For further support information, refer to the Technical Support and Professional Services appendix. To comment
on National Instruments documentation, refer to the National Instruments Web site at ni.com/info and enter
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The NI PXI-8105 embedded controller is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of
shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to
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notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be
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Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated
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CE marking. Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional regulatory compliance
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and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.
* The CE marking Declaration of Conformity contains important supplementary information and instructions for the user or
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ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,
Contents
About This Manual
How to Use the Documentation Set...............................................................................vii
Appendix B
Technical Support and Professional Services
Glossary
Index
NI PXI-8105 User Manualvini.com
About This Manual
This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring
your National Instruments NI PXI-8105 embedded controller kit.
How to Use the Documentation Set
Begin by reading the NI PXI-8105 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start
guide that describes how to install and get started with your controller.
This manual, the NI PXI-8105 User Manual, contains more details about
changing the installation or configuration from the defaults and using the
hardware.
Conventions
The following conventions appear in this manual:
»The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.
boldBold text denotes items that you must select or click in the software, such
as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes parameter
names.
italicItalic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospaceText in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames, and extensions.
•IEEE Std 488.1-2003, IEEE Standard for Higher Performance
Protocol for the Standard Digital Interface for Programmable
Instrumentation
NI PXI-8105 User Manualviiini.com
Introduction
Benefits of PXI
The PXI (PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation) industry standard, an open
specification governed by the PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA), defines a
compact modular PC platform for test, measurement, and control systems.
PXI leverages the PCI bus, which is the de facto standard for today’s
desktop computer software and hardware designs. As a result, PXI users
receive all the benefits of PCI within an architecture that supports
mechanical, electrical, and software features tailored to industrial
instrumentation, data acquisition, industrial automation, and control
applications.
Well-suited for industrial applications, PXI leverages from the
CompactPCI specification, which defines a rugged form factor for PCI
that offers superior mechanical integrity and easy installation and removal
of hardware components. PXI products offer higher and more carefully
defined levels of environmental performance required by the vibration,
shock, temperature, and humidity extremes of industrial environments.
PXI adds mandatory environmental testing and active cooling to the
CompactPCI mechanical specification to ease system integration and
ensure multivendor interoperability.
1
Additionally, PXI meets the more specific needs of instrumentation users
by adding an integrated trigger bus and reference clock for multiple-board
synchronization, a star trigger bus for very precise timing, and local buses
for side-band communication between adjacent peripherals.
Note The NI PXI-8105 controller will not function in the NI PXI-1020 or NI PXI-1025
chassis.
Caution ESD: An electrostatic discharge event to the ExpressCard port may cause the
controller to restart. This is an Electromagnetic Compatibility Performance Criteria C
(non-continuous operation) for ESD.
The NI PXI-8105 PXI/CompactPCI embedded computer is a
high-performance PXI/CompactPCI system controller. The NI PXI-8105
controller integrates standard I/O features in a single unit by using
state-of-the-art packaging. Combining an NI PXI-8105 embedded
controller with a PXI-compatible chassis, such as the NI PXI-1042, results
in a fully PC-compatible computer in a compact, rugged package.
The standard I/O on each module includes DVI-I (Digital Video Interface
Integrated Analog/Digital) video, one RS-232 serial port, a parallel port,
four Hi-Speed USB ports, Gigabit Ethernet, a reset button, and a PXI
trigger.
The NI PXI-8105 has an Intel
core processor), all the standard I/O, and a 30 GB (or larger) hard drive. It
also has a PCI-based GPIB controller and an ExpressCard/34 expansion
slot.
®
Core™ Duo processor T2500 (2.0 GHz dual
Functional Overview
This section contains functional descriptions of each major logic block on
the NI PXI-8105 embedded computer.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual1-2ni.com
Chapter 1Introduction
NI PXI-8105 Functional Description
The NI PXI-8105 is a modular PC in a PXI 3U-size form factor. Figure 1-1
is a functional block diagram of the NI PXI-8105. Following the diagram
is a description of each logic block shown.
The NI PXI-8105 consists of the following logic blocks on the CPU
module and the I/O module. The CPU module has the following logic
blocks:
•Socket 479 CPU is the socket definition for the Intel
®
Core™ Duo
processor T2500.
•The SO-DIMM block consists of two 64-bit DDR2 SDRAM sockets
that can hold up to 1 GB each.
•The Chipset 945GMCH (Graphics and Memory Controller Hub)
connects to the CPU, DDR2 SDRAM, and DVI-I video.
•The SMB to PXITrigger provides a routable connection of the
PXI triggers to/from the SMB on the front panel.
•The Watchdog Timer block consists of a watchdog timer that can reset
the controller or generate a trigger.
•The Chipset ICH7M connects to the PCI, USB, IDE, SATA, and
LPC buses.
•The USB Connectors are connected to the ICH7M chipset.
•The PXI Connector connects the NI PXI-8105 to the PXI/CompactPCI
backplane.
•The Super I/O block represents the other peripherals supplied by the
NI PXI-8105. The NI PXI-8105 has one serial port, and an ECP/EPP
parallel port.
•The Gigabit Ethernet connects to either 10 Mbit, 100 Mbit, or
1,000 Mbit Ethernet interfaces.
•The GPIB block contains the GPIB interface.
•The ExpressCard/34 slot accommodates an ExpressCard/34 module.
•The SATA block connects a Serial ATA hard drive to the ICH7M.
•The ATA-100 IDE block is dedicated PCI-IDE circuitry providing fast
ATA-100 transfers to the internal 2.5 in. hard drive. The IDE feature is
built into the chipset. The hard drive is 30 GB or larger.
National Instruments Software
National Instruments has developed several software tools you can use with
the NI PXI-8105.
National Instruments’ hardware and software work together to help you
make the most of your PXI system. The LabVIEW, Measurement Studio,
and LabWindows
with leading hardware drivers such as NI-DAQmx to provide exceptional
NI PXI-8105 User Manual1-4ni.com
™
/CVI™ application development environments combine
Chapter 1Introduction
control of NI hardware. Instrument drivers are available at ni.com/idnet
to simplify communication with instruments over a variety of busses.
LabVIEW is a powerful and easy-to-use graphical programming
environment you can use to acquire data from thousands of different
instruments including USB, IEEE 488.2, VXI, serial, PLCs, and plug-in
boards. LabVIEW helps you convert acquired data into meaningful results
using powerful data analysis routines. Add-on tools provide additional
specialized functionality. For more information visit
and
ni.com/toolkits.
ni.com/labview
If you prefer to use Microsoft’s Visual Basic, Visual C++, and
Visual Studio .NET for the core of your application, Measurement Studio
adds tools for Measurement and Automation to each language. For more
information visit
ni.com/mstudio.
