National Instruments PCI-GPIB, PXI-GPIB, PMC-GPIB, NI-488.2, PCIe-GPIB Installation Manual

INSTALLATION GUIDE

Installing Your PCI-GPIB,
PXI-GPIB, or PMC-GPIB

and NI-488.2 for Solaris

This document describes how to install and configure your GPIB hardware and
NI-488.2 software. Refer to the section that describes the installation for your
particular board. Other documentation, including the software reference manual,
is available on your NI-488.2 software for Solaris CD in the
folder.

Before you install your GPIB controller, consult the manual that came with your
workstation for specific instructions and warnings. You must have superuser
privileges to install the hardware and software.

October 2003
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Installing the PCI-GPIB

Caution Electrostatic discharge can damage several components on

your GPIB board. To avoid electrostatic damage when you handle the
module, touch the antistatic plastic package to a metal part of your
computer chassis before you remove the board from the package.

Complete the following steps to install the PCI-GPIB.

1. Log on as superuser. To become a superuser, type

su root and enter the root

password.

2. Shut down your system by typing the following commands at the command
line prompt:

sync;sync;shutdown

3. Power off your computer after it has shut down. Keep the computer plugged
in so that it remains grounded while you install the PCI-GPIB.

4. Remove the top cover (or other access panels) to give yourself access to the
computer expansion slots.

5. Find an unused PCI slot in your computer.

6. Remove the corresponding slot cover.

7. Insert the PCI-GPIB into the slot with the GPIB connector sticking out of the
opening on the back panel, as shown in Figure 1. It might be a tight fit, but do
not force the board into place.

8. Replace the top cover (or the access panel to the PCI slot).

9. Power on your computer. The PCI-GPIB interface board is now installed.

Installing Your GPIB Hardware and NI-488.2 for Solaris 2 ni.com

1

2

3

1 PCI Board 2PCI Slot 3 Personal Computer

© National Instruments Corporation 3 Installing Your GPIB Hardware and NI-488.2 for Solaris

Figure 1. Installing the PCI-GPIB

Installing the PXI-GPIB

Caution Electrostatic discharge can damage several components on

your GPIB board. To avoid electrostatic damage when you handle the
module, touch the antistatic plastic package to a metal part of your
system chassis before you remove the board from the package.

Complete the following steps to install the PXI-GPIB.

1. Log on as superuser. To become a superuser, type

su root and enter the root

password.

2. Shut down your system by typing the following commands at the command
line prompt:

sync;sync;shutdown

3. Power off your PXI or CompactPCI chassis after it has shut down. Keep the
chassis plugged in so that it remains grounded while you install the PXI-GPIB.

4. Choose an unused PXI or CompactPCI peripheral slot. For maximum
performance, the PXI-GPIB has an onboard DMA controller that can only
be used if the board is installed in a slot that supports bus master cards.
National Instruments recommends installing the PXI-GPIB in such a slot.
If you install the board in a non-bus master slot, you must disable the
PXI-GPIB onboard DMA controller using the board-level call

ibdma.

Refer to the NI-488.2M Software Reference Manual for a complete
description of

ibdma.

5. Remove the filler panel for the peripheral slot you have chosen.

Installing Your GPIB Hardware and NI-488.2 for Solaris 4 ni.com

6. Touch a metal part on your chassis to discharge any static electricity that might
be on your clothes or body.

7. Insert the PXI-GPIB into the selected slot. Use the injector/ejector handle to
fully inject the device into place. Figure 2 shows how to install the PXI-GPIB
into a PXI or CompactPCI chassis.

8. Screw the front panel of the PXI-GPIB to the front-panel mounting rail of the
PXI or CompactPCI chassis.

9. Power on your PXI or CompactPCI chassis. The PXI-GPIB interface board
is now installed.

© National Instruments Corporation 5 Installing Your GPIB Hardware and NI-488.2 for Solaris