Communicating With GPIB Instruments Connected To My Real-Time PXI Controller
Primary Software: LabVIEW Modules>>Real-Time Module
Primary Software Version: 7.1
Primary Software Fixed Version: N/A
Secondary Software: N/A
Hardware: GPIB
Problem: When I go in to MAX on my host computer and click on Remote Systems, I see my controller but I do not see any of my GPIB devices and are unable to communicate with them. How do I communicate with my instruments from my remote target?
Solution: Establishing communication with instruments connected to a remote GPIB device on an Real-Time controller is slightly different from the steps on Windows.
- Make sure you have NI-488.2 RT installed on your PXI Real-Time target. To check if you have it installed, go to Measurement & Automation Explorer and navigate to Remote Systems» Controller Name or IP Address. Under the Controller name/IP address there should be a tab for Software. Select this tab. NI-488.2 RT should be displayed as part of the list.
- If you did not see NI-488.2 RT in the list you will need to download and install NI-488.2 for RT to your host machine. Once installed to the host machine, go back in to MAX and navigate to Remote Systems» Controller Name. Right click on software and choose Add/Remove Software. From the list that populates, choose to install NI-488.2 RT.
- Once the installation has completed, turn off the PXI chassis and turn it back on. Now hit F5 to refresh the list in MAX. Navigate back to the controller in Remote Systems. Expand the Controller and then click on the Devices and Interfaces item. The GPIB device on the PXI controller should now be visible as shown below.
- Once the GPIB device is visible, go to Tools» NI VISA» VISA Options. Click on Remote Systems and make sure that the controller's name or IP address (however it has been set up to show in MAX) is checked.
- After completing the above steps, open up VISA Interactive Control by going to Tools» NI VISA» VISA Interactive Control.
- Your PXI GPIB device as well as instruments connected to that device will show up in the format shown below. The GPIB::INTFC is the resource of the GPIB board itself while the GPIB::INSTR are the instruments connected to that GPIB board.
- At this point you can click on one of the instruments and choose File» Open Selection to open a session window where you can write commands to and read data from your instruments.
Related Links: Drivers and Updates: NI-488.2 (Win32) Version 2.0 for Real-Time OS-- LabVIEW RT
Attachments: 
Report Date: 10/14/2005
Last Updated: 02/01/2008
Document ID: 3QD6M56K
