What You Need To Get Started; Gpib Hardware Overview; Ni-488.2M Software Overview - National Instruments GPIB PCI-GPIB Getting Started

Chapter 1 Introduction

What You Need to Get Started

GPIB Hardware Overview

NI-488.2M Software Overview

PCI-GPIB for Solaris 2
PCI-GPIB board
3.5 in. NI-488.2M Distribution Disk for PCI-GPIB and Solaris 2
Solaris version 2.5.1 or higher installed on your SPARCstation
Super-user privilege
The PCI-GPIB is an IEEE 488 interface for computers with PCI
expansion slots. It performs the basic IEEE 488 Talker, Listener, and
Controller functions, including those required by the most recent GPIB
standard, IEEE 488.2. The PCI-GPIB can sustain data transfer rates of up
to 1.3 Mbytes/s, or 7.2 Mbytes/s using the high-speed GPIB protocol
(HS488), depending on the speed of your system.
You can use standard GPIB cables to connect the PCI-GPIB with up to
14 instruments. If you need to use more than the maximum number of
instruments, you can use the National Instruments GPIB extenders or the
GPIB expander/isolator to add additional instruments to the system.
Double-shielded GPIB cables are also available.
Refer to Appendix A, Specifications, for more information about the
PCI-GPIB specifications and recommended operating conditions.
The NI-488.2M software consists of a loadable driver and utilities that
transform a Sun SPARCstation running Solaris 2 into an IEEE 488.2
Controller with complete communications and bus management
capabilities. The NI-488.2M software also includes a C language
interface, two software diagnostic utilities, an interactive control
program, and an interactive configuration program. The NI-488.2M
driver supports up to four PCI-GPIB boards and is completely compatible
with both IEEE 488 and IEEE 488.2 instruments.
Refer to Appendix A, Specifications, for information about the
NI-488.2M software transfer rates.
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