National Instruments VXI-1394 User Manual

VXI

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows

March 2005 370533B-01

Support

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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 the info code feedback.

Important Information

Warranty

The VXI-1394 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 be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.

The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.

A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by warranty.

National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.

XCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS ANY WARRANTY OF

MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMER’S RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES CAUSED BY FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF

ATIONAL INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE PAID BY THE CUSTO MER. NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE LIA BLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTIN G FROM LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS, USE OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. This limitation of the liability of National Instruments will apply regardless of the form of action, whether in contract or tort, including

negligence. Any action against National Instruments must be brought within one year after the cause of action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty provided herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service failures caused by owner’s failure to follow the National Instruments installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside reasonable control.

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is the trademark of Apple Computer, Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Other product and company names mentioned

FireWire herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.

Members of the National Instruments Alliance Partner Program are business entities independent from National Instruments and have no agency, partnership, or joint-venture relationship with National Instruments.

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For patents covering National Instruments products, refer to the appropriate location: Help»Patents in your software, the patents.txt file on your CD, or

ni.com/paten ts.

WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS

(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN ANY LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT INJURY TO A HUMAN.

(2) IN ANY APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, RELIABILITY OF OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS CAN BE IMPAIRED BY ADVERSE FACTORS, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO FLUCTUATIONS IN ELECTRICAL POWER SUPPLY, COMPUTER HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS, COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE FITNESS, FITNESS OF COMPILERS AND DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP AN APPLICATION, INSTALLATION ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE COMPATIBILITY PROBLEMS, MALFUNCTIONS OR FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC MONITORING OR CONTROL DEVICES, TRANSIENT FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE), UNANTICIPATED USES OR MISUSES, OR ERRORS ON THE PART OF THE USER OR APPLICATIONS DESIGNER (ADVERSE FACTORS SUCH AS THESE ARE HEREAFTER COLLECTIVELY TERMED “SYSTEM FAILURES”). ANY APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD CREATE A RISK OF HARM TO PROPERTY OR PERSONS (INCLUDING THE RISK OF BODILY INJURY AND DEATH) SHOULD NOT BE RELIANT SOLELY UPON ONE FORM OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEM DUE TO THE RISK OF SYSTEM FAILURE. TO AVOID DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MUST TAKE REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO PROTECT AGAINST SYSTEM FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BACK-UP OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS. BECAUSE EACH END-USER SYSTEM IS CUSTOMIZED AND DIFFERS FROM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS' TESTING PLATFORMS AND BECAUSE A USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MAY USE NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS IN COMBINATION WITH OTHER PRODUCTS IN A MANNER NOT EVALUATED OR CONTEMPLATED BY NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER IS ULTIMATELY RESPONSIBLE FOR VERIFYING AND VALIDATING THE SUITABILITY OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS WHENEVER NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE INCORPORATED IN A SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN, PROCESS AND SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.

Compliance

Compliance with FCC/Canada Radio Frequency Interference Regulations

Determining FCC Class

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to protect wireless communications from interference. The FCC places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only) or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). All National Instruments (NI) products are FCC Class A products.

Depending on where it is operated, this Class A product could be subject to restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the Department of Communications (DOC), of Industry Canada, regulates wireless interference in much the same way.) Digital electronics emit weak signals during normal operation that can affect radio, television, or other wireless products.

All Class A products display a simple warning statement of one paragraph in length regarding interference and undesired operation. The FCC rules have restrictions regarding the locations where FCC Class A products can be operated.

Consult the FCC Web site at

FCC/DOC Warnings

This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions in this manual and the CE marking Declaration of Conformity*, may cause interference to radio and television reception. Classification requirements are the same for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Department of Communications (DOC).

Changes or modifications not expressly approved by NI could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under the FCC Rules.

Class A

Federal Communications Commission

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause h armful interference in which ca se the user is required to correct the interference at their own expense.

www.fcc.gov for more information.

Canadian Department of Communications

This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.

Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.

Compliance with EU Directives

Users in the European Union (EU) should refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for information* pertaining to the CE marking. Refer to the Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for this product for any additional regulatory compliance information. To obtain the DoC for this product, visit 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

installer.

ni.com/certification, search by model number or product line,

About This Manual

How to Use the Manual Set ...........................................................................................vii

Conventions ...................................................................................................................viii

Related Documentation..................................................................................................ix

Chapter 1 Introduction

What You Need to Get Started ......................................................................................1-1

VXI-1394 Interface Kit Overview.................................................................................1-2

Hardware Description ....................................................................................................1-2

VXI-1394 Front Panel Features.......................................................................1-3

Advanced Configuration Options....................................................................1-3

Software Description .....................................................................................................1-4

National Instruments Application Software....................................................1-4

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Installing the Software ...................................................................................................2-1

Installing the NI-VXI and NI-VISA Software ................................................2-1

Completing the Software Installation..............................................................2-3

Configuring the Hardware (optional) ............................................................................2-3

Installing the Hardware..................................................................................................2-3

Installing Your PCI-1394 Interface Board......................................................2-4

Installing Your VXI-1394 Interface Board .....................................................2-6

Connecting Cables...........................................................................................2-6

Powering on the System ..................................................................................2-7

Software Configuration and Verification ......................................................................2-7

Running MAX and Resman ............................................................................2-7

Chapter 3 Developing Your Application

NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and Related Terms..........................................................................3-1

Configuration.................................................................................................................3-2

Device Interaction..........................................................................................................3-4

Programming for VXI....................................................................................................3-6

Optimizing Large VXIbus Transfers...............................................................3-7

Shared Memory ...............................................................................................3-8

Contents

NI-VXI API Notes .......................................................................................... 3-8

Compiler Symbols ............................................................................ 3-8

Compatibility Layer Options ............................................................ 3-9

Debugging ..................................................................................................................... 3-10

Appendix A Specifications

Appendix B Default Settings

Appendix C Advanced Hardware Configuration Settings

Appendix D Common Questions

Appendix E Technical Support and Professional Services

Glossary

Index

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows vi ni.com

About This Manual

This manual contains instructions for installing and configuring the National Instruments VXI-1394 interface kit for Windows:

The VXI-1394 kit is a low-cost, VXIplug&play-compliant IEEE 1394 interface that gives external PCI-based computers the capabilities of embedded VXI controllers.

How to Use the Manual Set

VXI-1394

User Manual

(PDF Format)

Hardware and

Software

Reference

NI-VISA

Programmer

Reference Manual

(PDF and Online

Help Format)

NI-VISA

Reference

NI-VXI

Online Help

(Optional)

NI-VXI

Reference

This user manual contains an overview of the VXI-1394 hardware and the NI-VXI/NI-VISA software, guides you through setting up your kit, and helps you get started with application development. You can also use this manual as a reference for the hardware and software default settings and to find the answers to commonly asked questions.

About This Manual

Note You can download Acrobat Reader from the Adobe Web site at www.adobe.com.

When you have successfully set up your system, you can begin to develop applications in NI-VISA or NI-VXI. NI-VISA online manuals are included in your kit in the form of Adobe Acrobat portable document format (PDF) files. The NI-VXI Online Help presents the concepts of VXI and detailed explanations of the NI-VXI functions. Study the descriptions of each function given in the online help to fully understand the purpose and syntax of each function.

The Acrobat manuals and their installed locations are as follows:

•The NI-VISA User Manual describes how to program using NI-VISA

and can be located at Start»Programs»VXIpnp»NI-VISA User Manual.

•The NI-VISA Programmer Reference Manual describes in detail the attributes, events, and operations you use in NI-VISA and can be located at Start»Programs»VXIpnp»NI-VISA Programmer Reference Manual.

Use the Acrobat Reader program to open the PDF files.

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.

bold Bold 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.

italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction

to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value that you must supply.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows viii ni.com

About This Manual

monospace Text 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 bold Bold 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.

monospace italic

Italic text in this font denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value that you must supply.

What You Need to Get Started

To set up and use the VXI-1394 interface kit, you need the following items:

, high-speed serial bus. This kit makes

❑ A computer running Windows 2000/XP/Me/98 Second Edition

❑ An industry-standard OHCI host adapter

❑ VXIbus mainframe

❑ VXI-1394 interface module that plugs directly into a VXI mainframe

❑ 1394 cable

Chapter 1 Introduction

❑ National Instruments software CD

❑ This manual

VXI-1394 Interface Kit Overview

The interface kit described in this manual links a 1394-equipped computer directly to the VXIbus using the IEEE 1394 bus. The VXI-1394 kit uses this high-speed (up to 400 Mbits/s) serial bus to link your computer running Windows to a VXI chassis.

Note You can connect multiple 1394 devices together in a tree topology. However,

increasing the complexity of the 1394 bus topology can lower overall system performance.

Caution You cannot connect multiple 1394 devices in a circular bus topology (one which

provides more than one data path between any two nodes). Doing so will render your VXI-1394 inoperable and may crash your system.

The VXI-1394 kit includes the NI-VXI/NI-VISA software for Windows, a C-size VXI-1394 module, a 1394 cable, and an industry-standard OHCI host adapter.

A 1394-equipped computer connected to a VXI-1394 interface can function as a VXI Commander and Resource Manager. The VXI-1394 interface kit gives your computer the capability to perform as if it is plugged directly into the VXI backplane as an embedded CPU module. The VXI-1394 transparently translates between the IEEE 1394 and VXI protocols.

The software included with the kit is for Pentium-based computers.

Hardware Description

The VXI-1394 module is a VXIbus device with optional VXIbus Slot 0 capability so that it can reside in any slot in a C-size or D-size chassis. If you enable this capability, the VXI-1394 can automatically determine whether it is located in VXI Slot 0.

Note D-size VXI mainframes have connections for a P3 connector. The VXI-1394,

however, does not have this connector and, if configured as a Slot 0 controller, cannot provide the necessary control for VXI devices that need P3 support.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 1-2 ni.com

Caution An improper Slot 0 setting may damage the VXI-1394 module and/or the VXI

chassis.

The VXI-1394 links the computer to the VXIbus and converts 1394 data transfers into VXIbus data transfers and vice versa. The VXI-1394 includes additional 1394 ports you can use to connect other 1394 devices.

The PCI-1394 is an industry-standard 1394 host adapter on a PCI board, which gives your computer the capability to control 1394 devices. The PCI-1394 also supplies power to the IEEE 1394 bus, which is required by some devices.

VXI-1394 Front Panel Features

The VXI-1394 has the following front panel features.

• Three front panel LEDs

– SYSFAIL LED indicates that the VMEbus SYSFAIL line is

asserted.

– 1394 LED indicates when the VXI-1394 is accessed from the

IEEE 1394 bus.

– VXI LED indicates when the VXI-1394 is accessed from the

VXIbus.

• Three 1394 6-pin connectors

• Three SMB connectors

– External clock

– Trigger output

– Trigger input

• System reset push-button

Chapter 1 Introduction

Advanced Configuration Options

The default hardware configuration of the VXI-1394 should be acceptable for most systems. Refer to Appendix C, Advanced Hardware

Configuration Settings, only if your system will make use of the front-panel

CLK10 and trigger SMB connectors.

Chapter 1 Introduction

Software Description

The NI-VISA/NI-VXI bus interface software includes a Resource Manager, an interactive configuration and troubleshooting program, a comprehensive library of software routines for VXI/VME programming, a logging utility you can use for debugging, and graphical interactive control programs for interacting with VISA. You can use this software to seamlessly program multiple-mainframe configurations and have software compatibility across a variety of controller platforms.

NI-VISA has a comprehensive library of software routines not only for VXI/VME programming, but also for GPIB, GPIB-VXI, PXI, TCP/IP, and Serial. You can use this software to program instruments connected through different types of interfaces.

Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) helps you view your entire test and measurement system and configure various components, whether they are VXI, GPIB, PXI, or Serial devices. You can also add VME devices to your system easily with MAX and view them on a screen display along with the rest of your system.

MAX also features various options for running Resman. You can still execute Resman independently to configure your instruments after a power cycle. But you can also perform resource manager operations directly from MAX or configure it to run Resman automatically at startup.

The NI Spy utility tracks the calls your application makes to National Instruments drivers, including NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and NI-488.2. NI Spy helps you debug your application by clearly highlighting the functions that return errors. You can let NI Spy keep a log of your program’s calls to these drivers so that you can check them for errors at your convenience.

National Instruments Application Software

In addition to the NI-VISA/NI-VXI software, you can use the National Instruments LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows application programs and instrument drivers to ease your programming task. These standardized programs match the modular virtual instrument capability of VXI and can reduce your VXI/VME software development time. These programs are fully VXIplug&play compliant and feature extensive libraries of VXI instrument drivers written to take full advantage of direct VXI control. LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows/CVI include all the tools needed for instrument control, data acquisition, analysis, and presentation.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 1-4 ni.com

™

/CVI™

Chapter 1 Introduction

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.

To use any of these application programs, install them before the NI-VISA/NI-VXI software installation. LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows/CVI integrate the VXI and VISA libraries that are required to support your VXI-1394. You also get hundreds of complete instrument drivers, which are modular, source-code programs that handle the communication with your instrument to speed your application development.

Installation and Configuration

This chapter explains how to set up your test system.

Installing the Software

Use the Setup program that came with your NI-VXI/NI-VISA software to install the entire software package or a software update, or to reinstall software in the event that your files were accidentally erased.

Some of the utilities rely on the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine. This software is installed, if necessary, during the NI-VXI/NI-VISA installation.

Depending on the type of installation you choose, you may need up to 50 MB of free space available on your hard drive to accommodate the NI-VXI and NI-VISA software.

To be compliant with VXIplug&play specifications, a VXI controller must provide the VISA I/O driver library standardized by VXIplug&play. VISA ensures that your controller can run all VXIplug&play-compatible software now and in the future.

The NI-VISA software in this kit is compatible with the WINNT/GWINNT and WIN95/GWIN95 frameworks. With NI-VISA installed on your computer, you can run any VXIplug&play software that is compatible with these frameworks. This includes instrument drivers and executable soft front panel software that are included with VXIplug&play-compatible instruments from a variety of vendors.

Installing the NI-VXI and NI-VISA Software

This section describes how to install the NI-VXI and NI-VISA software. Please carefully read these directions along with any messages on the screen before making your selections.

You can quit the Setup program at any time by pressing the Cancel button.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Setup is an interactive, self-guiding program that installs the NI-VXI and NI-VISA software and configures your system to use the software with the VXI-1394. Complete the following steps to perform the installation.

Caution If you want to keep the manufacturer/model name tables or the VME device

configuration from a previous installation, be sure to back them up before starting Setup. They are in the

TBL subdirectory of your NI-VXI directory.

1. For the CD, select Start»Run and enter the following text, where

your CD drive (usually D):

and press <Enter>. Typically, this setup program runs automatically when you insert the CD.

2. Click the Next button at the Welcome screen to start the installation

and accept the license agreement.

Note If you have a previous 32-bit (Windows NT/98) version of the NI-VXI software

installed, Setup installs the new version over the previous version.

3. Select the type of installation from the Installation Options screen.

• Typical setup installs runtime support and NI-VISA development

• Complete setup installs everything including NI-VXI API

• Custom setup gives you more control over which driver

4. Click the Next button. Confirm that you are ready to install, and click Next again to begin the installation.

5. Setup now copies the necessary files to your hard drive and creates program icons.

:\NIVXI\setup.exe

support.

development support. For more information about the NI-VXI API, refer to Chapter 3, Developing Your Application.

components you want installed on your system. This option is recommended for advanced users.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 2-2 ni.com

Completing the Software Installation

1. Please review the information in any README files that Setup prompts you to read.

2. When the installation process completes, power off the system for the changes to take effect.

If you backed up the manufacturer and model name files, restore them to the

TBL subdirectory of your NI-VXI directory before running MAX.

Configuring the Hardware (optional)

This section contains basic information about configuring your VXI-1394 hardware. Because the default settings for your VXI-1394 hardware are acceptable for most typical applications, this section is optional.

Refer to Appendix B, Default Settings, for a complete listing of the hardware and software default settings. Refer to Appendix C, Advanced

Hardware Configuration Settings, if you want information about other

possible settings.

Use MAX to change any of the configuration settings for the VXI-1394. For information on the software, including optional settings, use MAX and its online help. Use the Windows Start menu to open the program group for National Instruments, launch MAX and select Help»Help Topics.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Installing the Hardware

This section summarizes how to install your VXI-1394 hardware. Your kit contains a VXI-1394 interface module and a PCI-1394 adapter board.

Caution To guard against electrostatic discharge, touch the antistatic plastic packages to

a metal part of your computer or chassis before removing the boards from their packages. Your computer or chassis should be plugged in but powered off.

Figure 2-1 shows a system that includes an IEEE 1394-equipped computer, a VXI-1394 and IEEE 1394 devices. Each 1394 device should have only one connection to the 1394 system.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

To Other IEEE 1394 Devices

IEEE 1394

Cables

b us

VXI-1394

in Slot 0

VXI Mainframe

External Computer

Figure 2-1. Typical VXI-1394 System

Installing Your PCI-1394 Interface Board

To install the PCI-1394 interface board, complete the following steps.

1. Shut down and power off the computer.

2. Remove the computer chassis cover to expose the expansion slots and external access covers.

3. Select an available PCI slot in your computer. The slot you select should support bus mastering. Refer to your computer documentation to determine if the slot you select supports bus mastering.

4. Remove the corresponding expansion slot cover from the chassis.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 2-4 ni.com

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

5. Align the bus connector on the bottom of the host adapter with the PCI bus slot.

1 Host Adapter Mounting Bracket 2 Host Adapter

3 Bus Contacts

Figure 2-2. Installing the PCI-1394 Host Adapter

6. Carefully press the host adapter into the slot.

7. Secure the host adapter bracket to the computer chassis with the screw from the removed expansion slot cover.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Installing Your VXI-1394 Interface Board

All kits contain a VXI-1394 interface module.

To install the VXI-1394 in Slot 0 of your VXI chassis, complete the following steps.

1. Power off the chassis.

2. Insert the VXI-1394 into the chassis in Slot 0, as shown in Figure 2-1.

3. Power on the chassis.

The VXI-1394 default configuration automatically detects whether it should be the VXI system controller. The VXI system controllers operate certain VXI lines as required for VXI systems. Verify that any other VXI devices with system controller capability that are located in the same chassis are not configured as system controller.

Caution Having more than one device configured as system controller can damage the

VXI system.

For VXI systems that include VME devices, ensure that the VME devices are not configured in the upper 16 KB (starting from 0xC000) of the A16 address space. This region is reserved for VXI device configuration registers, which are used for initializing, configuring, and interacting with VXI devices. The VXI-1394 also uses this region for this purpose.

Note Also ensure that no VXI devices in your system are configured for logical address 0.

This is the default configuration for the VXI-1394.

Connecting Cables

Connect the IEEE 1394 cable to the PCI-1394 host adapter and to the VXI-1394, as shown in Figure 2-1. You can use any available 1394 port for each device. The VXI-1394 has three external ports. The OHCI 1394 host adapter has three external ports.

You can connect any other 1394 devices to any available port on an existing device, but for best results minimize the number of levels in the tree topology. Adding to the number of levels in the tree degrades system performance.

Caution Do not cable devices to your 1394 system in such a way as to form a loop. Any

device should have only one connection to the 1394 bus. An example of a loop would be a system containing a PCI-1394, a VXI-1394, and a device connected to both. Such a closed loop would break the 1394 system.

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 2-6 ni.com

Some 1394 devices require different cables than others. Your kit includes one 6-to-6-pin cable to link the VXI-1394 to your computer. Some other devices also require a 6-to-6-pin cable for proper connection to the 1394 system. Many other devices such as camcorders, VCRs, and so on, take a 6-to-4-pin cable.

Powering on the System

1. Be sure all cables are connected securely.

2. Ensure that the VXI-1394 is powered on prior to starting the external computer.

3. Power on the external computer.

4. If your system CMOS setup requires you to enable PCI bus parameters, do so at this time.

Note The PCI bus usually assigns IRQs and port addresses automatically. However, in

some PC systems, you may need to manually edit the PCI bus parameters in your CMOS setup. Refer to your computer documentation for further instructions.

5. You can now power on any external devices.

Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration

Software Configuration and Verification

Running MAX and Resman

1. Run the MAX program. You must run Resman every time the chassis or computer power is cycled so that your application can access devices in the VXI chassis. You can also configure MAX to run Resman automatically at every computer startup by selecting Tools» NI-VXI»VXI Options and selecting the appropriate checkbox.

2. After you run Resman, you are ready to use MAX to interactively configure the National Instruments hardware in your system. Use the right-click help for information about the various configuration options.

After you finish configuring the system through MAX, verify the configuration through one of the interactive control utilities. Use VIC under NI-VXI (Start»Programs»National Instruments»VXI»NI-VXI

API»VIC) or VISAIC under NI-VISA (Start»Programs»National Instruments»VISA»VISA Interactive Control).

Developing Your Application

This chapter discusses the software utilities you can use to start developing applications that use NI-VXI.

After installing the NI-VXI software, you can begin developing your VXI/VME application. Be sure to check the release notes for the latest application development notes and changes.

NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and Related Terms

Before you develop your application, it is important to understand the difference between NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and similar terms.

• NI-VXI is the software package that ships with National Instruments VXI and VME controllers. NI-VXI includes Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX), NI-VISA, NI Spy, Resource Manager (Resman), VXI device drivers, and other utilities for configuring and controlling your VXI or VME system.

• NI-VISA is the native API for communicating with VXI/VME devices. NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA I/O standard, which is a common interface to many types of instruments (such as VXI, GPIB, PXI, Serial, TCP/IP, and so on). NI-VXI is optimized for use through NI-VISA, and NI recommends using NI-VISA to develop all new VXI/VME applications.

•The NI-VXI API is an optional development environment that is not part of the default NI-VXI installation. The NI-VXI API was developed before NI-VISA; whereas NI-VXI still supports the NI-VXI API, NI recommends using NI-VISA for all new VXI/VME applications. If you must develop an application using the older NI-VXI API, run the NI-VXI installer and perform a Complete install and select the appropriate option in the custom installation screen. Be sure to review the NI-VXI API Notes section.

•The NI-VXI compatibility layer allows older programs that use the NI-VXI API to communicate with VXI devices through VISA. Using this compatibility layer, older programs can run in NI-VXI 3.0 or later without being rewritten to use the VISA interface. This layer installs with NI-VXI by default. It should be completely transparent and

Chapter 3 Developing Your Application

provide a high level of performance; however, there may be some slight changes in behavior for certain applications.

Your software features several system development utilities including MAX, Resman, NI Spy, VISA Interactive Control (VISAIC), and VXI Interactive Control (VIC, optional). You can also access online help and a variety of examples to learn how to use NI-VXI for certain tasks.

Each component assists you with one of four development steps: configuration, device interaction, programming, and debugging.

You can access the utilities, help files, and release notes through the Windows Start menu by opening the National Instruments»VXI or National Instruments»VISA program groups.

Configuration

The configuration utilities in your software kit are Resman and MAX.

Resman performs VXI Resource Manager functions as described in the VXIbus specification. Resman configures all devices on the VXI backplane for operation and allocates memory for devices that request it. Resman does not require you to specify any settings; it automatically performs the VXI resource management whenever you run it.

Note Power cycling resets all devices, so you must run Resman to reconfigure your

system every time you cycle the power on the chassis.

MAX presents a graphical display of your entire test and measurement system to help you configure various components. When you launch MAX, you see all your devices (including VXI) on the screen. You can view the properties (such as logical address, address space, and so on) of each device by clicking the device in the configuration tree. To see additional configuration options for a given device, right-click the device in the configuration tree. When you access the properties of most National Instruments devices by right-clicking, you can configure the hardware settings by selecting Hardware Configuration.

MAX and Resman are designed to work together. You can run Resman through MAX by either clicking the Run VXI Resource Manager button in the toolbar or right-clicking a specific VXI system on which to run Resman, as shown in Figure 3-1. You can also select Tools»NI-VXI»VXI Resource Manager to run Resman on all VXI systems. From the VXI

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows 3-2 ni.com

+ 51 hidden pages

National Instruments VXI-1394 User Manual

Specifications and Main Features

Frequently Asked Questions

User Manual

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows

Important Information

Warranty

Copyright

Trademarks

Patents

WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS

Compliance

Contents

About This Manual

How to Use the Manual Set

Conventions

Related Documentation

What You Need to Get Started

VXI-1394 Interface Kit Overview

Hardware Description

VXI-1394 Front Panel Features

Advanced Configuration Options

Software Description

National Instruments Application Software

Installing the Software

Installing the NI-VXI and NI-VISA Software

Completing the Software Installation

Configuring the Hardware (optional)

Installing the Hardware

Figure 2-1. Typical VXI-1394 System

Installing Your PCI-1394 Interface Board

Figure 2-2. Installing the PCI-1394 Host Adapter

Installing Your VXI-1394 Interface Board

Connecting Cables

Powering on the System

Software Configuration and Verification

Running MAX and Resman

NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and Related Terms

Configuration