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ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,
Page 5
Contents
About This Manual
How to Use the Documentation Set...............................................................................vii
Appendix B
Technical Support and Professional Services
Glossary
Index
NI PXI-8183 User Manualvini.com
Page 7
About This Manual
This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring
your National Instruments NI PXI-8183 embedded computer kit.
How to Use the Documentation Set
Begin by reading the NI PXI-8183 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start
guide that describes how to install and get started with your controller.
This 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.
monospace boldBold text in this font denotes the messages and responses that the computer
automatically prints to the screen. This font also emphasizes lines of code
that are different from the other examples.
Related Documentation
The following documents contain information you may find helpful as you
read this manual:
•PICMG 2.0 R3.0 CompactPCI Specification, PCI Industrial
Computers Manufacturers Group
•IEEE Standard P1284.1-1997 (C/MM) Standard for Information
Technology for Transport Independent Printer/System Interface
•PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.2, PCI Special Interest Group
•PXI Hardware Specification, Revision 2.2, PXI Systems Alliance
•PXI Software Specification, Revision 2.3, PXI Systems Alliance
•Serialized IRQ Support for PCI Systems Specification, Revision 6.0,
Compaq Computer et al.
NI PXI-8183 User Manualviiini.com
Page 9
Introduction
Benefits of PXI
The PXIbus specification defines a compact modular PC platform for
industrial instrumentation. 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, and automation 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.
The NI PXI-8183 PXI/CompactPCI embedded computer is a
high-performance PXI/CompactPCI-compatible system controller. The
NI PXI-8183 controller integrates standard I/O features in a single unit by
using state-of-the-art packaging. Combining a NI PXI-8183 embedded
controller with a PXI-compatible chassis, such as the PXI-1036, results in
a fully PC-compatible computer in a compact, rugged package.
Modules
The standard I/O on this module includes video, RS-232 serial port, parallel
port, two USB ports, 10/100 ENET, PS/2 mouse and keyboard port, Reset
button, PXI Trigger, an 850 MHz processor, and a 40 GB (or larger) hard
drive.
Functional Overview
This section contains functional descriptions of each major logic block on
the NI PXI-8183 embedded computer.
NI PXI-8183 User Manual1-2ni.com
Page 11
Chapter 1Introduction
NI PXI-8183 Functional Description
The NI PXI-8183 is a modular PC in a PXI 3U-size form factor. Figure 1-1
is a functional block diagram of the NI PXI-8183. Following the diagram
is a description of each logic block shown.
The NI PXI-8183 consists of the following logic blocks on the
CPU module:
•The Socket 370 CPU is the socket definition for the Intel Pentium III
processor families.
•The SO-DIMM block consists of a 64-bit SDRAM socket that can hold
up to 512 MB.
•The Chip Set GMCH connects to the CPU, SDRAM, and 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 Chip Set ICH2 connects to the PCI bus USB, IDE, LPC, and
Ethernet ports.
•The USB Connector connects the chip set to the Universal Serial Bus
interface.
•The PXI Connector connects the NI PXI-8183 to the PXI/CompactPCI
backplane.
•The Keyboard/Mouse block contains the PS/2 keyboard and mouse
interface.
•The Super I/O block represents the other peripherals supplied by the
NI PXI-8183. The NI PXI-8183 has one serial port and an ECP/EPP
parallel port.
•The IDE block is dedicated PCI-IDE circuitry providing fast ATA-100
transfers to the internal hard drive. The IDE feature is built into the
chip set.
•The 10/100 Enet connects to either 10 Mbit or 100 Mbit Ethernet
interfaces.
•The 2.5 in. hard drive is 40 GB or larger.
National Instruments Software
National Instruments has developed several software kits you can use
with the NI PXI-8183. The software is already installed on your hard drive.
NI-DAQ has an extensive library of functions that you can call from your
application programming environment. These functions include routines
for analog input (A/D conversion), buffered data acquisition (high-speed
A/D conversion), analog output (D/A conversion), waveform generation,
NI PXI-8183 User Manual1-4ni.com
Page 13
Chapter 1Introduction
digital I/O, counter/timer operations, SCXI, RTSI, self-calibration,
messaging, and acquiring data to extended memory.
NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA
specification. VISA is a uniform API for communicating and controlling
Serial, GPIB, PXI, VXI, and various other types of instruments. This API
aids in the creation of more 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.
readme.txt file in
You also can use the National Instruments LabVIEW and Measurement
Studio application programs and instrument drivers to ease your
programming task. These standardized programs match the modular
virtual instrument capability of PXI and can reduce your PXI software
development time. These programs feature extensive libraries of GPIB,
Serial, and VXI instrument drivers written to take full advantage of direct
PXI control. LabVIEW and Measurement Studio include all the tools
needed for instrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.
LabVIEW is an easy-to-use, graphical programming environment you can
use to acquire data from thousands of different instruments, including
IEEE 488.2 devices, VXI devices, serial devices, PLCs, and plug-in data
acquisition boards. After you have acquired raw data, you can convert it
into meaningful results using the powerful data analysis routines in
LabVIEW. LabVIEW also comes with hundreds of instrument drivers,
which dramatically reduce software development time, because you do not
have to spend time programming the low-level control of each instrument.
Measurement Studio allows you to choose from standard environments
such as Microsoft Visual Basic, Visual C++, and Visual Studio .NET to
create your application, using tools specific for each language. With
Measurement Studio, you can write programs quickly and easily and
modify them as your needs change.
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.
This chapter contains information about installing and configuring your
NI PXI-8183 controller.
Installing the NI PXI-8183
This section contains general installation instructions for the NI PXI-8183.
Consult your PXI chassis user manual for specific instructions and
warnings.
1.Plug in your chassis before installing the NI PXI-8183. 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-8183 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
4.Remove the protective plastic covers from the four bracket-retaining
screws as shown in Figure 2-1.
1
1Protective 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-8183 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-8183. 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.
7.Raise the injector/ejector handle until the module firmly seats
into the backplane receptacle connectors. The front panel of the
NI PXI-8183 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-8183 to the chassis.
NI PXI-8183 User Manual2-2ni.com
Page 16
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
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, use the Y-splitter adapter
(refer to Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable) included with your controller to
connect both to the PS/2 connector.
11. Connect the VGA monitor video cable to the VGA connector.
12. Connect devices to ports as required by your system configuration.
13. Power on the chassis.
14. Verify that the controller boots. If the controller does not boot, refer to
the What if the NI PXI-8183 does not boot? section of Chapter 5,
Troubleshooting.
Figure 2-2 shows an NI PXI-8183 installed in the system controller slot of
a National Instruments PXI-1036 chassis. You can place PXI devices in any
other slot.
1
2
3
1PXI-1036 Chassis2 NI PXI-8183 Controller3 Injector/Ejector Rail
Figure 2-2. NI PXI-8183 Controller Installed in a PXI Chassis
The NI PXI-8183 controllers are designed for easy handling. To remove
the unit from the PXI chassis, complete the following steps:
1.Power off the chassis.
2.Remove the bracket-retaining screws in the front panel.
3.Press the injector/ejector handle down.
4.Slide the unit out of the chassis.
BIOS Setup
You can change the NI PXI-8183 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-8183 controller features.
Most users do not need to use the BIOS setup program, as the NI PXI-8183
controller ships with default settings that work well for most
configurations.
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
To start the BIOS setup utility, complete the following steps:
1.Power on or reboot your NI PXI-8183 controller.
2.When the message
<Delete> or <Del> on the numeric keypad. The message
Setup…
3.When you first enter the BIOS setup program, it displays the Main
menu.
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.)
NI PXI-8183 User Manual2-4ni.com
appears, and the setup program is loaded after a short delay.
Press <DEL> to enter SETUP appears, press
Entering
Page 18
Main Setup Menu
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
•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.
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> to change these values.
•DMI Event Logging—This setting brings up the DMI Event Logging submenu. (Refer to the DMI Event Logging Submenu
section.)
•Require Keyboard to Boot—When Yes, a missing or malfunctioning
keyboard causes the BIOS to halt with an error. When No, 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. If you are
using a PS/2 keyboard, you must power down the controller and then
attach the keyboard. To use this controller in a “headless” mode, you
must set this option to No. The default value is Yes.
•Num Lock—This setting indicates whether you turn on Num Lock at
boot time. The default value is On.
•Primary/Secondary Master/Slave—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-8183 controller.
