
ICS
ELECTRONICS
ICS
a division of Systems West Inc.

Web Site http://www.icselect.com August 2009 Edition Rev x3
ICS
ELECTRONICS
ICS
division of Systems West Inc.

Within 12 months of delivery, ICS Electronics will repair or replace this product,
bor is included). Return this product to ICS Electronics, or other designated repair
not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause inter-
50082-1, which are designed to provide reasonable protection against such interfer-
Certifi cate of Compliance reproduced in Figure 1-3.
VEE is a trademark of Agilent, Palo Alto, CA
LabView is a Trademark of National Instruments, Austin, TX
ICS and GPIB AnyWhere are trademarks of ICS Electronics, Pleasanton, CA
© 2009 ICS Electronics div of Systems West Inc.

Product Description, Specifi cations, IEEE-488 Interface, Ethernet
Shipment Verifi cation, Installation Guide, Confi guration Settings,
Introduction, Operation, GPIB Operation, Web Server Operation,
Block Diagram Description
Maintenance, Troubleshooting and Repair
Maintenance, Troubleshooting Guide, Selftest Error Codes,
Reseting Default Network Settings, Updating Firmware, and Repair
A1 IEEE-488.1, IEEE-488.2 and SCPI Descriptions
A3 ICS RPC Confi guration Commands

This section provides a description and specifi cations for ICS's Model N4865A
LAN Adapter is a hardware module that provides
The Model N4865A is designed to interface with and control Agilent DSO/
MSO7000 Series and DSO/MSO9000 Series oscilloscopes. The N4865A
has two ways to connect to an oscilloscope after power turn-on and selftest.
The user can specify an IP address for the oscilloscope and the N4865A will
N4865A will do an UDP broadcast and attempt to connect to the fi rst VXI-11.3
then ready to accept GPIB bus commands and device specifi c messages for its
The N4865A follows the IEEE-488.2 Message Exchange Protocol when
handling GPIB commands and device messages and should only be used with
IEEE-488.2 compatible GPIB Controllers. GPIB commands are converted to
VXI-11.3 equivalents and transmitted to the companion oscilloscope. Device

The N4865A can accept reverse channel Service Requests and will assert SRQ
The N4865A's operation and network settings are completely programmable
by commands from its Ethernet interface, eliminating the need to open the unit
to change or verify a function setting. The setup parameters can be changed
the N4865A to its default network settings at any time.
The N4865A and its companion oscilloscope can be placed anywhere on the
ICS's N4865A Interface is packaged in ICS's small metal Minibox™ case which
provides proven EMI/RFI protection and rack mounting capability. Rear panel
RJ-45 and GPIB connectors provide access to the network and GPIB bus. Front
panel LEDs provide visual network and GPIB bus status and diagnostic help

The following specifi cations apply to all N4865A models. Options for your
unit may be found by comparing the list below to those listed on the Ethernet
N4865A - X General Model Number

The N4865A's 488 Bus interface meets the IEEE STD 488.1-1987 standard
SH1, AH1, T6, L4, SR1, PP0, DC0, RL0, DT0, C1 - C4 and C9
The N4865A's GPIB Bus drivers incorporate powerup/down protection to
prevent sending invalid data to the bus. GPIB fanout is up to 14 devices.
The N4865A's GPIB primary address is entered and saved in fl ash memory
Primary address range is 0 - 30. The default GPIB address is 4.
The N4865A follows the IEEE-488.2 Message Exchange Protocol when han-
All device data messages sent to the N4865A must be terminated with EOI
N4865A is addressed to talk, it sends a
Large Listen messages are handled by holding off the GPIB bus while a buffer
reading multiple talk buffers worth of data from the oscilloscope and outputting
them to the GPIB bus until a response packet is received from the oscilloscope
GPIB Listen buffer 1024 bytes (see Note 1)
GPIB Talk buffer 1024 bytes (see Note 1)
Note 1. Working buffer size may be smaller if the companion oscilloscope reports smaller maximum

When the N4865A is transistioned to the Listen Active State from the Talk
Active State, it discards any data in the GPIB talk buffer. Similarly, when the
N4865A is transistioned to the Talk Active State from the Listen Active State,
The following are short term data rates:
> 17 kbytes/second to the GPIB bus from 4865 memory.
> 20 kbytes/second from the GPIB bus to 4865 memory.
The following times are averages and vary depending upon what the 4865
Short device commands 18 milliseconds typical
*IDN? Queries 46 milliseconds typical
When the N4865A receives a Selected Device Clear or a Device Clear on the
RPC to the companion oscilloscope and
When the 4896 receives a Group Execute Trigger (GET) on the GPIB Bus, any
RPC to the companion oscilloscope.

