Computer-Controlled Lan Operation; Using Ibasic And External Control Together - HP 8712ET User Manual Supplement

Configuring Your Test System
Selecting a Measurement Controller

Computer-Controlled LAN Operation

An external computer can send SCPI commands via the LAN using a
telnet connection. Refer to The LAN Interface User's Guide Supplement
for more information.
You can use one computer to control several analyzers. Performance will
typically be limited by the computer's speed, which in turn will limit the
number of analyzers per computer.

Using IBASIC and External Control Together

The analyzer can be controlled by commands from an external computer,
internal IBASIC, or from both at the same time, as long as certain
precautions are observed. Things to consider:
1. If both the analyzer and the computer send SCPI commands at the
same time, the analyzer may not finish the IBASIC command before
executing the computer's command, or vice-versa. The programmer
must ensure that SCPI commands executed by IBASIC do not overlap
with SCPI commands sent from an external computer, otherwise the
system may lock up. Synchronization between the analyzer and the
external computer must be ensured. See "Synchronizing IBASIC with
an External Controller" in HP Instrument BASIC User's Handbook
Supplement for additional information.
2. Both IBASIC (SelectCode 8) and the external computer (LAN or
SelectCode 7) share the same HP-IB status model (the same analyzer
status bits go to each). Be careful sending commands which affect
status reporting, such as *CLS, STAT:PRES, *RST, etc.
2-10 Automating Measurements