Major errors that occur during the BIOS booting process are stored in
battery-backed memory on the controller, and remain there until you view
and clear them using this submenu. This logging capability allows a system
administrator to detect the historical occurrence of faults on a controller.
This submenu includes the following items:
•View DMI Event Log—This setting displays a window containing
all logged system errors and the time at which they occurred.
•Mark Events as Read—This setting prevents any current logged
entries from being displayed again. However, all entries remain in
battery-backed memory, and you can retrieve them using other
DMI software that is beyond the scope of this document.
•Clear All Events—When set to Yes, this setting clears all entries from
the DMI event log on reboot.
•Event Logging—This setting controls whether events are logged.
Disabling logging has no impact on system performance. The default
is Enabled.
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.
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.)
NI PXI-8183 User Manual2-6ni.com
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Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
•Local Bus IDE Adapter—The NI PXI-8183 controller has
two integrated IDE/ATA channels (Primary and Secondary), each
capable of supporting two ATA devices (Master and Slave). Use this
setting to disable one or more of these integrated channels. You should
modify this setting only if specified in other sections of this manual.
The default is Both.
•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-8183 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 & B—This setting enables or disables COM1 and
COM2. You also can change this setting to Enabled and modify
the base address and Interrupt Request Level (IRQ) of a port. The
NI PXI-8183 does not have a COM2, so Serial Port B is always
disabled. The default is Auto, which places COM1 at 0x3F8 IRQ 4
and COM2 at 0x2F8 IRQ 3.
•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.
•Floppy Drive—You can route the internal signals used for the
3.5 in. floppy drive operation through the pins on the parallel port
connector. Use this setting to operate the NI PXI-8183 controller with
a specialized external floppy drive. Normally, using a Universal Serial
Bus (USB) floppy drive is preferable to this option, which requires a
specially designed drive and cable. (Refer to the Parallel Port section
of Chapter 3, I/O Information, for pinout information.) Setting this
option to Parallel Port disables normal LPT1 functionality. The
default is Disabled.
•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.
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.
•INTP Routing—You can route INTP to ISA IRQ 14, for use by a
PXI device functioning as a Primary IDE Controller. The default
setting is Not Routed.
•INTS Routing—You can route INTS to ISA IRQ 15, for use by a
PXI device functioning as a Secondary IDE Controller. You also can
route it to the controller’s 21-frame serialized IRQ input, for use by
certain PXI carrier cards. The default setting is Not Routed.
Note If INTS or INTP is routed to an ISA IRQ, you must disable one or both channels of
the integrated IDE/ATA controller for correct operation of this routing.
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LabVIEW RT Setup Menu
Note This menu is visible only if the controller supports LabVIEW RT.
Use this menu to configure boot options for LabVIEW RT if it is installed
on the controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, you should leave these
settings as default.
Note These settings override the behavior of the switches on SW1. Refer to the LabVIEW
RT Configuration Switches section for more information. To use the settings from the
switches, select Use Hardware Switch for each option.
•Boot Configuration—This setting selects whether the controller
should boot LabVIEW RT, LabVIEW RT Safe Mode, or an installed
OS such as Windows XP. The default is Use Hardware Switch.
•Disable Startup VI—If the controller becomes inaccessible because
of a startup VI, this switch can prevent VIs from automatically running
at startup. The default is Use Hardware Switch.
•Reset IP Address—If the controller is deployed to a different subnet
from which it was originally configured, or if the current IP address
is invalid, use this switch to reset the IP address to
LabVIEW RT startup. The default is Use Hardware Switch.
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
0.0.0.0 during
Security Setup Menu
Use this menu to apply system-level passwords to the NI PXI-8183
controller. With these passwords, you can restrict access to the BIOS
setup program, floppy drives, and operating systems installed on bootable
devices. If you forget any password, you can restore the CMOS contents to
the factory default as described in the System CMOS section.
Note In most chassis configurations, an unauthorized user has easy access to the jumper
that resets the CMOS contents to the factory default. For a secure setup of this controller,
National Instruments recommends further provisions that are beyond the scope of this
document.
The Security setup menu includes the following settings:
•Set Supervisor Password—This setting sets the password that
governs supervisor-level access to the BIOS setup screen and booting.
The default is no password.