LabWindows/CVI is an interactive ANSI C programming environment
designed for building virtual instrument applications. LabWindows/CVI
delivers a drag-and-drop editor for building user interfaces, a complete
ANSI C environment for building your test program logic, and a collection
of automated code generation tools, as well as utilities for building
automated test systems, monitoring applications, or laboratory
experiments. For more information visit
ni.com/lwcvi.
NI-DAQmx provides an extensive library of functions that you can call
from your application development environment or interactive environment
such as NI Signal Express. These functions provide an intuitive API for
National Instruments’ multifunction DAQ products. Features available
include analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition
(high-speed A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform
generation, digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI signal conditioning,
RTSI or PXI synchronization, self-calibration, messaging, and acquiring
data to extended memory. For more information visit
ni.com/daq.
National Instruments’ Modular Instruments use specialized drivers suited
to each product’s specialization. Express VIs provide customized,
interactive programming of instruments in a single interface and soft front
panels provide an interface for testing the functionality of each instrument
with no programming required. NI Switches, DMMs, High-Speed DIO,
High-Speed Digitizers, and Sources each have customized drivers for
high-end modular instrumentation systems. RF applications leverage
two drivers, NI-RFSG and NI-RFSA and Dynamic Signal Acquisition is
available through NI-DAQmx. For more information visit
You can expand the timing and triggering functionality of your PXI system
with PXI Timing and Synchronization products. These products provide
precision clock sources, custom routing of triggers for multi-chassis
synchronization, clock sharing, and more and are programmed with
NI-Sync. For more information visit
ni.com/pxi.
NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA
specification. VISA is a uniform API for communicating and controlling
USB, Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various other types of instruments. This
API aids in the creation of portable applications and instrument drivers. For
information on writing your own PXI instrument driver with NI-VISA,
refer to the NI-VISA Getting Started Manual and the
the NI-VISA directory. For more information visit
readme.txt file in
ni.com/visa.
With LabVIEW for Linux and support for over two hundred devices on
Linux with the NI-DAQmx driver, you can now create Virtual Instruments
based on the Linux OS. Instrument control in Linux has been improved by
the NI-VISA driver for Linux and NI Modular Instruments are partially
supported. For more information visit
ni.com/linux.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual1-6ni.com
Installation and Configuration
This chapter contains information about installing and configuring your
NI PXI-8105 controller.
Installing the NI PXI-8105
This section contains general installation instructions for the NI PXI-8105.
Consult your PXI chassis user manual for specific instructions and
warnings.
1.Plug in your chassis before installing the NI PXI-8105. The power
cord grounds the chassis and protects it from electrical damage while
you install the module. (Make sure the power switch is turned off.)
Caution To protect both yourself and the chassis from electrical hazards, leave the chassis
powered off until you finish installing the NI PXI-8105 module.
2.Remove any filler panels blocking access to the system controller slot
(Slot 1) in the chassis.
3.Touch the metal part of the case to discharge any static electricity that
might be on your clothes or body.
4.Remove the protective plastic covers from the four bracket-retaining
screws as shown in Figure 2-1.
1
1 Protective Screw Cap (4X)
Figure 2-1. Removing Protective Screw Caps
5.Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position.
Align the NI PXI-8105 with the card guides on the top and bottom
of the system controller slot.
Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the NI PXI-8105.
The module will not insert properly unless the handle is in its downward position so that
it does not interfere with the injector rail on the chassis.
6.Hold the handle as you slowly slide the module into the chassis until
the handle catches on the injector/ejector rail.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-2ni.com
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
7.Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats
into the backplane receptacle connectors. The front panel of the
NI PXI-8105 should be even with the front panel of the chassis.
8.Tighten the four bracket-retaining screws on the top and bottom of the
front panel to secure the NI PXI-8105 to the chassis.
9.Check the installation.
10. Connect the keyboard and mouse to the appropriate connectors. If you
are using a PS/2 keyboard and a PS/2 mouse, a Y-splitter adapter is
available to connect both to a single USB connector. Refer to
Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable.
11. Connect the DVI monitor video cable to the DVI connector. If you are
using a VGA monitor, use the DVI-to-VGA adapter included with
your kit.
12. Connect devices to ports as required by your system configuration.
13. Power on the display device.
14. Power on the chassis.
15. Verify that the controller boots. If the controller does not boot, refer
to the What if the NI PXI-8105 does not boot? section of Chapter 5,
Figure 2-2 shows an NI PXI-8105 installed in the system controller slot of
a National Instruments PXI-1042 chassis. You can place PXI devices in any
other slots.
1
2
3
1 PXI-1042 Chassis2 NI PXI-8105 Controller3 Injector/Ejector Rail
Figure 2-2. NI PXI-8105 Controller Installed in a PXI Chassis
How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Chassis
The NI PXI-8105 controller is designed for easy handling. To remove the
unit from the PXI chassis, complete the following steps:
1.Power off the chassis.
2.Remove any cables that may be attached to the controller front panel.
3.Unscrew the bracket-retaining screws in the front panel. Refer to
Figure 2-1 for the location of these screws.
4.Press the injector/ejector handle down.
5.Slide the unit out of the chassis.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-4ni.com
BIOS Setup
Caution Changing BIOS settings may lead to incorrect controller behavior and possibly
an unbootable controller. If this happens, follow the instructions for restoring default
settings in the System CMOS section. In general, do not change a setting unless you are
absolutely certain what it does.
Entering BIOS Setup
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
You can change the NI PXI-8105 configuration settings in the BIOS setup.
The BIOS is the low-level interface between the hardware and PC software
that configures and tests your hardware when you boot the system. The
BIOS setup program includes menus for configuring settings and enabling
NI PXI-8105 controller features.
Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the NI PXI-8105
controller ships with default settings that work well for most
configurations.
To start the BIOS setup utility, complete the following steps:
1.Power on or reboot your NI PXI-8105 controller.
2.When the message
the Delete key on the keyboard. The message
appears, and the setup program is loaded after a short delay.
3.When you first enter the BIOS setup program, it displays the Main
menu.
Press <DEL> to enter SETUP appears, press
Entering Setup
Use the following keys to navigate through the BIOS setup:
•Left Arrow, Right Arrow—Use these keys to move between the
different setup menus. If you are in a submenu, these keys have no
effect, and you need to press <Esc> to leave the submenu first. (To use
the arrows on the numeric keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)
•Up Arrow, Down Arrow—Use these keys to move between the
options within a setup menu. (To use the arrows on the numeric
keypad, you must turn off Num Lock.)
