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National Instruments VXI-1394 Getting Started

National Instruments VXI-1394 Getting Started

Interface for windows nt/98
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VXI
Getting Started with Your
VXI-1394 Interface for
Windows NT/98
VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98
November 1999 Edition
Part Number 322109D-01

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  • Page 1 Getting Started with Your VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 November 1999 Edition Part Number 322109D-01...
  • Page 2 Switzerland 056 200 51 51, Taiwan 02 2377 1200, United Kingdom 01635 523545 For further support information, see the Technical Support Resources appendix. To comment on the documentation, send e-mail to techpubs@ni.com © Copyright 1998, 1999 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved.
  • Page 3 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.
  • Page 4 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 National Instruments could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment under the FCC Rules.
  • Page 5 interference to radio or television reception, which can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of the following measures: • Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna. •...

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Install Your PCI-1394 Interface Board ............2-5 Install Your VXI-1394 Interface Board ............2-6 Connect Cables....................2-6 Power on the System ..................2-7 Software Configuration and Verification ..............2-7 VXI-1394/G Only — GPIB Configuration and Verification ......2-7 Run T&M Explorer and Resman..............2-8 Chapter 3 Developing Your Application Configuration .........................3-1 Device Interaction......................3-2...
  • Page 7 VISAIC and VIC..................... 3-9 NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard ..............3-9 Appendix A Specifications Appendix B Default Settings Appendix C Advanced Hardware Configuration Settings Appendix D Common Questions Appendix E Technical Support Resources Glossary Index VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 viii www.ni.com...
  • Page 8 Contents Figures Figure 2-1. Typical VXI-1394 System..............2-4 Figure 2-2. Installing the PCI-1394 Host Adapter ...........2-5 Figure C-1. VXI-1394 Default Configuration Settings ..........C-2 Figure C-2. VXIbus Slot Configuration ..............C-3 Figure C-3. EEPROM Operation................C-4 Figure C-4. Receive External CLK SMB (Default) ..........C-6 Figure C-5.

  • Page 9: About This Manual

    This manual contains instructions for installing and configuring either of two National Instruments VXI-1394 kits: • VXI-1394 interface kit for Windows 98 and Windows NT • VXI-1394/G interface kit for Windows NT 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.
  • Page 10 About This Manual This getting started manual contains an overview of the VXI-1394 hardware, the NI-VXI/VISA software, and the NI-488.2 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.

  • Page 11: Conventions

    Italic text in this font denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value monospace italic that you must supply. Platform Text in this font denotes a specific platform and indicates that the text following it applies only to that platform. © National Instruments Corporation xiii VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 12: Related Documentation

    PCI Local Bus Specification, Revision 2.1, PCI Special Interest Group • VXI-6, VXIbus Mainframe Extender Specification, Rev. 2.0, VXIbus Consortium • ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.1-1987, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for Programmable Instrumentation • ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1992, IEEE Standard Codes, Protocols, and Common Commands VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 13: Introduction

    Windows 98 includes native support for the IEEE-1394 bus, but Windows NT 4 does not. National Instruments has developed a driver that works with the Adaptec AHA-8940 PCI-1394 host adapter and various OHCI boards. If you are using Windows NT 4, you must use this driver, which may not be compatible with other 1394 host adapters or built-in 1394 circuitry.

  • Page 14: What You Need To Get Started

    VXI-1394 Interface Kit Overview The interface kits described in this manual link 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 NT/98 to a VXI chassis.

  • Page 15: Hardware Description

    Slot 0 controller, cannot provide the necessary control for VXI devices that need P3 support. 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.

  • Page 16: Vxi-1394 Front Panel Features

    Settings, only if your system will make use of the front-panel CLK10 and trigger SMB connectors. Software Description NI-VXI is the name of the National Instruments VXI bus control library. You can create applications using NI-VXI to control both VXI and VME devices. NI-VXI gives you complete VXI/VME functionality, including...
  • Page 17 If your VXI-1394 model is the VXI-1394/G, it includes a GPIB port on its front panel, as well as the National Instruments NI-488.2 software kit, NI-488.2 is industry-standard software for controlling external GPIB instruments.