When the N4865A receives a Reverse Channel Service Request, it sends a
RPC to the companion oscilloscope to obtain the Status Register
response and assert the GPIB SRQ signal. The SRQ signal is deasserted when
the N4865A is Serial Polled or when the N4865A learns that the companion
The N4865A periodically reads the companion oscilloscope's Status Byte
Register and use the response to update its Status Byte. The oscilloscope

The N4865A supports the Internet Protocol Suite, including the Transmission
IEEE-802.3 Compliant. 10 Mbs with 10BaseT, 100 Mbs with 100BaseT
The IP Address, Subnet Mask, and Gateway values can be set to static values
The N4865A has the capability to accept an address from a DHCP Server. If
the N4865A is set to DHCP and does not receive a IP address, it defaults to a
The N4865A's MAC Address is saved internally and can be read with ICS's
VXI-11 Confi guration Utility or with a Web Browser. See Section 2.
The N4865A uses the ports listed in Table 1-1
Port Usage Protocols Notes

The N4865A's standard HTML pages conform to HTML version 4.01 or XHTML
User can redefi ne the other page names, page layouts or add additional pages.
The WebServer serves the stored pages after substituting values for the variable
placeholders. The standard N4865A pages are:
404.html 404 Error Page (required page)
Image fi les with .jpg or .gif extensions are served as graphics
The user can replace the standard HTML pages and image fi les with modifi ed
pages or add additional pages and images to the card. User is responsible for
XHTML version 1.0. Guidelines for modifying the pages, HTML fi les and the
Update Utility are described in Application Bulletin AB80-5.
File types supported .html, .gif and .jpg
Number of fi les 32 maximum
File size 63 kbytes maximum for all fi les
32 kbytes maximum for a single fi le
File name size 27 characters

The N4865A operates as a VXI-11 client and is fully compliant to the VXI-11
The N4865A's RPC protocol conforms to ONC RPC Version 2 per the VXI-11
The N4865A addresses its companion LAN oscilloscope as
If AutoFind is On, the N4865A does a UDP broadcast to the entire IP universe
to fi nd an VXI-11.3 compatible oscilloscope. The extent of the broadcast is
the fi rst VXI-11.3 compatible oscilloscope that replies. Connection capability
If AutoFind is Off, no UDP broadcast is issued and the N4865A will try to link
to an oscilloscope at the user designated ip address.

Function Choices Default Source (1)
IP Address Mode Static or Dynamic Dynamic E
Address 0.0.0.0 to 169.254.48.65 E
Net Mask 0.0.0.0 to 255.255.0.0 E
Auto Disconnect On or Off Off E
Addresses 255.255.255.255
Notes: 1. E = Ethernet Interface as the confi guration port for Browsers or
for ICS's VXI-11 Confi guration Utility.
Address is factory set and is not user changeable.
The MAC Address can be read with the VXI-11 Confi guration Utility
4. Setting AutoFind ON causes the N4865A to ignore the Oscilloscope

The N4865A has eight front
panel LEDs that normally display the following
LAN - Indicates the unit is connected to an active Ethernet
oscilloscope or to the network.
ACT - Indicates activity over the Ethernet connection.
RDY - Blinks at a 1 Hz rate while doing an AutoFind of the
TALK - Indicates the unit is an active GPIB Talker.
LSTN - Indicates the unit is an active GPIB Listener.
ERR - Solid on when the N4865A runs into a problem that
prevents it from continuing.
When the N4865A is turned on, it performs an internal selftest which takes
If DHCP is selected, the N4865A will wait 15-20 seconds for a DHCP server
response before defaulting to its Auto IP address. It then starts looking for a
If the N4865A fi nds a selftest error, it blinks the error code on its front panel
LEDs. Refer to paragraph 5.4 for a description of the selftest errors and their

Figure 1-1 N4865A Outline Dimensions
18.92 cm
Side View
14.15 cm
End View
3.86
cm
.254
cm
0.95 cm
max
connector

(18.92 cm L x 14.15 cm W x 3.86 cm H)
Weight - 1.37 lbs. (.6 kg.)
Temperature - Operating -10 °C to +55 °C
Humidity - 0-90% RH without condensation
GPIB Connector with metric studs
2.45 mm plug, center positive
LAN Reset button on rear panel
Figure 1-2 N4865A Front Panel Indicators

EMI/RFI Meets limits for part 15, Class A of US FCC Docket 20780
CE Certifi cate of Compliance reproduced in Figure 1-3. The
N4865A uses the 8065 PCB assembly and 8065 Certifi cate.
UL/CSA/VDE AC Wall adapter has applicable UL/CSA/VDE
Figure 1-3 Certifi cate of Conformity

895011 Ethernet Crossover Cable
123170 Support CD-ROM with Model N4865A Instruction
120170 N4865A Instruction Manual
114210 Single Rack Mounting Kit
114211 Dual Rack Mounting Kit
104705 GPIB Cable, 0.5 meters long
104710 GPIB Cable, 1 meters long
104720 GPIB Cable, 2 meters long
104740 GPIB Cable, 4 meters long
895011 Ethernet Crossover Cable

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When unpacking, check the unit for signs of shipping damage (damaged box,
ICS Electronics or your local sales representative immediately. Also, call the
replaced without waiting for the claim against the carrier to be settled.
Take a moment to verify that the following items were included with your
(1) Model N4865A GPIB to LAN Adapter
(1) Ethernet Crossover Cable
(1) Support CD-ROM with Instruction Manual PDF
When shipped, the N4865A is confi gured to operate with a dynamic IP address
that will fall back to an IP address of 169.254.48.65 if no DHCP server is found.
Refer to Table 1-2 for all N4865A factory settings.