•<Enter>—Use this key either to enter a submenu or display all
available settings for a highlighted configuration option.
•<Esc>—Use this key to return the parent menu of a submenu.
At the top-level menus, this key serves as a shortcut to the Exit menu.
•<+> and <–>—Use these keys to cycle between all available settings
for a selected configuration option.
•<Tab>—Use this key to select time and date fields.
Main Setup Menu
The most commonly accessed and modified BIOS settings are in the Main
setup menu. The Main setup menu includes the following settings:
•System Time & Date—This setting controls the time of day, which is
stored in a battery-backed real-time clock. Most operating systems
also include a way to change this setting. Use <+> and <–> in
conjunction with <Enter> and <Tab> to change these values.
•Require Keyboard to Boot—When Enabled, a missing or
malfunctioning keyboard causes the BIOS to halt with an error. When
Disabled, the BIOS allows booting without a keyboard. If you are
using a USB keyboard, you may attach it at any time during the
powered up state. To use this controller in a “headless” mode, you must
set this option to Disabled. The default value is Enabled.
Note Attaching a USB-to-PS/2 keyboard adapter may allow the system to boot even if no
PS/2 keyboard is attached.
•Num Lock—This setting indicates whether you turn on Num Lock at
boot time. The default value is On.
•SATA Port—This item displays the SATA devices detected in the
system. Normally, you do not need to modify this item. However, if a
SATA device is not autodetected properly, you can specify it manually
by pressing <Enter> on the item.
•IDE Channel 0 Master—These items display the IDE/ATA devices
detected in the system. Normally, you do not need to modify these
items. However, if an IDE/ATA device is not autodetected properly,
you can specify it manually by pressing <Enter> on an item.
•System Information—This setting displays a screen containing
important system information about the NI PXI-8105 controller.
Advanced Setup Menu
This menu contains BIOS settings that normally do not require
modification. If you have specific problems such as unbootable disks
or resource conflicts, you may need to examine these settings.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-6ni.com
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
Caution Changing settings in this menu may result in an unstable or unbootable controller.
If this happens, follow the procedures outlined in the System CMOS section to restore
BIOS settings to their factory defaults.
The Advanced setup menu includes the following settings:
•Reset Configuration Data—A portion of the EEPROM on the
controller is designated as the Extended System Configuration Data
region (ESCD). The BIOS and Plug-and-Play operating systems use
this table to store the Last Known Good configuration of system
peripherals. If you experience resource conflicts or peripheral
malfunction, set this setting to Yes to force the BIOS to recreate the
ESCD on the next reboot. This is rarely necessary.
•Integrated Peripherals—Use this setting to bring up the Integrated Peripherals submenu. (Refer to the Integrated Peripherals Submenu
section.)
•Quick Boot Mode—When you enable this option, certain lengthy
BIOS tests that rarely fail are skipped to shorten controller boot time.
The default is Enabled.
•Summary Screen—This setting controls the display of the summary
screen shown after BIOS completes its initialization, but before
booting takes place. You can disable this screen in the interest of
shortening controller boot time. The default is Disabled.
•PXE Network Boot—This setting enables the option for booting from
a network PXE server on the subnet. The default is Disabled.
Integrated Peripherals Submenu
Use this submenu to apply nondefault configurations to the front panel
peripherals of an NI PXI-8105 controller. Normally, you do not need
to modify these settings, as the factory default settings provide the most
compatible and optimal configuration possible.
•Serial Port A—This setting enables or disables COM1. You also can
change this setting to Enabled and modify the base address and
Interrupt Request Level (IRQ) of a port. The default is Auto, which
places COM1 at 0x3F8 IRQ 4.
•Parallel Port—Use this setting to enable or disable LPT1. You also
can change this setting to Enabled and modify the base address,
IRQ level, and ISA Direct Memory Access (DMA) channel of the
port. The default is Auto, which places LPT1 at 0x378, IRQ 7, using
ISA DMA Channel 3 if necessary.
•Parallel Port Mode—The PC industry has created several different
modes of operation for this port over the years. Usually, the default
setting works for all applications. However, if a parallel port device
specifically requires a nondefault setting, you can change it here.
The default is Bidirectional, for full IEEE 1284 capabilities.
•Legacy USB Support—Use this setting to use a USB keyboard and
mouse as if they were standard PS/2-style peripherals. You must enable
this setting to use these devices in operating systems with no USB
support and to boot from a USB floppy or CD-ROM. The BIOS setup
screen always works with USB keyboards regardless of this setting.
Certain real-time applications may require you to disable this setting
to reduce loop time jitter. The default is Enabled.
•AHCI Configuration—This setting determines whether AHCI mode
is Enabled or Disabled for the SATA port. Some operating systems,
such as Windows 2000, do not support AHCI mode. You can use this
setting to disable AHCI mode so that non-compatible OSes function
correctly. The default setting is Enabled.
•Multi-Core Processing—This setting determines whether or not the
second core processor on the Intel
enabled. The default setting is Enabled.
•Monitor DDC—This setting determines how the monitor DDC is
routed. Use this setting to select whether or not the DDC is routed for
an Analog monitor or a DVI monitor. In order to use a DVI monitor,
this setting must be set to DVI. An analog monitor, however, will
function with this option set to either Analog or DVI. The DDC
communication path is only enabled when set to Analog for an analog
monitor, so certain advanced features of your analog monitor may only
be enabled when routing DDC to Analog. The default setting is DVI.
®
Core™ Duo processor T2500 is
Note After changing DDC routing settings, a power cycle is required to enable the change.
•ExpressCard Hot-Plug Resources—This setting determines whether
or not resource pre-allocation is Enabled or Disabled for the
ExpressCard port. When this setting is Enabled, the BIOS will
pre-allocate memory space, I/O space, and PCI bus numbers for the
ExpressCard port, allowing non-PCI Express-aware operating systems
to support hot-plugging ExpressCard devices. When this setting is
Disabled, no resources will be pre-allocated, and you may need to
restart the OS when hot-plugging an ExpressCard device. The default
setting is Enabled.
•Hot-Plug Bus Gap—This setting determines the number of PCI buses
that will be reserved by the BIOS for ExpressCard PCI-PCI bridges
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Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. This setting is only
applicable if ExpressCard Hot-Plug Resources is set to Enabled.
The default value for this setting is 8 PCI buses.
•I/O—This setting determines the amount of I/O space, in bytes, that
will be reserved by the BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may be
hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. This setting is only applicable if
ExpressCard Hot-Plug Resources is set to Enabled. The default
value for this setting is 4096 bytes of I/O space.