•Set User Password—This setting sets the password that governs
user-level access to the BIOS setup screen and booting. If you enter
BIOS setup using the user password, the only BIOS setting you can
modify is the user password. The default is no password.
•Password on Boot—This setting controls whether the controller
requires a supervisor or user password to boot an operating system. If
you enter the supervisor password on boot, you have supervisor-level
diskette access. If you enter the user password on boot, you have
user-level diskette access.
•Write Protect Boot Sector—When set to Yes, this setting prevents
modification of a hard disk boot sector through 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.
Note To disable a current password, leave the new password field blank by pressing
<Enter> on the field.
Boot Setup Menu
This screen displays the boot order of devices associated with the
controller. The BIOS proceeds down this list in search of a bootable device.
If the BIOS fails to find any bootable device, the message
System Not Found
•Removable Devices—The boot list includes floppy drives, ZIP drives,
and some USB-based devices.
•Hard Drive—The boot list includes all IDE/ATA and USB hard disks
detected on the system. Press <Enter> on this entry to expand it to
select the boot priority of individual IDE/ATA hard drives.
•CD-ROM Drive—The boot list includes all classes of CD-ROM
drive, including USB drives.
Operating
is displayed, and the system halts.
Notes If an SCSI host adapter exists in the system, this menu has an additional entry for
SCSI devices.
If PXE Network Boot is enabled, this menu has an additional entry for the Ethernet
interface.
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Exiting BIOS Setup
Chapter 2Installation and Configuration
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.
Figure 2-3. Clearing the CMOS Contents (NI PXI-8183 Shown)
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2
Page 26
LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches
Note These switches are functional only if the controller supports LabVIEW RT.
Use the LabVIEW RT configuration switches to configure LabVIEW RT
if it is installed on the controller. If you are not using LabVIEW RT, these
switches should remain in the OFF position. The controller reads these
switches only after a system reset. You must reboot the controller for any
changes to take place.
The NI PXI-8183 controller includes the following LabVIEW RT
configuration switches:
•Switch 1—Reset IP Address: Set this switch to ON to reset the
IP address to
Use this switch if moving the controller to a different subnet or if
the current TCP/IP settings are invalid.
•Switch 2—Disable Startup VI: Set this switch to ON to prevent
VIs from automatically running at startup if the controller becomes
inaccessible because of a startup VI.
•Switch 3—Boot Safe Mode: Set this switch to ON to boot
LabVIEW RT into safe mode to reconfigure TCP/IP settings and
to download or update software from a host computer. This switch
overrides the behavior of Switch 1. Booting the controller into safe
mode does not start the embedded LabVIEW RT engine. After
changing the settings or software, reboot the controller with this switch
OFF to resume normal operation.
•Switch 4—Boot LabVIEW RT: Set this switch to ON to boot
LabVIEW RT.
0.0.0.0 and other TCP/IP settings to their defaults.
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 peripherals. The
directory structure under the
into several levels.
In the
images directory, you will find a manuals directory,
an
os directory, and directories for each computer peripheral.
reference manuals, and National Instruments software manuals, all in
Adobe Acrobat format. To access any manual, change your directory to
c:\images\pxi-8180\manuals and list the contents of that directory.
You will see several files, one corresponding to each peripheral.
The
os directory contains a subdirectory corresponding to the operating
system installed on your computer.
The rest of the directories correspond to each peripheral in your system.
Within each of these directories are the drivers for the peripherals. These
files and directories are copied exactly from the manufacturer distribution
disks, so the naming conventions vary from peripheral to peripheral.
images directory is logically organized
Because the naming conventions may not be completely straightforward,
National Instruments provides a text file named
c:\images\pxi-8180 directory. The drivers.txt file explains how
to install support for each peripheral. You may want to print this file for
reference when you install your peripheral device drivers.
drivers.txt in the
PXI Features
PXI Trigger Connectivity
The SMB connector on the NI PXI-8183 front panel can connect to or from
any PXI backplane trigger line through software. 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; however, an interim trigger routing software
utility is available from National Instruments. Contact National
Instruments at
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8183 by
upgrading the SO-DIMM.
To upgrade the RAM, remove the NI PXI-8183 from the PXI chassis.