The following steps should be used as a guide to setting up and using your
has an IP address in the range of 169.254.xxx.xxx it should successfully
If the oscilloscope has an IP address outside of the N4865A’s range, either
the N4865A or the oscilloscope needs to have its IP address changed. See
paragraphs 3.1.1 and 2.5.
to confi gure the N4865A’s network and/or GPIB settings as directed in
paragraph 2.5. If you are resetting the oscilloscope’s IP address, do not
to install the N4865A in the rack mounting kit. Mount the rack mount
4. After confi guration, the N4865A can be connected to its companion LAN
rear panel and to the oscilloscope’s RJ-45 connector. Use a GPIB Cable
to connect the N4865A to the GPIB Controller.
Figure 2-1 N4865A Direct Oscilloscope Connection

Static or Static lets the user set the N4865A’s IP Address, Net
DHCP Mask and Gateway IP values. DHCP enables the
N4865A to accept the IP values supplied by a DHCP
to IP address 169.254.48.65 and Net Mask of
IP Address Any Sets the N4865A’s own IP address. Any valid IP
between 0.0.0.0 and 255.255.255.255. The default for
Net Mask Any 254.254.0.0. for B range operation.
last octet. i.e. 192.168.0.1.
On or Off Enables the N4865A’s socket layer to send the client a
no activity on the socket. If the client fails to reply,
the N4865A will close the socket, release any locks
not support Keep Alive messages. Factory setting is
0 to 30 Sets the GPIB address the N4865A uses for itself on
Address the GPIB bus. Values are 0 to 30. Recommended
values are 0 and 21. Factory setting is 4.
Instrument IP Any Sets the oscilloscope’s IP address. Not required if
AutoFind is On. If AutoFind is Off, the N4865A will
look for an oscilloscope at just this IP address. The
On or Off Enables the N4865A to ignore the Oscilloscope IP
N4865A will attempt to open channels and link to
the fi rst oscilloscope it fi nds. Enable AutoFind for
back-to-back connections only. Disable AutoFind
Note: Default values are listed in Table 1-2

This paragraph provides two methods to confi gure the N4865A for operation with
the companion oscilloscope. When shipped, N4865As are confi gured as listed
back-to-back connections or when connected through a hub or switch. If the
The Web Browser method uses a standard browser such as Firefox, Internet
Explorer or Netscape to view and change the N4865A’s current settings.
the supplied Ethernet Crossover Cable to connect the computer to the
unit as shown in Figure 2-2. This will eliminate any potential network
Figure 2-2 N4865A Connected to PC with a Crossover Cable

An alternate connection is to use a standard Ethernet Cable to connect the
4865 GPIB to LAN
Instrument
Figure 2-3 N4865A Connected to the local hub
blinking which indicates that the N4865A is ready to communicate with
N4865A’s B range of 169.254.xxx.xxx range so it can communicate with
the unit. (To check, run ipconfi g in the Command Prompt box). If the
range, record the current settings and temporarily set the following network
Check ‘Use the following IP Address’
Click Okay twice to apply the new settings and close the open windows.
Minimize the Network Places window.
4. Open the browser and enter the N4865A’s default IP address of 169.254.48.65

your browser. Here you can read all of the information about the N4865A
6. If you want to change any of the settings, press the ‘Update Confi gura-
tion’ button. A Confi guration Page similar to the one shown in Figure 2-5
Figure 2-4 N4865A Welcome Page
Figure 2-5 N4865A Confi guration Page
Address settings as desired. If you

to the one shown in Figure 2-6 will appear in your browser.
Figure 2-6 N4865A Confi rmation Page
the unit’s fl ash memory. Press the ‘Reboot’ button to reboot the unit and
page will appear in your browser.
may have to change the PC’s Local Area Network settings if you selected
The RPC Confi guration method involves using selected RPC commands from
those listed in Appendix 3 to change the N4865A settings. Refer to Appendix

The N4865A has an internal header for driving external LEDs. The N4865A
provides 5 Vdc to power the external LEDs. User should provide current
pinouts are listed in Table 2-3
Figure 2-7 External LED Circuit

The N4865A has the following jumper positions. See Figure 2-8 on the next
W1 Default Restore. See paragraph 5.6 Open
W2 Option Jumper. Selects N4865A fi rmware Installed
W5 SRQ LED signal selection LAT
SRQ selects GPIB bus SRQ signal.
LAT selects N4865A processor output latch
W7 JTAG Loading Jumpers. For factory test use Open
Notes: Open jumpers may be parked on a single post.

Figure 2-8 N4865A Jumper Locations
UP
SW
UP
S1 RESET
W1
W2
DEF
OPM
LAN
J4
LED Header
1
W7
W8
JTAG Header
SRQ LAT
W5
PLD ARM
J3
J2
J1
PWR

The Model N4865A is held in its rack mounting kit with a winged-’U’ shaped
bracket. Perform the following steps to install a N4865A in a rack mounting
bezel through the rack mount kit from the rear of the kit. Push it forward
through the opening until the rubber feet line up with the holes in the rack
mounting kit. Push the unit down until it rests fl at on the kit and the feet
mount kit and protrude equally through the front panel of the rack
4. Set the bracket so its two holes line up with the holes in the rack mount-

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This section describes the operation of the N4865A GPIB
3.2.1 Oscilloscope Discovery and Linkage
to locate a server for 15-20 seconds before defaulting to its Auto IP address
is enabled, the N4865A does a UDP broadcast and waits for a
reply. It then queries any replying oscilloscope to see if it has a VXI-11.3
RPC Service. If one is found, the N4865A attempts to open communication
While the N4865A can communicate with an oscilloscope at any legal IP ad-
by the network topology, its Net Mask and Gateway settings. The factory set
N4865A can communicate to an oscilloscope in the AutoIP B address range
N4865A to its companion oscilloscope in a back-to-back confi guration or through