•Memory—This setting determines the amount of memory space, in
bytes, that will be reserved by the BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may
be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard slot. This setting is only applicable
if ExpressCard Hot-Plug Resources is set to Enabled. The default
value for this setting is 32 megabytes of memory.
•Pre-fetchable Memory—This setting determines the amount of
pre-fetchable memory space, in bytes, that will be reserved by the
BIOS for PCI-PCI bridges that may be hot-plugged in the ExpressCard
slot. This setting is only applicable if ExpressCard Hot-Plug
Resources is set to Enabled. The default value for this setting is
32 megabytes of pre-fetchable memory.
PXI Setup Menu
Use this menu to control and route certain signals on the PXI backplane.
Normally, you do not need to modify these settings. However, other
sections of this manual may indicate that modifications are necessary
and may lead to unpredictable behavior.
•APIC Routing—This item is valid only for Windows XP and 2000
and other modern operating systems. Select Enabled to initialize the
IOAPIC and local APIC in uniprocessor mode. Select Disabled to use
the legacy PIC for interrupt routing. The default setting is Enabled.
•PIRQx Routing—This setting selects the routing option for PXI/PCI
devices connected to PIRQx. This settings affects OSes that do not use
APIC routing. The default setting for all PIRQx options is IRQ10.
•Per-Slot Device Settings—This setting brings up the Per-Slot Device Settings submenu. Refer to the Per-Slot Device Settings Submenu
section.
Per-Slot Device Settings Submenu
Use this menu to configure options that can be modified for individual PCI
devices in a PXI chassis.
Note Scanning for Option ROMs on devices behind a PCI bridge cannot be disabled.
PCI Device x Option ROM Scan—This setting selects whether PCI
device x will be scanned for an option ROM. Setting this option to Enabled
allows the BIOS to scan for a PCI option ROM on this PCI device. Setting
to Disabled prevents the BIOS from detecting option ROMs on this device.
Setting to Disabled does not completely disable the PCI device, just the
option ROM scan. The default is Enabled.
Security Menu
Use this menu to enable BIOS security options.
Set User Password—This setting allows you to specify a password that
must be entered to boot the system. To activate this feature, you must first
specify a Supervisor password and enable the Password on boot feature.
By default, no password is specified.
Set Supervisor Password—This setting allows you to specify a password
that must be entered to access the BIOS setup options. By default, no
password is specified.
Boot Setup Menu
Password on Boot—This setting controls whether or not a password is
required to boot the system. If enabled, the user must enter the User
Password to boot the system. The default setting is Disabled.
Write Protect Boot Sector—When set to Yes, this setting prevents
modification of a hard disk boot sector via INT 13h services, which may
help prevent certain computer viruses from infecting the controller. This
setting does not prevent boot sector modification by 32-bit operating
system drivers that access the hard disk directly. The default is No.
This screen displays the boot order of devices associated with the
controller. The BIOS proceeds down the Boot priority order list in search
of a bootable device. Devices under the Excluded from boot order list
will not be used for booting. If the BIOS fails to find any bootable device,
the message
system halts.
•IDE HDD—The internal hard drive.
•USB HDD—A USB based flash drive or hard disk drive.
•USB CDROM—A USB based CD-ROM drive.
Operating System Not Found is displayed, and the
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Exiting BIOS Setup
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
•USB FDC—A USB based floppy disk drive.
•PCI SCSI—A SCSI drive (hard disk drive or CD-ROM) connected
through a SCSI controller in the PXI chassis.
•PCI LAN—A PXE Network boot device, if PXE Network Boot is
enabled on the Advanced menu.
The Exit setup menu includes all available options for exiting, saving, and
loading the BIOS default configuration. As an alternative to this screen,
press <F9> to load BIOS default settings and <F10> to save changes and
exit setup.
The Exit setup menu includes the following settings:
•Exit Saving Changes—Any changes made to BIOS settings are stored
in the battery-backed System CMOS. The setup program then exits
and reboots the controller.
•Exit Discarding Changes—Any changes made to BIOS settings
during this session of the BIOS setup program are discarded. The setup
program then exits and boots the controller without rebooting first.
•Load Setup Defaults—This setting restores all BIOS settings to the
factory default. This is useful if the controller exhibits unpredictable
behavior due to an incorrect or inappropriate BIOS setting. Notice
that any nondefault settings such as boot order, passwords, and
keyboardless operation are restored to their factory defaults. This may
produce undesirable behavior, and in heavily customized cases, may
cause the controller to malfunction or fail to boot.
•Discard Changes—Any changes made to BIOS settings during
this session of the BIOS setup program are discarded. Unlike Exit Discarding Changes, however, the BIOS setup continues to be active.
•Save Changes—Changes made to BIOS settings during this session
are committed to battery-backed System CMOS. The setup program
remains active, allowing further changes.
System CMOS
The NI PXI-8105 contains a backed-up memory used to store BIOS
configuration information.
Complete the following steps to clear the CMOS contents:
1.Power off the chassis.
2.Remove the controller from the chassis.
3.Move the jumper on W7 from pins 1–2 to pins 2–3, as shown in
Figure 2-3.
4.Wait one second. Move the jumper back to pins 1–2.
5.Reinstall the controller in the chassis.
Caution Do not leave the jumper on pins 2–3. Doing so decreases battery life. In addition,
leaving the jumper on the pins prevents the controller from booting.
3
1
1 Normal Operation (Default) 2 Clear CMOS Contents 3Pin 1
Figure 2-3. Clearing the CMOS Contents
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2
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
Drivers and Software
Files and Directories Installed on Your Hard Drive
Your hard drive includes a directory called images in its root that
contains software and soft copies of manuals for the installed devices. The
directory structure under the
several levels.
In the
images directory, you will find a manuals directory,
reference manuals, and National Instruments software manuals, all in
Adobe Acrobat format. To access any manual, change your directory to
c:\images\manuals and list the contents of that directory. You will see
several files, one corresponding to each device.
The
os directory contains a subdirectory corresponding to the operating
system installed on your controller.
The rest of the directories correspond to each device in your controller.
Within each of these directories are the drivers for the devices. These files
and directories are copied exactly from the manufacturer distribution disks,
so the naming conventions vary from device to device.
images directory is logically organized into
PXI Features
PXI Trigger Connectivity
The SMB connector on the NI PXI-8105 front panel can connect to or from
any PXI backplane trigger line. A trigger allocation process is needed to
prevent two resources from connecting to the same trigger line, resulting in
the trigger being double-driven and possibly damaging the hardware. At
the time of this manual’s publication, this software is not yet available for
Windows. Contact National Instruments for more information.
