://jp.mathworks.com/help/instrument/udpport.configuremulticast.html

If you are using R2020a or an earlier version, please read the following.

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The ability to connect to a UDP multicast is not available in the Instrument Control Toolbox.

As a workaround to connect to a UDP multicast, you can do the following:

1. Use a Java multicast socket to access it directly from MATLAB. For more information, see javadoc or tutorials for the "core java.net" classes from Sun, specifically "java.net.MulticastSocket ". This could be found at:

https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/11/docs/api/java.base/java/net/MulticastSocket.html

Information on using Java with MATLAB in the 'External Interfaces' section of the MATLAB documentation can be accessed by typing the following command at the MATLAB command prompt:

web([docroot,'/techdoc/apiref/ch00intr.html'])

2. Write your own functions in C that use standard sockets and have a MEX wrapper call those functions. You can find more information on MEX-files at:

https://www.mathworks.com/help/matlab/call-mex-files-1.html

If you are using MATLAB between R2016b and R2020a, you can take a look at this example:

https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/59156-udp-broadcasting-from-matlab

This achieves the goal of multiple devices on the same subnet, whose IP addresses are not known at the time of development of the MATLAB program, to receive messages from the MATLAB program.

Answer 2

[Vinod]

If you are using MATLAB R2016b or newer, take a look at this example: https://www.mathworks.com/matlabcentral/fileexchange/59156-udp-broadcasting-from-matlab

Technically it is UDP broadcast, but it achieves the need of multiple devices on the same subnet, whose IP addresses are not known at the time of development of the MATLAB program, to receive messages from the MATLAB program.