If AutoFind is disabled and the N4865A has been confi gured to use a specifi c
When the N4865A fi nds a VXI-11.3 compatible oscilloscope it opens a core
Interrupt channel if the oscilloscope supports it.
The N4865A's RDY LED blinks during the oscilloscope discovery process,
N4865A links with a LAN oscilloscope and becomes ready to transmit GPIB
the oscilloscope, it will attempt to reconnect to the oscilloscope.
The N4865A only operates correctly with an IEEE-488.2 compatible GPIB
EOI asserted on the last character as the N4865A does not check for message
terminators. The N4865A will assert EOI when it outputs the last character in
the response received from the LAN oscilloscope if the END bit was asserted
When the N4865A receives a terminated device message from the GPIB bus
the N4865A sends the data to the companion oscilloscope with the
RPC. The N4865A holds the GPIB bus while transmitting the data to the com-
panion oscilloscope. In the case of large messages, the N4865A sends the data
to the companion oscilloscope when its GPIB listen buffer becomes full. When
the fi rst buffer load of data has been sent to the companion oscilloscope, the
N4865A accepts the next buffer worth of data. The process repeats with the
N4865A handling a buffer worth of data at a time until the N4865A receives
the last portion of the data with EOI asserted on the last byte. Unterminated
When the N4865A is made an active talker, it sends a
response data from the companion oscilloscope that is terminated with END

buffer, the N4865A outputs the fi rst buffer of data to the GPIB bus and sends
RPC to the oscilloscope to read the next buffer's
END asserted. If the companion oscilloscope returns a zero length response,
the N4865A will not have any data for the GPIB bus and the GPIB read opera-
When the N4865A is addressed to talk and has received a response packet with
END asserted, it will not fetch additional data from the companion oscilloscope
until it has been addressed to listen and sent a device message, a GPIB Device
Trigger, a GPIB Device Clear command or an Interface Clear.
When the N4865A is transistioned to the Listen Active State from the Talk
Active State, it discards any data in the GPIB talk buffer. Similarly, when the
N4865A is transistioned to the Talk Active State from the Listen Active State,
If the N4865A receives a Service Request from the oscilloscope over the
Reverse Interrupt channel, the N4865A will query the oscilloscope's Status
RPC when it is safe to do so. If bit 6 in
the Status Byte is set, the N4865A will assert the SRQ line on the GPIB bus
The SRQ line will be deasserted and the SRQ LED will be turned off. Future
register queries and the response to the Service Request are dependent upon
the program in the GPIB Controller.
The N4865A periodically queries the companion oscilloscope's Status Byte to
update its own Status Byte at a low 3 Hz rate. If the N4865A discovers that the
the SRQ signal on the GPIB bus and turn off its SRQ LED. The N4865A's
N4865A's low query rate and the user's program.
N4865A has fi nished outputting response data, after a GPIB Device Clear or

The N4865A includes an HTML server that provides a Welcome html page
that lets a user view the N4865A's properties, its network and GPIB Bus set-
tings and the AutoFind status. The Welcome page also displays the companion
The Confi guration page is self explanatory. Select DHCP for dynamic IP op-
before defaulting to an IP address of 169.254.48.65. Select Static to operate the
N4865A at a fi xed IP address and then enter the desired IP address, Net Mask
A Confi rmation page lets the user save the new settings and restart the N4865A

3.3 PROGRAMMING GUIDELINES
The N4865A can be used successfully to operate a LAN oscilloscope with
to compensate for delays in converting the commands and transmitting them
The following multiple sequences should be avoided:
the 488.2 '*TRG' Common Command. The N4865A may miss multiple GET
3.3.2 Multiple Device Clears
the oscilloscope(s) to clear their buffers and output lines. Many oscilloscopes
The N4865A may miss multiple DC or SDC commands when sent to it at high
3.3.3 Multiple Serial Polls
Multiple high speed Serial Polls will return the same value. The N4865A's
Request and before asserting the SRQ signal and periodically thereafter at a 3
rial Poll updates are inhibited while the N4865A is in the listen addressed state
Trigger, after a Device Clear command or after an Interface Clear.

3.3.4 Message Terminators
requires that all Device data messages sent to it be terminated with EOI as-
terminated with both a linefeed character and EOI asserted. (The IEEE-488.2
The N4865A's GPIB responses are terminated with EOI asserted on the last
byte. Any terminating character is supplied by the companion oscilloscope as
part of its response message.
3.3.5 Transferring Large Files
The N4865A transfers large data fi les in blocks of one Talk buffer or one Listen
buffer worth of data at a time. These buffers are a maximum of 1,024 bytes.
Users should set their program to read data in blocks that are multiples of 1,024
bytes for best performance. The user's program should not untalk or unlisten
the N4865A in the middle of transferring large data fi les. Setting readdress
time. Timeouts should be set for 1 second per kbyte of data transfer.
When the N4865A links to a oscilloscope, it turns the RDY LED solid on after
RPC. The N4865A only knows the
RPCs. There is nothing to alert the N4865A to the oscilloscope being turned
RPCs depends upon the Test Application. If the Test Application is quiescent
When the N4865A does not receive a valid RPC response, it turns off the RDY
LED and attempts to relink to the oscilloscope. If it is successful, the N4865A
RPC should be considered lost. The user will have to consider this in his

The OEM can customize the N4865A's WebServer confi guration pages to iden-
tify the product and incorporate the company logo by following the guidelines
3.4.2 End-User Documentation
relate to the end product. In most cases the end-user needs directions for:
product and show the end-user how to use them.
4. Using special commands like the trigger functions if applicable.
how to enable Service Requests (SRQs) and how to read the oscilloscope's
The N4865A is transparent and does not have any SCPI commands.
3.4.3 Utility Programs and Drivers
None associated with the N4865A.
LAN Adapter are hereby given permis-
this manual for other purposes without the expressed written consent of ICS
Electronics is forbidden.