Configuration of the PXI system is handled through Measurement &
Automation Explorer (MAX), included with the software pre-installed
on your controller. MAX creates the
the layout and parameters of your PXI system.
The configuration steps for single or multiple-chassis systems are the same.
An example of a multichassis configuration is shown in Figure 2-4.
pxisys.ini file, which defines
Figure 2-4. Multichassis Configuration in MAX
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-14ni.com
Basic PXI System Configuration
1.Launch MAX.
2.In the Configuration tree, click the Devices and Interfaces branch to
expand it.
3.If the PXI system controller has not yet been configured, it is labeled
PXI System (Unidentified). Right-click this entry to display the
pop-up menu, then select the appropriate controller model from the
Identify As submenu.
4.Click the PXI System controller. The chassis (or multiple chassis, in a
multichassis configuration) is listed below it. Identify each chassis by
right-clicking its entry, then selecting the appropriate chassis model
through the Identify As submenu. Further expanding the PXI System
branch shows all devices in the system that can be recognized by
NI-VISA. When your controller and all your chassis are identified,
the required
The PXI specification allows many combinations of PXI chassis and
system modules. To assist system integrators, the manufacturers of
PXI chassis and system modules must document the capabilities of their
products. The minimum documentation requirements are contained in
.ini files, which consist of ASCII text. System integrators, configuration
utilities, and device drivers can use these
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
pxisys.ini file is complete.
.ini files.
The capability documentation for the chassis is contained in a
chassis.ini file provided by the chassis manufacturer. The information
in this file is combined with information about the system controller to
create a single system initialization file called
Initialization). The NI PXI-8105 uses MAX to generate the
file from the
chassis.ini file.
Device drivers and other utility software read the
pxisys.ini (PXI System
pxisys.ini
pxisys.ini file to
obtain system information. For detailed information about initialization
files, refer to the PXI specification at
www.pxisa.org.
Upgrading RAM
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8105 by
upgrading the SO-DIMM.
To upgrade the RAM, remove the NI PXI-8105 from the PXI chassis. To
optimize both memory capacity and system performance, use the same size
and speed memory module in each of the two module slots. The use of
different size modules in each slot is supported, but system performance
will be slower than using two matched modules. However, two mismatched
modules will result in better performance than using a single module.
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with
the NI PXI-8105 controller.
•PC2-5300 512 MB, 64 MB × 64, CL 5, 1.18 in. max
•PC2-5300 1 GB, 128 MB × 64, CL 5, 1.18 in. max
Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the DDR2 SO-DIMMs we sell
work with the NI PXI-8105. We recommend you purchase your DDR2 SO-DIMM
modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR2 SO-DIMM modules
are not guaranteed to work properly.
2
1
1 DDR2 SO-DIMM Module2 DDR2 SO-DIMM Socket
Figure 2-5. Installing a DDR2 SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8105 Controller
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-16ni.com
Hard Drive Recovery
NI PXI-8105 controllers include two methods of restoring the original
factory condition of your hard drive. Hard drive-based recovery stores a
factory backup on a separate portion of your hard drive allowing you to
restore your controller without additional media. The NI PXI-8105
controller also ships with an OS Recovery CD that allows you to reinstall
your operating system onto your hard drive through an external CD-ROM.
For more information on these tools, refer to the documentation on your
hard drive in the
2ZKC02OK at
Note Your system hot key is <F4>. To access the hard drive-based recovery tool, press and
hold <F4> when video first appears during the boot process.
If you need to recover your factory-installed operating system from a CD,
you can use the included OS re-installation CD with an external CD-ROM
drive such as a USB CD-ROM drive. Boot the PXI controller using the
OS re-installation CD to recover the OS. You also may need to reinstall
other software after using the CD to recover the OS.
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
c:\Images\Recovery directory or KnowledgeBase
ni.com/support.
Note Recovering the OS erases the contents of your hard disk. Back up any files you want
to keep.
Installing an OS
NI PXI-8105 controllers include a pre-installed OS. In some cases, you
may want to install a different OS. When doing so, consider the following
guidelines.
Installing from a CD-ROM
The NI PXI-8105 supports the installation of Windows XP from a USB
CD-ROM. However, many other operating systems do not support
installation from a USB CD-ROM. For example, Windows 2000 aborts
during the install process because it does not have drivers for the CD-ROM
device.
With DOS drivers, you can install Windows 9x operating systems.
However, only a few USB CD-ROM drives have DOS drivers.
As an alternative to a USB CD-ROM drive, you can use an external SCSI
CD-ROM with a PXI-SCSI adapter.
Note For additional assistance with installing or changing an operating system, refer to
KnowledgeBase 2ZKC02OK at
ExpressCard
This section provides information on the installation and removal of
ExpressCard modules.
Installing an ExpressCard
You can install an ExpressCard module while the NI PXI-8105 is running.
The NI PXI-8105 will automatically detect the card. ExpressCards are
generally marked with a symbol or a label to indicate which end to insert
into the slot. The cards are keyed to prevent incorrect insertion.
To install an ExpressCard, complete the following steps.
1.Hold the card so the top side is facing left.
2.Insert the card until it is completely seated in its connector. The
connector has an automatic eject mechanism. If you insert the card and
it is ejected, simply re-insert the card until it is seated.
ni.com/support.
If you encounter too much resistance, do not force the card. Check the card
orientation and try again.
The PXI-8105 will automatically recognize the ExpressCard and load the
appropriate driver(s). Third-party cards may require that you install
additional drivers. Contact your ExpressCard vendor for more information.
Caution The ExpressCard interface is ESD sensitive. An electrostatic shock on the
ExpressCard module while it is inserted may cause the controller to lock-up or reboot.
Removing an ExpressCard
To remove the ExpressCard module push in the module and then release to
eject the card. Slide the card out of the slot.
Caution To avoid data loss and other potential issues, stop communication with your
ExpressCard device before removing it from the PXI-8105. In Windows, use the Safely
Remove Hardware tool to safely stop the ExpressCard.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual2-18ni.com
I/O Information
Front Panel Connectors
Table 3-1 lists various I/O interfaces and their corresponding NI PXI-8105
external connectors, bus interfaces, and functions.
Figure 3-4 shows the location and pinouts for the Ethernet connector on the
NI PXI-8105. Table 3-4 lists and describes the Ethernet connector signals.
1
Ethernet
8
Figure 3-4. Ethernet Connector Location and Pinout
Table 3-4. Ethernet Connector Signals
PinFast EthernetGigabit Ethernet
1TX+TX_A+
2TX–TX_A–
3RX+RX_B+
4NCTX_C+
5NCTX_C–
6RX–RX_B–
7NCRX_D+
8NCRX_D–
The Ethernet controller can perform automatic crossover, thus eliminating the need
Note
for crossover cables.