  • Page 18: National Instruments Application Software

    National Instruments Application Software In addition to the NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and NI-488.2 software, you can use the National Instruments LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI 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.

  • Page 19: Installation And Configuration

    Note The front panel GPIB connector on the VXI-1394/G is not supported under Windows 98. Some of the utilities rely on the LabWindows/CVI Run-Time Engine. This software is installed, if necessary, during the NI-VXI/VISA installation.

  • Page 20: Install The Ni-Vxi, Ni-Visa, And Ni-488.2 Software

    Setup is an interactive, self-guiding program that installs the NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and NI-488.2 software and configures your system to use the software with the VXI-1394. Follow these steps to perform the installation: For the CD, select Start»Run and enter the following text, where your CD drive (usually D): X :\setup.exe...

  • Page 21: Complete The Software Installation

    NI-VXI directory before running T&M Explorer. 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.

  • Page 22: Installing The Hardware

    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.

  • Page 23: Install Your Pci-1394 Interface Board

    Figure 2-2. Installing the PCI-1394 Host Adapter Carefully press the host adapter into the slot. Secure the host adapter bracket to the computer chassis with the screw from the removed expansion slot cover. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 24: Install Your Vxi-1394 Interface Board

    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.

  • Page 25: Power On The System

    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. If you have the VXI-1394/G option, use a GPIB cable to attach your GPIB instruments to the GPIB port on the VXI-1394/G.

  • Page 26: Run T&M Explorer And Resman

    Run T&M Explorer and Resman Run the T&M Explorer program. It prompts you to run Resman, the National Instruments Resource Manager. You must run Resman every time the chassis power is cycled so that your application can access devices in the VXI chassis. You can also configure T&M Explorer to run Resman automatically at every computer startup by selecting Tools»Options and clicking the Resource Manager tab.

  • Page 27: Developing Your Application

    Use the GPIB Configuration utility to configure your GPIB controller. Note Because power cycling resets all devices, run Resman to reconfigure them every time chassis power is cycled. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 28: Device Interaction

    LabVIEW, or LabWindows/CVI. Note You can launch VIC or VISAIC from the Tools menu in T&M Explorer. Try the following in VIC. In the Command entry field, type: help vxiinreg VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 29: Ni-488.2 Interactive Control

    16 KB of A16 space. Try reading a register from each of the devices listed in the Connection View of T&M Explorer. In this way, you can verify that your VXI-1394 can access each of the devices in your VXI system successfully.

  • Page 30: Advanced Communication

    National Instruments provides three different programming interfaces for accessing your instruments: NI-VISA, NI-VXI, and NI-488.2. NI-VISA is the National Instruments implementation of the VISA API as defined by the VXIplug&play standard. It is very useful in situations where you have different types of instruments in your system—such as VXI, VME, GPIB,...

  • Page 31: Table 3-1. Ni-Vxi/Visa Examples

    Table 3-1. NI-VXI/VISA Examples NI-VXI NI-VISA Coverage Example Example Message-Based Access VXIws.c VISAws.c, ReadWrite.c High-Level Register Access VXIhigh.c VISAhigh.c HighReg.c Low-Level Register Access VXIlow.c VISAlow.c LowReg.c Sharing Memory VXImem.c VISAmem.c ShareSys.c © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 32: Additional Compiler Information

    For Borland C/C++, use the NIVXI \win32\msc nivxint.lib in the directory. For example, if you are using NIVXI \win32\borlandc Microsoft and have installed NI-VXI into the default directory, you would normally specify C:\NIVXI\msc\nivxint.lib VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 33: Shared Memory

    C programs. Shared Memory The VXI-1394 supports sharing of onboard VXI-1394 RAM in VXI space. However, it does not support sharing of the local PC memory. Refer to T&M Explorer online help for more information.

