ASCOM Platform 7.1 Update 3

In line with previous Platform installers, Platform 7.1 Update 3 is a cumulative release that contains all enhancements and fixes from previous Platform releases and service packs. The Platform environment pre-requisites are listed here Platform Prerequisites.

• Logging is now more reliable and slightly faster.
• A new option has been added to the Diagnostics application (Use TraceLogger mutex synchronisation) so you can revert to previous logging behaviour if necessary.

• Fixed - Widely reported issues where TraceLogger returned ProfilePersistenceException - Timed out waiting for TraceLogger mutex exceptions causing many clients and drivers to fail. This issue first appeared in Platform 7.1 Update 2.

• The default locking mechanic in TraceLogger has been changed to use an instance local lock() instead of a global mutex.
  • Since its introduction in 2009, TraceLogger has used a global Windows mutex to synchronise writing to log files. The impact was that only one log message could be written at a time across all instances of TraceLogger and all applications.
  • The default locking mechanic has been changed to an instance local lock() because this is sufficient to protect the file being written and allows concurrent writing of log files.
  • It is strongly recommended that the new default lock() synchronisation is used as it is faster and does not cause application issues due to mutex timeouts.
• A new TraceLogger property TraceLogger.UseMutexSynchronisation has been added so the original global mutex synchronisation can be re-enabled if required for use cases where logging synchronisation between processes is required.
• A new option has been added to the Diagnostics application that enables end-users to revert all ASCOM TraceLogger activity to the original global mutex synchronisation without requiring code changes.

• None

• None are expected, but developers should be aware of the change to the default locking mechanic in TraceLogger described above.

See this link for changes and fixes in Platform 7.1 Update 2.