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GPIB-ENET Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Hardware: GPIB>>External Controllers/Convertors>>GPIB-ENET

Problem:
 What are the most frequently asked questions concerning the GPIB-ENET?


Solution:
  • What is the GPIB-ENET?
    The GPIB-ENET converts Ethernet TCP/IP signals to GPIB signals. It is a full IEEE 488.2 controller and can control up to 14 GPIB devices. Onboard firmware decodes the TCP/IP data packets sent via the Ethernet cable and turns them into GPIB signals. Conversely, the firmware encodes incoming GPIB signals into TCP/IP-compatible data packets for transmission over the network.

  • What operating systems do we support with NI-488.2M software for the GPIB-ENET?
    Windows 3.1, 95, NT, and 2000; Macintosh, Solaris 1, Solaris 2, HP/UX, and Digital Unix.

  • What kind of network Does GPIB-ENET work on?
    Any network that uses TCP/IP.

  • How do we verify if the Ethernet address of GPIB-ENET is correct?
    The first eight hex numbers of all GPIB-ENET units' Ethernet addresses are the same. The format is 00:80:2F:FF:xx:xx. There is a serial number or bar code number (depending of the version of GPIB-ENET box) associated with each unit; usually the number is in decimal format (like 00xxxx). Convert the number to hex and it will be the last four hex numbers of the Ethernet address. For example, if you have bar code number 008991, the hex representation is 231F and the actual Ethernet address is 00:80:2F:FF:23:1F. Use this calculated value rather than the one printed on the box.

  • Where do I check the configuration of the GPIB-ENET box?

    • Win95:   Device Manager
    • WinNT and Win3.x:   Control Panel
    • Macintosh:   Control Panel » NI 488.2 Config
    • UNIX:   ibconf command (default location is in /usr/bin)


  • (Win95 only) Why isn't the GPIB-ENET device appearing in the Device Manager?
    Go to Control Panel, Add New Hardware. See details in your Getting Started manual.

  • What if I can assign an IP address, but the diagnostic test fails?
    Do not give up immediately. Instead, try using IBIC to communicate with the board anyway, and you might be successful.

  • What is iblock and ibunlock?
    The iblock function is used to gain critical access to a GPIB-ENET box or device when multiple processes might be accessing it at the same time. When the GPIB-ENET is locked, the GPIB driver guarantees that subsequent calls made to the GPIB-ENET are completed without interruption. (that is, subsequent calls made with the GPIB descriptor that owns the lock) Ibunlock releases a lock on a GPIB-ENET board or device.

  • What if the GPIB-ENET box loses its IP address?
    Although there have been several reports of the box losing the IP address, the root problems are typically something unrelated to the driver or the hardware. There has never been a verified case in which the GPIB-ENET device spontaneously loses its address. Make sure dip switch 6 is down, and others dip switches are up, then contact National Instruments for additional support.

  • How do I use a GPIB-ENET box without actually connecting to a network?
    Some users would like to connect the computer and the GPIB-ENET device via a network card and cable, or employ GPIB-ENET on a LAN that does not use TCP/IP protocol. Even though you CAN assign the IP address without TCP/IP, you must use the GPIB-ENET box on network that uses the TCP/IP protocol. In this case, you can do the following:

    1. Add TCP/IP and the IPassign protocol to your computer. For Win95 or WinNT, you can go to Control Panel, then double click on Network.
    2. Configure the TCP settings for the computer. You need choose an IP address in the form of XXX.XXX.XXX.XXX, where XXXs are positive integer that less than 256. E.g. you can name it 100.100.100.1. Choose subnet mask 255.255.255.0, and default gateway the same address as the address you assign to the computer, e.g. 100.100.100.1. Then reboot the computer.
    3. If you use 10Base-T cable, you need a 'NULL MODEM' network cable: one that swaps the transmit and receive twisted pairs; if you use 10Base-5 (BNC connector) cable, make sure at the network is terminated at each end.


Note: If you want to use your GPIB-ENET on a Windows XP machine you will need to assign an IP address on a Win 98, 95, NT, or 2000 system before you can use it on an XP system. Refer to the link below.

Related Links:
KnowledgeBase 41DD06DW: Assigning an IP Address to a GPIB-ENET under Windows 3.1/NT/2000/XP


Attachments:





Report Date: 06/23/2003
Last Updated: 09/30/2008
Document ID: 2YME4VK8

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