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This section describes the theory of operation of the N4865A.
A block diagram of the N4865A is shown in Figure 4-1. The N4865A is a
microprocessor based device that performs the VXI-11 client functions to
The N4865A is made up of seven major elements, most of which are intercon-
Incoming GPIB commands or device messages are received by the GPIB Inter-
packets from the LAN instrument are received by the LAN Interface chip and
placed in the GPIB talk buffer. The response data in the GPIB talk buffer is
their VXI-11 equivalents and sent through the Ethernet interface to the LAN

Figure 4-1 shows a block diagram of the N4865A’s internal logic. Most of the
major logic elements center around the 16-bit data bus from the ARM7 Proces-
The FLASH chip stores the program code and the confi guration parameters.
At power turn-on time, the ARM7 processor loads the program code from the
FLASH into the RAM chip. The program is then run out of the RAM chip.
At power turn-on, the processor clears the LEDs, does a brief check of the
processor had found a hardware error, the loading process would stop and the
LEDs would blink the appropriate error code. New units default to using the
program stored in the program0 space. Units that have been updated in the
Figure 4-1 N4865A Block Diagram
Power
Supply
9-32 VDC
Input
+5V
3.3V
Reg
+3.3V
GPIB
CTLR
RAM
ARM7 Processor
+5
+5
Address
DCDR
µP BUS
FLASH
Latch
Front Panel LEDs
LAN
INTFC
GPIB
Fltr
TCP/IP
LAN
Rear Panel
Reset Button

After the correct program code is transferred to RAM, the LAN and GPIB
Interfaces are initialized. If the N4865A has a good LAN connection, it starts
the instrument discovery process. When the N4865A has linked to an instru-
ment, it is ready to receive messages from a GPIB Controller. The operating
is a switching regulator that converts the unregulated DC input
to +5 volts DC to run the N4865A’s peripheral logic chips. A 3.3 regulator
regulates the 5 Vdc down to 3.3 volts to power the processor and major logic

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This section describes the maintenance testing, troubleshooting, and repair
procedures for ICS's Model N4865A GPIB
The N4865A does not require periodic calibration and has no internal adjust-
ments. However, if the N4865A is used in an application where the IEEE 488
bus cables are frequently changed, the N4865A's IEEE 488 Bus Connector
may occasionally require cleaning to remove wax and dirt buildup. New bus
The brightener is an organic compound and may be cleaned off by washing the
Table 5-1 lists several common fault indications and suggests actions that

If the fault isolation procedure requires internal measurements,
unit. Use extreme caution during troubleshooting, adjustments,
Unit will not turn on Power cord not Push power cord into DC
PWR LED off plugged in receptacle
Power at AC outlet Check outlet and power
Wrong DC adapter Use ICS supplied adapter
DC plug polarity N4865A requires + polarity on
All LEDs on Internal fault Check TP4 (3.3V) and TP5
(5 V) for proper voltage.
Unit shows blinking Self test fault Refer to Self Test errors in
ERR LED blinks. Instrument communication
error. The N4865A is unable to
instrument. Usually means no
response from the instrument.
ACT LED blinks Normal operation
RDY LED blinks The N4865A is looking for a
instrument. If blinking con-
tinues more than 20 seconds,
check instrument connections
and its network settings. Be
sure it is VXI-11.3 compatible.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (CONT.)
Unit does not LAN LED off Network not detected.
respond to client PC after 30 seconds No network cable or local
hub/switch. Check hub/switch
power. Replace Ethernet cable.
Wrong cable type. Use a cross-
to a PC. Use a standard cable
to connect to a hub or network
LAN LED on No network messages
ACT LED never on received by the N4865A.
Check PC IP settings. Settings
must match N4865A's settings
for proper communication.
N4865A not set to factory
defaults. Hold Rest button in
while power cycling the unit.
LAN LED on Possible link error. Link to
ACT LED blinks correct N4865A or IP address.
Not linked to a LAN RDY LED blinking Instrument LAN connections.
Instrument Be sure LAN instrument is
connected directly to the
N4865A or to it via a local hub
Hub or switch error. Power
Instrument IP settings wrong.
Check settings. See para 2.4-1
LAN Instrument N4865A in Local Send the N4865A a Selected
not in Remote Device Clear command with
REN on or send the N4865A an

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE (CONT.)
Message not sent Missing terminator All device messages must be
to LAN instrument terminated with a LF and
EOI asserted on the last byte.
Verify the GPIB Controller
No response from Instrument not Verify that the instrument's
N4865A Responding error indicator is not on.
Response Terminator Device message to the GPIB
EOI asserted on the last char-
read terminator settings.
Missing instrument Instrument did not get a query.
response data or has not response data. See
Instrument did not respond.
programming and commands.
Does not get all data Instrument was not asked for
in a large message additional data. Verify that the
message, a Device Trigger or a
Device Clear after talking out
Missing data bytes Controller using ATN holdoff.
when reading large when doing partial reads.
fi les. Change read size to a multiple
Device command Serial poll the device or read
error its Event Status Register to
N4865A reverts to Confi guration Press Save and Reboot
power turn-on confi guration