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Chapter 3I/O Information
Table 3-5. 10/100/1000 LAN Connector LED States
LEDColorLED StateCondition
OffLAN link is not established.
TopGreen
UnlitOff10 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.
Bottom
GreenOn100 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.
OrangeOn1000 Mbit/sec data rate is selected.
Parallel Port
On (steady state)LAN link is established.
On (brighter and pulsing)The controller is communicating with
another computer on the LAN.
Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the IEEE 1284 (parallel)
connector on the NI PXI-8105. Table 3-6 lists and describes the IEEE 1284
connector signals.
Parallel port adapter cables are available from National Instruments,
part number 777169-01.
1
18
Figure 3-5. Parallel Port Connector Location and Pinout
Figure 3-6 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus
(USB) connectors on the NI PXI-8105. Table 3-7 lists and describes the
USB connector signals.
The NI PXI-8105 controller is equipped with an ExpressCard/34 slot on the
front panel, which provides I/O expansion and options for removable
storage, Ethernet, and a variety of other I/O.
Figure 3-9 shows the location and pinouts for the ExpressCard/34 slot on
the NI PXI-8105. Table 3-10 lists and describes the ExpressCard connector
signals.
26
ExpressCard/34
Slot
1
Figure 3-9. ExpressCard/34 Slot Location and Pinout
The NI PXI-8105 controller has the following front-panel features:
•A controller reset pushbutton (press the button to generate a reset to the
controller)
•Two front panel LEDs that show PC status
–The POWER OK LED indicates the power status of the
controller. The LED will indicate one of the following states:
•ON steady—PXI and onboard power is on and within
•Blinking—One of the PXI or onboard supplies is operating
•OFF—The power to the controller is off.
–The DRIVE LED indicates when an access to the internal hard
disk is occurring.
Data Storage
regulation limits
outside of the normal limits, or is not functioning.
The NI PXI-8105 has the following data storage features:
•Internal hard drive
–2.5 in. notebook hard drive
–Supports up to ATA-5 (UDMA 100) for extended temperatures or
SATA for standard configuration
•USB storage support—USB CD-ROM, mass storage device, or floppy
drive
NI PXI-8105 User Manual3-14ni.com
Common Configuration
Questions
This chapter answers common configuration questions you may have when
using the NI PXI-8105 embedded controller.
General Questions
What do the LEDs on the NI PXI-8105 front panel mean?
Refer to the LED status descriptions in the Front Panel Features section of
Chapter 3, I/O Information.
How do I check the configuration of the memory, hard drive,
time/date, and so on?
You can view these parameters in the BIOS setup. To enter the BIOS setup,
reboot the NI PXI-8105 and press <Delete> during the memory tests. Refer
to the Entering BIOS Setup section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration, for more information.
4
Can I use the internal hard drive and an external hard drive at the
same time?
Ye s.
Boot Options
What devices can I boot from?
The NI PXI-8105 can boot from the following devices:
•The internal hard drive
•An external SCSI hard drive or CD-ROM if an SCSI adapter, such
as the PXI-8214, is used
•An external USB mass storage device such as a USB hard drive or
CD-ROM
•An external USB floppy drive
•Most PCI-based boards that provide an Option ROM
Note There are some limitations when booting from a USB device. Windows XP
can be installed from a USB CD-ROM, but earlier versions of Windows cannot. The
NI PXI-8105 BIOS configures the USB devices so that they will work in a DOS
environment.
How do I configure the controller to boot from these devices?
There are two methods.
•Enter Setup and select the Boot menu. You will see a list of all bootable
devices, ordered by device type. You can set the boot order using <+>
and <–>. Set the order by device type and set the order for the devices
listed within the device type.
•To boot from a different device without permanently changing the boot
order, press <Esc> during POST. After the BIOS completes the POST
and just before the controller boots the OS, the Boot menu is displayed.
You can select the device type you want to boot from.
Cables and Connections
How do I plug both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard into the
controller?
The NI PXI-8105 has no PS/2 connector, and you need to use a USB
Y-splitter cable as shown in Figure 4-1, or a similar device, to connect both
a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard. National Instruments Part Number
778713-01 is such a cable and is available through the online catalog at
ni.com/products.
Figure 4-1. Y-Splitter Cable
NI PXI-8105 User Manual4-2ni.com
What if I don’t have a Y-splitter cable? Can I still use a mouse and
keyboard?
If you do not have a Y-splitter cable, plug a USB keyboard into any USB
connector. You can also plug a USB mouse into any USB connector.
How do I connect a standard 25-pin LPT cable to the
NI PXI-8105?
The NI PXI-8105 uses a type C LPT connector. Most parallel port
devices use a type A connector. To use a device with a standard type A
LPT connector, you need to use a type C-to-type-A LPT adapter. Parallel
port adapter cables, part number 777169-01, are available through the
online catalog at
ni.com/products.
How do I connect a VGA monitor to the NI PXI-8105?
A VGA-to-DVI-I adapter (part number 762559-01) is included with your
kit. You can use this adapter to connect a VGA monitor to the DVI-I port.
Software Driver Installation
Chapter 4Common Configuration Questions
How do I install or reinstall the video driver?
Refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8 at
ni.com support.
How do I install or reinstall the Ethernet driver?
Refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8 at
ni.com support.
How do I install or reinstall the GPIB driver?
The NI-488.2 driver for your GPIB port is installed by default when your
controller is first shipped from the factory. To change the default installed
driver, complete the following steps:
1.Download the latest GPIB driver from
ni.com/downloads.
2.Install the driver and verify that the driver has properly detected the
GPIB driver in the Device Manager. If you need more assistance, refer
to
The compact size of the NI PXI-8105 does not allow for an integrated
CD-ROM drive. You have the following options:
•USB CD-ROM—You can install from a USB CD-ROM using a
bootable installation CD.
•SCSI CD-ROM—Other types of CD-ROM drives are available.
Check with the vendor to make sure Windows XP supports the drive.
•Mapped network drive—You can use the Ethernet to connect to
another computer. If you share the CD-ROM drive on the other
computer, you can map the shared CD-ROM drive to a drive letter
on the NI PXI-8105.
Upgrade Information
How do I upgrade system memory?
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8105 by
upgrading the DDR2 SO-DIMM.
To upgrade the RAM, remove the NI PXI-8105 from the PXI chassis. To
optimize both memory capacity and system performance, use the same size
and speed memory module in each of the two module slots. The use of
different size modules in each slot is supported, but system performance
will be slower than using two matched modules. However, two mismatched
modules will result in better performance than using a single module.