Remove the old SO-DIMM module and install the new SO-DIMM in the
socket as shown in Figure 2-5.
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with
the NI PXI-8183 controller.
•256 MB, 32 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max
•512 MB, 64 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max
Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the SO-DIMMs we sell work with
the NI PXI-8183. We recommend you purchase your SO-DIMM modules from National
Instruments. Other off-the-shelf SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.
1
2
1 SO-DIMM Module2 SO-DIMM Socket
Figure 2-5. Installing a SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8183 Controller
(NI PXI-8183 Shown)
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Hard Drive Recovery
NI PXI-8183 controllers include Phoenix Technologies Ltd. Firstware
tools, either Recover or Vault, or both. These tools allow you to recover the
original factory condition of the hard disk from a small protected area of
your hard drive. This protected area contains an image of the hard disk
provided to you at the time of shipment. Should you need to restore your
software to its original condition, you can access that image by pressing a
hot key during the initial boot process. For more information regarding
these tools, refer to the documentation on your hard drive in the
c:\Images\Firstware directory.
Note Your system hot key is <Alt>. To access the Phoenix Firstware Recover tool, press
and hold <Alt> 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 installation CD with an external CD-ROM
drive such as a USB CD-ROM drive. Boot the PXI controller using the
OS 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
Note Recovering the OS using Firstware or the recovery CD erases the contents of your
hard disk. Back up any files you want to keep.
Installing an OS
NI PXI-8183 controllers include a preinstalled OS. In some cases, you may
want to reinstall the OS or install a different OS. When doing so, consider
the following guidelines.
Installing from a CD-ROM
The NI PXI-8183 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.
Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the IEEE 1284 (parallel)
connector on the NI PXI-8183. Table 3-5 lists and describes the IEEE 1284
connector signals.
Parallel port adapter cables are available from National Instruments,
part number 777169-01.
NI PXI-8183
Embedded Controller
1
18
19
Parallel Port
36
Figure 3-5. Parallel Port Connector Location and Pinout
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Page 38
Table 3-5. Parallel Port Connector Signals
Chapter 3I/O Information
1
Pin
Default Configuration (LPT)Floppy Configuration
Signal NameSignal DescriptionSignal NameSignal Description
1BUSY*Device BusyMTR1*Motor on Disk 1
2SLCTIN*Select InputStep*Step Pulse
3ACK*AcknowledgeDS1*Drive Select 1
4FAULT*FaultWDATA*Write Disk Data
5ERRORErrorHDSEL*Head Select
6PD0Data Bit 0Index*Index Pulse Input
7PD1Data Bit 1TRK0*Track 0
8PD 2Data Bit 2WRTPRT*Write Protected
9PD3Data Bit 3RDATA*Read Disk Data
10PD4Data Bit 4DSKCHG*Disk Change
11PD5Data Bit 5Not Used—
12PD6Data Bit 6MTR0*Motor on Disk 0
13PD7Data Bit 7Not Used—
14INIT*Initialize PrinterDIR*Step Direction
15STROBE*StrobeDS0*Drive Select 0
16SLCTSelectWGATE*Write Gate
17AUTOFDAuto Line FeedDRVDEN0*Density Select
18+5V+5 V+5V+5 V
19–35GNDGroundGNDGround
36NCNot ConnectedNCNot Connected
1
Refer to the BIOS Setup section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration.
Figure 3-6 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus
(USB) connector on the NI PXI-8183. Table 3-6 lists and describes the
USB connector signals.
AMP manufactures a USB mating connector, part number 787633.
NI PXI-8183
Embedded Controller
4
1
USB
Figure 3-6. USB Connector Location and Pinout
Table 3-6. USB Connector Signals
PinSignal NameSignal Description
1VCCCable Power (+5 V)
2–DataUSB Data–
3+DataUSB Data+
4GNDGround
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Page 40
PS/2
Chapter 3I/O Information
Figure 3-7 shows the location and pinouts for the PS/2 connector on the
NI PXI-8183. Table 3-7 lists and describes the PS/2 connector signals.
To connect both a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse to the NI PXI-8183,
use the Y-splitter adapter cable included with your controller (refer to
Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable).
Replacement Y-splitter cables are available from National Instruments,
part number 778713-01.
This chapter answers common configuration questions you may have when
using the NI PXI-8183 embedded controller.
General Questions
What do the LEDs on the NI PXI-8183 front panel mean?
The green LED indicates the power supplies to/on the NI PXI-8183 are
within spec. The supplies monitored are 3.3 V, 5 V, +12 V, and the internally
regulated processor core voltage. The hard drive LED lights when there is
hard drive activity on the NI PXI-8183.
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-8183 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 IDE drive and an external SCSI hard drive at
the same time?
The NI PXI-8183 can boot from the following devices:
•The internal IDE 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
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-8183 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 pressing
<+> 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.
Note Two devices cannot share the same IDE channel, and doing so may damage the
hardware. If you configure the PC Card ATA drive for the primary channel, you must
physically remove the internal IDE drive.
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Cables and Connections
How do I plug both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard into the
controller?
The NI PXI-8183 has a combined PS/2 mouse and PS/2 keyboard
connector, so you need to use the PS/2 Y-splitter cable shipped with the
NI PXI-8183, shown in Figure 4-1, to connect both a PS/2 mouse and PS/2
keyboard.
How do I get a replacement Y-splitter cable?
Chapter 4Common Configuration Questions
Figure 4-1. Y-Splitter Cable
Y-splitter cables, part number 778713-01, are available through the online
catalog at
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 PS/2 keyboard into the
PS/2 combo connector. However, you cannot use a PS/2 mouse without
the Y-splitter, so use a serial or USB mouse.
How do I connect a standard 25-pin LPT cable to the NI PXI-8183?
The NI PXI-8183 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
How do I install or reinstall the Ethernet driver?
Refer to the
How do I install software from a CD?
The compact size of the NI PXI-8183 does not allow for an integrated
CD-ROM drive. If you are using Windows XP, you have the following
options:
•USB CD-ROM—Windows XP supports installing from a USB
CD-ROM using a bootable installation CD.
•SCSI, LPT, or PC Card-based 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-8183.
Drivers.txt file on the hard drive or recovery CD-ROM.
Drivers.txt file on the hard drive or recovery CD-ROM.
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Chassis Configuration
How do I set up the NI PXI-8183 to work with my chassis?
Configuration of the PXI system is handled through Measurement &
Automation Explorer (MAX), included with the software pre-installed on
your controller. MAX creates the
layout and parameters of your PXI system.
The configuration steps for single or multiple-chassis systems are the same.
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
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-8183 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 regarding initialization
files, refer to the PXI specification at
NI PXI-8183 User Manual4-6ni.com
www.pxisa.org.
Page 49
Upgrade Information
How do I upgrade system memory?
You can change the amount of installed RAM on the NI PXI-8183 by
upgrading the SO-DIMM.
To upgrade the RAM, remove the NI PXI-8183 from the PXI chassis.
Remove the old SO-DIMM module and install the new SO-DIMM in the
socket as shown in Figure 4-3.
National Instruments offers the following types of SO-DIMMs for use with
the NI PXI-8183 controller.
•256 MB, 32 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max
•512 MB, 64 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max
Note National Instruments has tested and verified that the SO-DIMMs we sell work with
the NI PXI-8183. We recommend you purchase your SO-DIMM modules from National
Instruments. Other off-the-shelf SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.
Chapter 4Common Configuration Questions
1
2
1 SO-DIMM Module2 SO-DIMM Socket
Figure 4-3. Installing a SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8183 Controller
For information on updating the BIOS, refer to KnowledgeBase
2GIGKD0Z at
Where do I get the latest software drivers?
ni.com/support.
You can download the latest drivers from
pxisupp.htm
My NI PXI-8183 does not have an internal floppy drive. Is there a way
to use an external drive?
Yes. The NI PXI-8183 controllers support and can boot from USB floppy
drives. Refer to the Boot Options section for more information.
A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments, part number
778492-02.
The LPT port on the NI PXI-8183 also can be configured through the
BIOS setup for floppy signals instead of LPT signals. Refer to Chapter 3,
I/O Information, for the floppy drive pinout.
PXI Configuration
How do I use the SMB trigger on the front panel?
For details, refer to the PXI Features section of Chapter 2, Installation and
Configuration.
Why doesn’t the NI PXI-8183 work with the PXI-8220?