At power turn on, the N4865A conducts a selftest of its major components.
The test takes about 5 seconds. During the selftest the PWR LED is on and the
RDY LED is off. A successful test ends when the RDY LED on. Test failures
x x x x x x x fatal error (CPU,
− − − − − − Β LAN IC, Network
− − − − − Β - GPIB IC or GPIB
− − − − − Β Β Confi guration Error
− − − − Β − − OS Issued Exit
− − − − Β − Β RAM IC or Memory
− − − − Β B B Flash Error
= solid on, B = blinking, x = solid on or off
RDY PWR LAN ACT TALK LSTN SQR ERR Fault
− − − − − − − − fatal error (power

The N4865A can be reset to the default network settings listed in Table 1-2 by
holding the rear panel LAN Reset Button in for 10 seconds while turning the
N4865A’s Power Switch on.
handle works well.) You should be able to feel the Reset button move as
button depressed until the three front panel yellow LEDs blink.
4. Release the Reset button and turn Power off before connecting any cables

The N4865A's fi rmware can be updated in the fi eld without returning the unit
the keyboard as they only have enough power for a mouse.
http://www.icselect.com. Highlight the Download tab and select 'VXI-11
Network setting to the N4865A's AutoIP range as described in paragraph
4. Run the N4865A Update Utility. If it will not run, download the Visual
LEDs (TALK, LSTN and SRQ) will blink while the new program is be-
N4865A as required to complete the update process.
Do not exit the Update Program until told to do so. It will

For service or repair information, please contact your local Agilent Sales Offi ce

The IEEE Std 488 Bus is a convenient means of connecting instruments
two computers. The IEEE Std 488.1 covers the electrical and mechanical
bus specifi cations and the state diagrams for each bus function. The IEEE
The SCPI standard developed a tree like series of standard commands for
programmable instruments so that similar instruments by different manu-
The IEEE Std 488 Bus, or GPIB as it is commonly referred to, provides a
portion of the bus is governed by IEEE -Std 488.1 - 1978. The interface
passive cabling is needed to interconnect the devices. The cables connect
to the signal line as shown in Figure A-1. Eight of the lines (DIO1-DIO8)
parallel manner. Data and message transfer is asynchronous, coordinated
by the three handshake lines (DAV, NRFD, NDAC). The other fi ve lines
Two types of messages are transferred over the bus:
Interface messages - for bus management
Device-dependent messages - for device control and data
The system controller is a controller that becomes active at power turn-on.

the system controller and is passed back to other controller(s) as required.
Each bus device is identifi ed by a fi ve-bit binary address. There are 31
possible primary addresses 0 through 30. Address 31 is reserved as the
by setting rocker switches on each devices' rear panel. Devices that are
DEVICE B
Able to Talk
and to Listen
e.g. DVM
DEVICE C
Able to Listen
e.g. Signal
generator
Byte Transfer
Control Lines
DEVICE A
Able to Talk,
Listen and Control
e.g. Computer

the three handshake lines. No step in the sequence can be initiated until
the previous step is completed. Information transfer proceeds as fast as
the devices respond (up to 1 Mbs), but no faster than that allowed by the
to listen simultaneously, only one device at a time can be addresses as a
talker. When a talk address is put on the data lines, all other talkers are
The messages are transmitted on the seven least signifi cant data lines and
programmed to correctly respond to each device's message termination
REN (remote enable) is sent by the system controller and is used with
EOI (end or identify) is used by a device to indicate the end of a multiple-
byte transfer sequence. When a controller-in-charge sets both the ATN and
EOI lines true, each device confi gured to respond to a parallel poll indicates

transmitted with ATN off. The following chart lists the standard command
My listen address (controller to self)
My talk address (controller to self)
Secondary Device address (device optional address)
Universal Commands (to all devices)
Parallel Poll Unconfi gure
0 being the logic true level. Cable connectors are modifi ed Amphenol 24
pin Blue ribbon style connectors (57-30240) with metric jack screws.

MEANING DEFINED BY PCG CODEMEANING DEFINED BY
MEANING DEFINED BY PCG CODEMEANING DEFINED BY

The IEEE 488.2 Standard was established in 1987 to standardize message
protocols, status reporting and defi ne a set of common commands for use
Semicolons are used to separate messages.
Colons are used to separate command words.
Commas are used to separate data fi elds.
Line feed and/or EOI on last character terminates a
'program message'. Line feed (ASCII 10) and EOI
terminates a RESPONSE MESSAGE.
Asterisk defi nes a 488.2 common command.
With IEEE 488.2, status reporting was enhanced from the simple serial
poll response byte in IEEE 488.1 to the multiple register concept shown in
Figure A-3. The IEEE 488.2 Standard standardized the bit assignments in
the Status Byte Register, added eight more bits of information in the Event
the Status Byte Register. The Status and Event registers have enabling
registers that can control the generation of their summary reporting bits and
ultimately SRQ generation. Each 488.2 device must implement a Status
registers providing they follow the model shown in Figure A-3.
The IEEE 488.2 Standard also mandated a list of required and optional Com-