  • Page 34: High-Level Vxibus Access Functions

    NI-VISA support for VME devices includes the register access operations (both high-level and low-level) and the block move operations, as well as the ability to receive interrupts. VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 35: Debugging

    NI Spy, VISAIC, VIC, and the NI-488.2 Troubleshooting Wizard. NI Spy NI Spy tracks the calls your application makes to National Instruments T&M drivers including NI-VISA, NI-VXI, and NI-488.2. This utility highlights functions that return errors, so you can quickly spot which functions failed during your development.

  • Page 36: Appendix A Specifications

    Specifications This appendix lists the specifications for the VXI-1394 and VXI-1394/G modules. Requirements VXIbus configuration space....64 B A24 or A32 space........Programmable Default ..........None Environmental Temperature Operating ........0 to 55 °C Storage .........– 20 to 70 °C Relative humidity Operating ........
  • Page 37 VXI-1394/G........1.15 kg (2.53 lb.) (No DRAM installed) I/O connectors 6-pin 1394........3 SMB..........3 GPIB (optional) .......1 Slot requirements ........Single VXI C-size slot Compatibility ..........Fully compatible with VXI specification VXI keying class ........Class 1 TTL MTBF .............Contact factory VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...
  • Page 38 VMEbus master read/modify/write transfers RMW (slave) VMEbus slave read/modify/write transfers RETRY (master) VMEbus master retry support RETRY (slave) VMEbus slave retry support First slot detector SCON VMEbus System Controller (Automatic Detection) © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 39 VMEbus D32, D16, D08(O) interrupt handler D32, D16, D08(O) (Interrupter) VMEbus D32, D16, D08(O) interrupter ROAK, RORA Release on Acknowledge or Register Access interrupter BTO( VMEbus bus timer (programmable limit) LOCK Can lock the VMEbus for indivisible transfers VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 40: Appendix B Default Settings

    Default Settings This appendix summarizes the default settings for the hardware and software in the VXI-1394 kit. If you need more information about a particular setting, or if you want to try a different configuration, please refer to Appendix C,...

  • Page 41: Table B-2. T&M Explorer Device Tab Default Settings

    Don’t share memory Shared RAM size A16—none A24—256 B A32—64 KB Reserved physical memory Lower half window byte swapping Disabled Upper half window byte swapping Disabled Map upper and lower halves at Disabled same PCI address VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

  • Page 42: Table B-4. T&M Explorer Vxi Bus Tab Default Settings

    Bus timeout value VXI retry generation Enabled Automatic retries Disabled A24/A32 write posting Disabled Transfer limit Requester mode Release on Request Request level Fair requester Enabled Bus arbitration mode Prioritized Arbiter timeout Enabled © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 43 Configuration Settings This appendix describes the factory-default and alternate hardware configuration settings of the VXI-1394. The board is set at the factory for the most commonly used configuration. Use this appendix if you want to try a different hardware configuration, or if you would like more information on a particular setting.

  • Page 44: Figure C-1. Vxi-1394 Default Configuration Settings

    Figure C-1. VXI-1394 Default Configuration Settings VXIbus Slot 0/Non-Slot 0 The VXI-1394 is configured at the factory to automatically detect if it is installed in Slot 0 of a VXIbus mainframe. With automatic Slot 0 detection, you can install the VXI-1394 into any VXIbus slot.