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with
the NI PXI-8105 controller.
•PC2-5300 512 MB, 64 MB × 64, CL 5, 1.18 in. max
•PC2-5300 1 GB, 128 MB × 64, CL 5, 1.18 in. max
Note National Instruments has conducted thermal testing as well as mechanical shock and
vibration testing, and has verified that the DDR2 SO-DIMMs we sell work with the
NI PXI-8105. We recommend you purchase your DDR2 SO-DIMM modules from
National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf DDR2 SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to
work properly.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual4-4ni.com
Chapter 4Common Configuration Questions
2
1
1 DDR2 SO-DIMM Module2 DDR2 SO-DIMM Socket
Figure 4-2. Installing a DDR2 SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8105 Controller
How do I flash a new BIOS?
You can download the new BIOS from
ftp.ni.com/support/pxi/.
For more information, refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8.
Where do I get the latest software drivers?
The latest National Instruments software is available from
downloads
at
ni.com.
/. For peripheral drivers, refer to KnowledgeBase 3H3COSD8
My NI PXI-8105 does not have an internal floppy drive. Is there a way
to use an external drive?
Yes. The NI PXI-8105 controller supports and can boot from USB floppy
drives. A USB floppy drive will not work with Windows NT4, but will
work with Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Refer to the Boot Options
section for more information.
A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments, part number
778492-02.
For details, refer to the PXI Features section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration.
Why doesn’t the NI PXI-8105 work with the PXI-8220 or PXI-8221?
A serialized IRQ conflict with the PXI-8220/8221 and the NI PXI-8105
prevents PC cards using ISA interrupts from working with the NI PXI-8105
controller. For more information, refer to KnowledgeBase 2G3ED80Z at
ni.com/support.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual4-6ni.com
Troubleshooting
This chapter answers common troubleshooting questions you may have
when using the NI PXI-8105 embedded computer.
What if the NI PXI-8105 does not boot?
Several problems can cause a controller not to boot. Here are some things
to look for and possible solutions.
Things to Notice:
•Which LEDs come on? The Power OK LED should stay lit.
The Drive LED should blink during boot as the disk is accessed.
•Was the display installed prior to power-on? What appears on the
display? Does it hang at some particular point (BIOS, Operating
System, and so on)? If nothing appears on the screen, try a different
monitor. Does your monitor work with a different PC? If it hangs, note
the last screen output that you saw for reference when consulting
National Instruments technical support.
•What has changed about the system? Did you recently move the
system? Was there electrical storm activity? Did you recently add
a new module, memory chip, or piece of software?
5
Things to Try:
•Make sure the chassis is plugged in to a working power source.
•Check any fuses or circuit breakers in the chassis or other power
supply (possibly an uninterruptible power supply).
•Make sure the controller module is firmly seated in the chassis.
•Remove all other modules from the chassis.
•Remove any nonessential cables or devices.
•Try the controller in a different chassis.
•Try a similar controller in this same chassis.
•Clear the CMOS. (Refer to the System CMOS section of Chapter 2,
Installation and Configuration.)
•Recover the hard drive on the controller. (Refer to the Hard Drive
Recovery section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.)
My controller boots fine until I get to Windows, at which point I cannot
read the screen. This may include garbled output, white screen, black
screen, or an out of synch message from the monitor.
This problem usually results from having the video card output set past the
limits of the monitor. You will need to boot Windows in Safe Mode. To do
this, reboot the controller. As Windows begins to boot, hold down <F8>.
You should now be able to reset the video driver to lower settings. Try
setting the resolution to 640 × 480 and the refresh rate to 60 Hz. Once you
reboot, you can raise these values again, using the test option in Windows.
These settings are accessible through the Advanced tab of the Display item
in the Control Panel. Alternately, you can try a different monitor,
preferably a newer and larger one.
If the system has been booted to Windows without a monitor attached, the
driver may have defaulted to the video output connector being disabled.
Press <Ctrl-Alt-F1> to re-enable the video display in Windows. Press
<Ctrl-Alt-F4> to re-enable a DVI display. For more information, refer to
KnowledgeBase 3OHCFRD8 at
ni.com/support.
My system boots fine as long as a particular module is not in my
chassis.
The most common cause of this is a damaged module. Try the module in a
different chassis or with a different controller. Also, remove any external
cables or terminal blocks connected to the system. If the module does not
work in these cases, it is likely damaged. Contact the module manufacturer
for further troubleshooting.
Refer to the KnowledgeBase or product manuals section at
ni.com for
more information specific to the chassis and controller with which you are
having difficulties.
My CMOS is corrupted. How do I set it back to default?
1.Enter the BIOS setup program as described in the Entering BIOS Setup
section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.
2.Check the battery utility.
3.Press <F9> to load BIOS defaults.
4.Answer Y (Yes) to the verification prompt.
5.Select Save and Exit Setup.
NI PXI-8105 User Manual5-2ni.com
Chapter 5Troubleshooting
As an alternative method, complete the following steps:
1.Power off the chassis.
2.Remove the controller from the chassis.
3.Move the jumper on W7 from pins 1–2 to pins 2–3 as shown in
Figure 5-1.
4.Wait one second. Move the jumper back to pins 1–2.
5.Reinstall the controller in the chassis.
Caution Do not leave the jumper on pins 2–3. Doing so decreases battery life. Also, the
controller will not boot.
3
1
1 Normal Operation (Default) 2 Clear CMOS Contents 3Pin 1
Caution Clean the NI PXI-8105 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device
is completely dry and free from contaminants before powering-on the controller again.
Operating Environment
NI PXI-8105
Ambient temperature range .............5 to 50 °C in an NI PXI-1042
chassis (Tested in accordance
with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2). Refer to the
datasheet linked from the
NI PXI-8105 Embedded
Controller product page at
ni.com for other
controller/chassis combinations.
NI PXI-8105 Extended Temp. Option
Ambient temperature range .............0 to 55 °C (Tested in accordance
with IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2)
Relative humidity range..........................10% to 90%, noncondensing
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56.)
Storage Environment
NI PXI-8105
Ambient temperature range .............–20 to 65 °C (Tested in
accordance with IEC-60068-2-1
and IEC-60068-2-2.)
NI PXI-8105 Extended Temp. Option
Ambient temperature range .............–40 to 85 °C (Tested in
accordance with IEC-60068-2-1
and IEC-60068-2-2.)
Relative humidity range..........................5% to 95% noncondensing
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56.)