Differences From IEEE 488.1
The user who is familiar with the older 488.1 devices should take the fol-
bit in response to a *STB? query. The MSS bit is cleared when the condi-
488.2 restricts the Device Clear to only clearing the device's buffers and
pending operations. It does not clear the Status Reporting Structure or the
488.2 commands are really special data messages and are executed by the
Enable Register values are only saved and restored if the *PSC command is
0. A *PSC command of 1 causes zeros to be loaded into the enable registers

Required common commands are:
Standard Event Status Enable Command
Standard Event Status Enable Query
Standard Event Status Register Query
Operation Complete Command
Service Request Enable Command
Service Request Enable Query
Devices that support parallel polls must support the following three com-
Parallel Poll Register Enable Command
Parallel Poll Register Enable Query
Devices that support Device Trigger must support the following commands:
Pass Control Back Command
Devices that save and restore settings support the following commands:
Devices that save and restore enable register settings support the following
Saves enable register values and enables/disables recall

programming syntax of 488.2 to give the programmer the capability handling
be implemented exactly as specifi ed. Guidelines are included for adding
program generators. The obvious benefi ts of SCPI for the ATE programmer
replace one manufacturer's instrument with one from another manufacturer,
This consistent programming environment is achieved by the use of defi ned
program messages, instrument responses and data formats for all SCPI
hopping from the tree trunk out on the branches to the leaves. Subsequent
keywords are considered to be at the same branch level until a new com-
plete command is sent to the device. SCPI commands may be abbreviated

be used when entering a command. Figure A-4 shows some single SCPI
Multiple SCPI commands may be concatenated together as a compound
to the same tree level as the previous command. Starting the subsequent
program message without affecting the above rules. Figure A-5 shows some
Compound Command Examples
The response includes fi ve items because the command contains 5 queries.
which is the baud rate, the second item is
the current setting. The BIT 6 command was not accepted because only 7
(ESR register bit 5) which means execution

represents the sum of the binary bit weights for the bits with a logic '1'
by the unit. A range of values can be indicated by the starting and stopping
For more information about SCPI refer to the SCPI Standard or to the SCPI

The following document describes ICS's Confi guration RPC Protocol.
This information is supplied to enable a RPC programmer to confi gure ICS
This document defi nes the confi guration interface to the ICS Ethernet de-
Edevice, for the purposes of modifying the operational characteristics of the
Edevice. Edevices are ICS products whose Model number is in the 8xxx
range. Not all commands are supported by all Edevices.
This specifi cation addresses the Edevice communication for the purposes
This specifi cation is to be considered an addendum to the VXI-11 specifi ca-
tion for communication to the VXI-11 compliant ICS Edevice Interfaces.
The Edevice follows the VXI-11.2 and/or VXI-11.3 specifi cations.
This specifi cation has the following objectives:

The Edevice Confi guration protocol uses the ONC remote procedure call
to conceptually call a function on another computer.
The client identifi es the remote procedure by means of a program ID,
program version, and procedure number. This information is encoded into
the target procedure is then executed. The server is required to respond to
Table B.1 lists the RPC messages used by the Edevice confi guration protocol.
Messages that apply to the 8065 are marked by an 'x' in the 8065 column.
The client shall issue an RPC command to the Edevice directing the action
to be taken. The Edevice shall attempt to execute the action and will then

reply and then (if the status is No Error) execute the action.
to Error Codes as defi ned by the VXI-11 (section B.5.2).
terminated and will contain a leading length numerical value defi ning the
total length (inclusive of the NULL).
Message ID Description 8065 Reboot
rpc_port_number 2 RPC TCP port
hostname 7 Edevice TCP hostname
netmask 10 network netmask X Yes
keepalive 12 keepalive time X No
ren_mode 15 REN active at boot X Yes
reload_confi g 20 force reload of default confi g X No
reload_factory 21 reload factory confi g settings X No
reboot 23 cause a reboot of the Eth488 X No

the last data fi eld and may consist of any byte value.
When the Action boolean signals a read of a mode/value setting, the RPC
RPC command is not used, it must exist. If the mode/value is not contained
The successful modifi cation of a confi guration setting will result in the
The Edevice confi guration procedures shall use an RPC program ID of

The interface_name procedure is used to read/modify the current VXI-11
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The name string must be a NULL terminated string with a 32-byte maximum
Name is unchanged if the name fi eld exceeds 32-bytes.
The returned Int_Name_Resp structure will always contain the current

The rpc_port_number procedure is used to read/modify the TCP port used
Rpc_Port_Resp rpc_port_number (Rpc_Port_Parms) = 2;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The port value must be within the range of 0x0001 and 0xFFFF. An error
The returned Rpc_Port_Resp structure will always contain the current RPC

The core_port_number procedure is used to read/modify the TCP port used
by the VXI-11 core channel.
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The port value must be within the range of 0x0001 and 0xFFFF. An error
The returned Core_Port_Resp structure will always contain the current
VXI-11 Core Port value, irrespective of the error value.

The abort_port_number procedure is used to read/modify the TCP port used
by the VXI-11 abort channel.
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The port value must be within the range of 0x0001 and 0xFFFF. An error
The returned Abort_Port_Resp structure will always contain the current
VXI-11 Abort Port value, irrespective of the error value.

The confi g_port_number procedure is used to read/modify the TCP port
used by the Edevice confi guration channel.
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The port value must be within the range of 0x0001 and 0xFFFF. An error
The returned Confi gt_Port_Resp structure will always contain the current
VXI-11 Abort Port value, irrespective of the error value.