  • Page 45: Vxibus Slot Configuration

    A. Automatic Slot 0 Detection (Default) Slot 0 Auto Nonslot 0 LOAD FACTORY B. Manual Slot 0 Configuration Slot 0 Auto Nonslot 0 LOAD FACTORY C. Manual Non-Slot 0 Configuration Figure C-2. VXIbus Slot Configuration © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 46: Figure C-3. Eeprom Operation

    Appendix C Advanced Hardware Configuration Settings When the VXI-1394 is installed in Slot 0, it becomes the VXIbus System Controller. In this role, it has VXIbus Data Transfer Bus Arbiter circuitry that accepts bus requests on all four VXIbus request levels, prioritizes the requests, and grants the bus to the highest priority requester.
  • Page 47 Conversely, the configuration of one switch may make the setting of another switch irrelevant. For example, only switches S3 and S4 are relevant if you install the VXI-1394 in a slot other than Slot 0. The drawings use the pattern to depict switches that are either irrelevant or disabled for a particular CLK10 configuration.

  • Page 48: Figure C-4. Receive External Clk Smb (Default

    The VXI-1394 receives the external CLK10 signal (S3). • The polarity of the CLK10 signal (S4) is irrelevant when the VXI-1394 receives the external CLK10 signal. However, it is configured to be inverted when the CLK10 SMB is used as output.
  • Page 49 The configuration in Figure C-5 adds a 50 Ω termination to the signal by changing switch S2. TERMINATE CLK10 TRIG TERM ONBRD CLK10 SOURCE Ω Figure C-5. Receive External CLK SMB with 50 Termination © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 50: Figure C-6. Receive External Clk Smb And Drive To The Backplane Unterminated

    In Figures C-6 and C-7, switch S6 uses the alternate configuration to generate the VXIbus CLK10 signal. Instead of the onboard oscillator, the VXI-1394 generates from the external CLK SMB connector and drives to the backplane. You can choose whether to terminate the signal using S2.

  • Page 51: And Drive To The Backplane

    Signal termination is not an issue when driving the signal, so the position of S2 does not matter. The difference between these two configurations is whether to use inverted or non-inverted polarity when driving the signal. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...

  • Page 52: Figure C-8. Drive Inverted External Clk Smb

    Appendix C Advanced Hardware Configuration Settings TERMINATE CLK10 TRIG TERM ONBRD CLK10 SOURCE Figure C-8. Drive Inverted External CLK SMB TERMINATE CLK10 TRIG TERM ONBRD CLK10 SOURCE Figure C-9. Drive Non-Inverted External CLK SMB VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 C-10 www.ni.com...