NI PXI-8105 User ManualA-2ni.com
Shock and Vibration
Safety
Appendix ASpecifications
Operational shock .................................. 30 g peak, half-sine, 11 ms pulse
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-27. Test profile
developed in accordance with
MIL-PRF-28800F.)
Random vibration
Operating ........................................ 5 to 500 Hz, 0.3 g
rms
(with solid-state hard drive)
Nonoperating .................................. 5 to 500 Hz, 2.4 g
rms
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-64. Nonoperating
test profile exceeds the
requirements of
MIL-PRF-28800F, Class 3.)
This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following
standards of safety for electrical equipment for measurement, control,
and laboratory use:
•IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1
•UL 61010-1
•CAN/CSA-C22.2 No. 61010-1
Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label or to
ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line, and click the
appropriate link in the Certification column.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
Emissions ............................................... EN 55011 Class A at 10 m
FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz
Immunity................................................ EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001,
Table 1
EMC .......................................................CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15
(Class A) compliant
Note For full EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling.
Visit the following sections of the National Instruments Web site at
ni.com for technical support and professional services:
•Support—Online technical support resources at
include the following:
–Self-Help Resources—For answers and solutions, visit the
award-winning National Instruments Web site for software drivers
and updates, a searchable KnowledgeBase, product manuals,
step-by-step troubleshooting wizards, thousands of example
programs, tutorials, application notes, instrument drivers, and
so on.
Service, which includes access to hundreds of Application
Engineers worldwide in the NI Developer Exchange at
ni.com/exchange. National Instruments Application Engineers
make sure every question receives an answer.
For information about other technical support options in your
area, visit
ni.com/contact.
•Training and Certification—Visit
self-paced training, eLearning virtual classrooms, interactive CDs,
and Certification program information. You also can register for
instructor-led, hands-on courses at locations around the world.
•System Integration—If you have time constraints, limited in-house
technical resources, or other project challenges, National Instruments
Alliance Partner members can help. To learn more, call your local
NI office or visit
•Declaration of Conformity (DoC)—A DoC is our claim of
compliance with the Council of the European Communities using
the manufacturer’s declaration of conformity. This system affords
the user protection for electronic compatibility (EMC) and product
safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting
Appendix BTechnical Support and Professional Services
If you searched ni.com and could not find the answers you need, contact
your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our
worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit
the Worldwide Offices section of
office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.
backplaneAn assembly, typically a printed circuit board, with connectors and signal
paths that bus the connector pins.
BIOSBasic Input/Output System—BIOS functions are the fundamental level
of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic
operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources.
C
CCelsius.
cacheSmall portion of high-speed memory used for temporary storage of
frequently used data.
CMOSComplementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor—A type of integrated circuit.
CompactPCIAn adaptation of the PCI specification for industrial and/or embedded
applications that require a more robust mechanical form factor than desktop
PCI. CompactPCI provides a standard form factor for those applications
requiring the high performance of PCI as well as the small size and
ruggedness of a rack-mount system.
ControllerAn embedded computer module which configures and accesses a series of
devices connected to a chassis backplane.
D
DCDirect Current.
DDR2Double Data Rate, 2
DIMMDual In-line Memory Module.
DMADirect Memory Access—A method by which data is transferred between
devices and internal memory without intervention of the central processing
unit.
NI PXI-8105 User ManualG-2ni.com
nd
generation.
Glossary
DRAMDynamic RAM (Random Access Memory)—Storage that the computer
must refresh at frequent intervals.
DVI-IDirect Video Interface, Integrated—A video technology enabling the use of
both analog and digital video signals.
E
ECPExtended Capabilities Parallel.
EEPROMElectronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory.
EMCElectromagnetic Compatibility.
EMIElectromagnetic interference.
EPPEnhanced Parallel Port.
expansion ROMAn onboard EEPROM that may contain device-specific initialization and
system boot functionality.
F
FCCFederal Communications Commission.
G
g1. Grams.
2. A measure of acceleration equal to 9.8 m/s
GPIBGeneral Purpose Interface Bus (IEEE 488).
g
rms
A measure of random vibration—The root mean square of acceleration
levels in a random vibration test profile.
I/OInput/output—The techniques, media, and devices used to achieve
communication between machines and users.
IDEIntegrated Drive Electronics—Hard disk and built-in controller.
IEEEInstitute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
in.Inches.
instrument driverA set of routines designed to control a specific instrument or family of
instruments, and any necessary related files for LabWindows/CVI or
LabVIEW.
interruptA means for a device to request service from another device.
interrupt levelThe relative priority at which a device can interrupt.
IRQ#Interrupt request signal.
ISAIndustry Standard Architecture—The original PC bus architecture,
specifically the 16-bit AT bus.
K
kBKilobytes of memory.
L
LANLocal Area Network—Communications network that serves users within
a confined geographical area. It is made up of servers, workstations,
a network operating system, and a communications link.
LEDLight-emitting diode.
M
mMeters.
masterA functional part of a PXI device that initiates data transfers on the
PXI backplane. A transfer can be either a read or a write.
NI PXI-8105 User ManualG-4ni.com
Glossary
MBMegabytes of memory.
MTBFMean time between failure.
MTTRMean time to repair.
N
NI-488 or NI-488.2The National Instruments software for GPIB systems.
NI-DAQThe National Instruments software for data acquisition instruments.
NI-VISAThe National Instruments implementation of the VISA standard—An
interface-independent software that provides a unified programming
interface for VXI, GPIB, and serial instruments.
NMINon-maskable interrupt—High-priority interrupt that cannot be disabled.
It is used to report malfunctions such as parity, bus and math coprocessor
errors.
P
PCIPeripheral Component Interconnect—The PCI bus is a high-performance
32-bit or 64-bit bus with multiplexed address and data lines.
PCI ExpressPeripheral Component Interconnect Express—A faster, serialized version
of the PCI bus.
PCMCIAPersonal Computer Memory Card International Association.
peripheralAny hardware device connected to a computer, such as a monitor,
keyboard, printer, plotter, disk or tape drive, graphics tablet, scanner,
mouse, and so on.
POSCPower On Self Configuration.
PXIPCI eXtensions for Instrumentation—An open implementation of
CompactPCI that adds electrical features that meet the high-performance
requirements of instrumentation applications by providing triggering,
local buses, and system clock capabilities. PXI also offers two-way
interoperability with CompactPCI products.
COM1 connector and signals, 3-5
DVI-I connector and signals, 3-3
Ethernet connector and signals, 3-6
ExpressCard connector and signals, 3-12
GPIB connector and signals, 3-11
parallel port connector and signals, 3-7
peripheral expansion overview
(table), 3-1
trigger connector and signals, 3-10
Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector