National Instruments VXI-MXI-Express User Manual

INSTALLATION GUIDE

VXI-MXI-Express Series

This document describes how to set up and configure the VXI-MXI-Express Series controller.

What You Need to Get Started

To set up and use the VXI-MXI-Express Series controller interface kit, you need the following items:

❑ A host computer with an available PCI Express slot

Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system

❑ A PCI Express or ExpressCard to MXI-Express interface card

❑ A VXIbus mainframe

❑ A VXI-MXI-Express Series controller

❑ A x1 MXI-Express cable

❑ The National Instruments NI-VXI driver software CD

❑ This document

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 500 MB of free space on your hard drive to accommodate the NI-VXI and NI-VISA software.

running the

Some x16 slots may not work correctly with MXI-Express adapters.

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 framework. With NI-VISA installed on your computer, you can run any VXIplug&play software that is compatible with this framework. This includes instrument drivers and executable soft front panel software 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.

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 clicking the Cancel button.

Caution 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, usually Program Files\National

Instruments\VXI

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-MXI-Express. Complete the following steps to perform the installation.

1. Insert the CD. When prompted, select Install NI-VXI from the menu.

If no menu appears when the CD is inserted:

a. Select Start»Run and enter the following text, where

is your

CD drive (usually D):

:\setup.exe

b. Click the OK button to begin installing NI-VXI.

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

and accept the license agreement.

Note If you have a previous version of the NI-VXI software installed, Setup installs the

new version over the previous version.

VXI-MXI-Express Series Installation Guide 2 ni.com

3. Select the installation features from the Features screen.

Tip For more information about the NI-VXI API, refer to Chapter 3, Developing Your

Application, in the VXI-MXI-Express Series User Manual.

4. Click the Next button. After reading the license agreement(s), confirm

your acceptance.

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

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

Completing the Software Installation

Review the information in any README files that Setup prompts you to read.

When the installation process completes, reboot the system for the changes to take effect. If you backed up the manufacturer and model name files, restore them to the running MAX.

Note If you save and restore the TBL files from an older version of NI-VXI, the software

will use TBL files that do not have the latest updates from National Instruments and may not include recent hardware releases. If you added additional manufacturer or model names to your TBL files, we recommend merging those changes with the latest updates included with this version of NI-VXI, so that all your devices are properly identified.

TBL subdirectory of your NI-VXI directory before

Installing the Hardware

This section summarizes how to install your VXI-MXI-Express Series controller hardware.

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.

Installing Your VXI-MXI-Express Series Controller

Note Although the VXI-MXI-Express Series controllers are typically installed in Slot 0

of the VXI chassis, they may operate in other slots of the chassis. If you choose to install the controller in a slot other than Slot 0, the automatic detection circuitry on the controller will detect the slot and configure the controller appropriately, if the J2 jumper is set to Auto-detect.

+ 5 hidden pages