  • Page 53: Figure C-10. Smb Trigger Input Termination

    TERMINATE CLK10 CLK10 TRIG TERM TRIG TERM ONBRD ONBRD CLK10 SOURCE CLK10 SOURCE A. Does Not Terminate B. Terminate Trigger Input Trigger Input (Default) Figure C-10. SMB Trigger Input Termination © National Instruments Corporation C-11 VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 54 The only difference is the topology of the system. If your system consists of a PC connected to a VXI-1394 which is in turn connected to a digital camera, you can get the best performance by connecting a third peripheral to the VXI-1394 rather than to the PC or the digital camera.
  • Page 55 Use only a tree topology to build your system. A closed loop is illegal, and will not work. For example, if you have a PCI-1394 and a VXI-1394 cabled together and you add direct connections from both of them to the same digital camera, you create a closed loop.
  • Page 56 Appendix D Common Questions Slot 0 VXI-1394, and another VXI-MXI-2 in Slot 0 of the next mainframe. You can then fill up this mainframe with additional devices. If you have additional GPIB devices to add to the system—such as a GPIB-VXI/C controller in Slot 0 of another VXI chassis—the VXI-1394/G...
  • Page 57 The fastest method for testing the system is to run Resman. This program attempts to access memory in the upper A16 address space of each device in the system. If Resman does not report any problems, the VXI-1394 communication system is operational.
  • Page 58 The VXI LED, when lit, indicates that the VXI-1394 is being accessed by another device in the VXI chassis, such as when a bus master inside the chassis wants to talk to either the VXI-1394 or memory in the computer.
  • Page 59 Common Questions What is the accuracy of the CLK10 signal? The CLK10 generated by the VXI-1394 is 100 ppm (0.01%) as per the VXIbus specification. If you need a more accurate CLK10 signal, you can use the EXTCLK input at the front of the VXI-1394.
  • Page 60 Technical Support Resources This appendix describes the comprehensive resources available to you in the Technical Support section of the National Instruments Web site and provides technical support telephone numbers for you to use if you have trouble connecting to our Web site or if you do not have internet access.
  • Page 61 If you have trouble connecting to our Web site, please contact your local National Instruments office or the source from which you purchased your National Instruments product(s) to obtain support. For telephone support in the United States, dial 512 795 8248. For...
  • Page 62 VXIbus address space equivalent to the VME 4 GB extended address space. address Character code that identifies a specific location (or series of locations) in memory. In VISA, it identifies a resource. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 63 BIOS Basic Input/Output System. BIOS functions are the fundamental level of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources. VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...
  • Page 64 Slots 1 through 12 on P2. It is distributed to each slot as a single-source, single-destination signal with a matched delay of under 8 ns. CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor—a process used in making chips. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 65 An intelligent CPU (controller) interface plugged directly into the VXI backplane, giving it direct access to the VXIbus. It must have all of its required VXI interface capabilities built in. electromagnetic compliance VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...
  • Page 66 Integrated Drive Electronics. Denotes the most common interface to the hard drive on PCs. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 67 In IEEE 1394, this protocol is used for purposes such as feeding digital image data from a peripheral device (such as a video camera) to a display mechanism within a computer. VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...
  • Page 68 Module ID lines—used in VXI to geographically locate boards and to dynamically configure boards. MTBF Mean Time Between Failure NI-488.2 or The National Instruments industry-standard software for controlling NI-488.2M GPIB instruments. NI-DAQ The National Instruments industry-standard software for data acquisition instruments. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 69 Register-based devices are typically controlled by message-based devices via device-dependent register reads and writes. Resman The name of the National Instruments Resource Manager in NI-VXI bus interface software. See Resource Manager. Resource Manager A message-based Commander located at Logical Address 0, which...
  • Page 70 A failed device asserts this line. In VXI, a device that fails also clears its PASSed bit in its Status register. trigger Either TTL or ECL lines used for intermodule communication. Transistor-Transistor Logic volts Video Graphics Array; the minimum video display standard for all PCs. © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 71 A mechanism that signifies that a device will immediately give a successful acknowledge to a write transfer and place the transfer in a local buffer. The device can then independently complete the write cycle to the destination. VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 G-10 www.ni.com...
  • Page 72 Index Numerics PCI-GPIB and VXI-1394/G in the same computer, D-2 1394 6-pin connectors, 1-4 PCI-MXI-2 and PCI-1394 interfaces in the 1394 LED, 1-4 same computer, D-2 plugging in multiple peripherals, D-1 Resman, D-3 using, D-4 additional compiler information, 3-6 serial number and hardware revision of...
  • Page 73 1-2 GPIB configuration utility, 1-5 multiple devices front panel port, 1-3 connecting (note), (caution), 1-2 GPIB connector (VXI-1394/G version only), National Instruments application software, 1-6 LabVIEW, 1-6 hardware LabWindows/CVI, 1-6 advanced configuration settings, C-1 National Instruments Web support, E-1...
  • Page 74 D-4 (table), B-2 resource manager VXI bus tab default settings (table), B-3 See Resman. technical support resources, E-1 restart system power, 2-7 telephone support, E-2 troubleshooting wizard (NI-488.2), 3-9 © National Instruments Corporation VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98...
  • Page 75 1-2 module description, 1-3 specifications, A-1 system expansion, D-2 typical system setup (figure), 2-4 VXI-1394/G and GPIB port, 1-5 specifications, A-1 VXIbus CLK10 routing, C-5 slot 0/non-slot 0, C-2 slot configuration (figure), C-3 VXI-1394 Interface for Windows NT/98 www.ni.com...

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