The comm_timeout procedure is used to read/modify the TCP timeout value.
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The timeout value is not range checked, thus it is possible to defi ne an
The comm_timeout procedure applies only to the VXI-11 core and Edevice

The hostname procedure is used to read/modify the hostname used by the
Edevice. The hostname is only applicable if a dynamic DNS service is
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The name string must be a NULL terminated string with a 32-byte maximum
Name is unchanged if the name fi eld exceeds 32-bytes.
The returned Hostname_Resp structure will always contain the current
hostname value, irrespective of the error value.

The static_ip_mode procedure is used to read/modify the static IP mode. If
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The mode must be either 0 (dynamic) or 1 (static). An error of 5 is returned
The returned Static_IP_Resp structure will always contain the current static

The ip_number procedure is used to read/modify the static IP number. If
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The ip must be exactly 4-bytes in length. An error of 5 is returned and the
The returned IP_Number_Resp structure will always contain the current

The netmask procedure is used to read/modify the netmask. If static_ip_mode
unsigned char netmask[4];
unsigned char netmask[4];
Netmask_Resp netmask (Netmask_Parms) = 10;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The netmask must be exactly 4-bytes in length. An error of 5 is returned
The returned Netmask_Resp structure will always contain the current net-

The gateway procedure is used to read/modify the gateway IP. If static_ip_
unsigned char gateway[4];
unsigned char gateway[4];
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The gateway must be exactly 4-bytes in length. An error of 5 is returned

The keepalive procedure is used to read/modify the keepalive value. If set
to zero, then keepalives will not be used. If used, then this is the time (in
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The time value is not range checked, thus it is possible to defi ne an impos-
used. If a channel remains inactive for the specifi ed time period, then a
keepalive is sent (assuming time is non-zero). The returned Keepalive_Resp
time is specifi ed, Keepalive will be active regardless of time.

The gpib_address procedure is used to read/modify the Edevice GPIB bus
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The address must be within the range of 0 and 30. An error of 5 is returned
The returned Gpib_Addr_Resp structure will always contain the current
Edevice GPIB bus address, irrespective of the error value.

The system_controller procedure is used to read/modify the system control-
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The controller mode must be either 0 or 1. An error of 5 is returned and the
The returned Sys_Control_Resp structure will always contain the current

The ren_mode procedure is used to read/modify the REN mode. If the REN
Ren_Resp ren_mode (Ren_Parms) = 15;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The ren mode must be either 0 or 1. An error of 5 is returned and the current
REN mode is unchanged if ren is determined to be invalid.
The returned Ren_Resp structure will always contain the current REN mode,

The eos_8bit_mode procedure is used to read/modify the 8-bit EOS compare
Eos_8bit_Resp eos_8bit_mode (Eos_8bit_Parms) = 16;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The eos8bit mode must be either 0 or 1. An error of 5 is returned and the
The returned Eos_8bit_Resp structure will always contain the current 8-bit
EOS compare mode, irrespective of the error value.

The auto_eos_mode procedure is used to read/modify the automatic EOS
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The autoEos mode must be either 0 or 1. An error of 5 is returned and the
The returned Auto_Eos_Resp structure will always contain the current

The eos_active_mode procedure is used to read/modify the EOS active mode.
EosActive_Resp eos_active_mode (Eos_Active_Parms) = 18;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The eosActive mode must be either 0 or 1. An error of 5 is returned and
the current automatic EOS mode is unchanged if eosActive is determined
The returned Eos_Active_Resp structure will always contain the current
EOS mode, irrespective of the error value.

The eos_char procedure is used to read/modify the EOS character.
Eos_Char_Resp eos_char (Eos_Char_Parms) = 19;
The action value determines whether the client wishes to execute a read of
the current setting, or a modifi cation of the current value.
The eos character must be in the range of 0x00 through 0xFF. An error of
The returned Eos_Char_Resp structure will always contain the current

The reload_confi g procedure is used to cause a reload of the confi guration
Reload_Confi g_Resp reload_confi g (void) = 20;
The returned Reload_Confi g_Resp.error value determines whether the

The reload_factory procedure is used to cause the Edevice to reset the
tions to the default confi guration are lost as a result. Note that dynamic
Reload_Factory_Resp reload_factory (void) = 21;
The returned Reload_Factory_Resp.error value determines whether the Ede-

The commit_confi g procedure is used to cause the current confi guration
reload_confi g or a reboot.
The returned Commit_Confi g_Resp.error value determines whether the

The reboot procedure is used to cause the Edevice to reboot. This causes
Reboot_Resp reboot (void) = 23;
The returned Reboot_Resp.error value determines whether the Edevice has

The idnReply procedure is used to obtain a response similar to the GPIB
unsigned char reply[128];
The length determines the length of the data buffer. The maximum length

The errorLogger procedure is used to obtain the current contents of the
unsigned int errors[100];
The error log will contain 100 entries. The count will signify how many are
Note this function returns all entries and fl ushes the error log. Do not run
this function more than 5 times per second to avoid impacting the 8065's
performance and overloading the network.
Refer to the ErrorLogger utility for the error value defi nitions.

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Block Diagram description
Default settings, recovering

Message formats (IEEE 488.2)
488.2 required status reporting
HTML User Confi gurability

Rack Mounting Instructions
Recovering factory default set-
Resetting to factory defaults
Reverting to factory fi rmware
Web Browser Confi guration

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