A serialized IRQ conflict with the PXI-8220 and the NI PXI-8183 prevents
PC cards using ISA interrupts from working with the NI PXI-8183
controllers. The PXI-8221 is designed to work with the NI PXI-8183 and
should be used instead.
ni.com/support/
.
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Troubleshooting
This chapter answers common troubleshooting questions you may have
when using the NI PXI-8183 embedded computer.
What if the NI PXI-8183 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.
•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 a UPS).
•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.
•Recover the hard drive on the controller.
•Clear the CMOS. (Refer to the System CMOS section of Chapter 2,
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 sync 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.
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 of
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.Press <F9> to load BIOS defaults.
3.Answer Y (Yes) to the verification prompt.
4.Select Save and Exit Setup.
As an alternative method, follow the steps listed in the System CMOS
section of Chapter 2, Installation and Configuration, to clear the CMOS.
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Specifications
This appendix lists the electrical, mechanical, and environmental
specifications of the NI PXI-8183 embedded computers.
Caution Clean the PXI-8183 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device is
completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to service.
Storage Environment
Ambient temperature range ....................–40 to 65 °C
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-1 and
IEC-60068-2-2.)
(Tested in accordance with
IEC-60068-2-56.)
temperature)
(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.)
Shock and Vibration
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.)
1
For chassis not available in the online catalog at ni.com, please contact National Instruments for supported operating
temperatures.
2
5 to 50°C for NI PXI-1036 Revision D and later, and NI PXI-1036DC Revision C and later.
3
5 to 40°C for NI PXI-1036 Revisions B and C and NI PXI-1036DC Revision B.
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Safety
Appendix ASpecifications
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 B.)
Notes For EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling. In addition, all
covers and filler panels must be installed. Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC)
for this product for any additional regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC
for this product, visit
ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,
and click the appropriate link in the Certification column.
Specifications are subject to change without notice.
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, CSA 61010-1
Note For UL and other safety certifications, refer to the product label or visit ni.com/
certification
, search by model number or product line, and click the appropriate link
in the Certification column.
Electromagnetic Compatibility
This product is designed to meet the requirements of the following
standards of EMC for electrical equipment for measurement, control, and
laboratory use:
•EN 61326 EMC requirements; Minimum Immunity
•EN 55011 Emissions; Group 1, Class A
•CE, C-Tick, ICES, and FCC Part 15 Emissions; Class A
Note For EMC compliance, operate this device according to printed documentation.
Note Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional
regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit
certification
, search by model number or product line, and click the appropriate link
in the Certification column.
Environmental Management
National Instruments is committed to designing and manufacturing
products in an environmentally responsible manner. NI recognizes that
eliminating certain hazardous substances from our products is beneficial
not only to the environment but also to NI customers.
For additional environmental information, refer to the NI and the Environment Web page at
environmental regulations and directives with which NI complies, as well
as other environmental information not included in this document.
ni.com/
ni.com/environment. This page contains the
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
EU Customers At the end of their life cycle, all products must be sent to a WEEE recycling
center. For more information about WEEE recycling centers and National Instruments
WEEE initiatives, visit
ni.com/environment/weee.htm.
RoHS
National Instruments
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(For information about China RoHS compliance, go to
NI PXI-8183 User ManualA-4ni.com
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Page 57
Technical Support and
Professional Services
Visit the following sections of the award-winning National Instruments
Web site at
•Support—Technical support resources at
the following:
–Self-Help Technical Resources—For answers and solutions,
–Standard Service Program Membership—This program
•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
ni.com for technical support and professional services:
visit
ni.com/support 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.
Registered users also receive access to the NI Discussion Forums
at
ni.com/forums. NI Applications Engineers make sure every
question submitted online receives an answer.
entitles members to direct access to NI Applications Engineers
via phone and email for one-to-one technical support as well as
exclusive access to on demand training modules via the Services
Resource Center. NI offers complementary membership for a full
year after purchase, after which you may renew to continue your
benefits.
For information about other technical support options in your
area, visit
Appendix BTechnical Support and Professional Services
•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 electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) and
product safety. You can obtain the DoC for your product by visiting
ni.com/certification.
•Calibration Certificate—If your product supports calibration,
you can obtain the calibration certificate for your product at
ni.com/calibration.
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
ni.com/niglobal to access the branch
office Web sites, which provide up-to-date contact information, support
phone numbers, email addresses, and current events.
NI PXI-8183 User ManualB-2ni.com
Page 59
Glossary
SymbolPrefixValue
nnano10
μmicro10
mmilli10
kkilo10
Mmega10
Ggiga10
Ttera10
Symbols
°Degrees
ΩOhms
–9
–6
–3
3
6
9
12
%Percent
A
AAmperes
ACAlternating Current
ASICApplication-specific integrated circuit
B
BBytes
backplaneAn assembly, typically a printed circuit board, with connectors and signal
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 process used in making
chips
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.
D
DCDirect Current
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
DRAMDynamic RAM (Random Access Memory); storage that the computer must
refresh at frequent intervals
E
ECPExtended Capabilities Parallel
EDOExtended Data Out
EEPROMElectronically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory
NI PXI-8183 User ManualG-2ni.com
Page 61
Glossary
embedded controllerAn intelligent CPU (controller) interface plugged directly into the PXI
backplane, giving it direct access to the PXI bus. It must have all of its
required PXI interface capabilities built in.
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.
2
H
HzHertz; cycles per second
I
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
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 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.
MBMegabytes of memory
MTBFMean time between failure
MTTRMean time to repair
NI PXI-8183 User ManualG-4ni.com
Page 63
Glossary
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 by
another interrupt. 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.
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
POSTPower On Self Test
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.
R
RAMRandom Access Memory; the computer’s primary workspace
RAMDACRandom Access Memory Digital to Analog Converter; the VGA controller
chip that maintains the color palette and converts data from memory into
analog signals for the monitor
resourceHardware settings used by devices in a computer system, including ISA
interrupt level, DMA channel, and I/O address
RMSRoot mean squared. See also g
RTCReal Time Clock; an electronic circuit that maintains the time of day,
and also can provide timing signals for timesharing operations
rms
.
S
sSeconds
slaveA functional part of a PXI device that detects data transfer cycles initiated
by a PXI bus master and responds to the transfers when the address
specifies one of the device’s registers
SO-DIMMSmall Outline Dual In-line Memory Module
SRAMStatic RAM; a memory chip that requires power to hold its content. It does
not require refresh circuitry as a dynamic RAM chip, but it does take up
more space and uses more power.
STStart Trigger
Star Trigger SlotThis slot is located at Slot 2 in a PXI mainframe and has a dedicated trigger
line between each peripheral slot. This slot would be used for a module
with ST functionality that can provide individual triggers to all other
peripherals.
U
USBUniversal Serial Bus
V
VVolts
VGAVideo Graphics Array; the minimum video display standard for all PCs
W
WWatts
NI PXI-8183 User ManualG-6ni.com
Page 65
Index
A
Advanced Setup menu, 2-6
B
BIOS
checking settings, 4-1
flashing new BIOS, 4-8
setup
POWER OK LED, 3-11
programming examples (NI resources), B-1
protective screw caps, removing (figure), 2-2
PS/2
connector location and
pinout (figure), 3-9
connector signals (table), 3-9
plugging PS/2 mouse and keyboard into
controller, 4-3
PXI
benefits, 1-1
connectors, function (logic block), 1-4
features, 2-15
Setup menu
setting up PXI in the BIOS, 2-8
trigger connectivity, 2-15
PXI-8220, using NI PXI-8183 with, 4-8
pxisys.ini file, 4-5
R
RAM
SO-DIMMs from National Instruments
(note), 2-16, 4-7
upgrading, 2-16, 4-7
recycling hardware, A-4
related documentation, viii
S
safety
specifications, A-3
Security Setup menu, 2-9
serial ports, 3-1
See also COM1 connector
slot 1 CPU, 1-4
SO-DIMM
logic block, 1-4
SO-DIMMs
from National Instruments
(note), 2-16, 4-7
installing, 2-16, 4-7
figure, 2-16, 4-7
software
See also drivers
installed on your hard drive, 2-15
installing from CD-ROM, 4-4
LabVIEW, 1-5
NI resources, B-1
NI software, 1-4
NI-DAQ, 1-4
NI-VISA, 1-5
specifications
CE compliance, A-4
electromagnetic compatibility, A-3
environmental management, A-4