Page 3
The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.
Page 4
These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only) or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). All National Instruments (NI) products are FCC Class A products. Depending on where it is operated, this Class A product could be subject to restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the Department of Communications (DOC), of Industry Canada, regulates wireless interference in much the same way.) Digital...
Benefits of PXI ......................1-1 NI PXI-8184/8185 ......................1-1 Description ......................1-1 Modules ......................1-2 Functional Overview ..................1-2 National Instruments Software ..................1-4 Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration Installing the NI PXI-8184/8185 ...................2-1 How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Chassis ........2-4 BIOS Setup ........................2-4 Entering BIOS Setup ..................2-4...
Page 6
Contents Chapter 3 I/O Information Front Panel Connectors ....................3-1 Front Panel........................3-2 VGA ........................ 3-3 COM1 and COM2................... 3-4 Ethernet ......................3-5 Parallel Port..................... 3-6 Universal Serial Bus..................3-8 PS/2 ......................... 3-9 Trigger......................3-10 Front Panel Features ...................... 3-10 Data Storage ........................
About This Manual This manual contains detailed instructions for installing and configuring your National Instruments NI PXI-8184/8185 embedded computer kit. How to Use the Documentation Set Begin by reading the NI PXI-8184/8185 Installation Guide, a brief quick-start guide that describes how to install and get started with your controller.
About This Manual Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the monospace keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations, variables, filenames, and extensions.
Reset button, and PXI Trigger. The modules have the following configurations: • The NI PXI-8185 has a 1.2 GHz processor, all the standard I/O, a second serial port, and a 30 GB (or larger) hard drive. • The NI PXI-8184 has an 850 MHz processor, all the standard I/O, and a 30 GB (or larger) hard drive.
• The 2.5 in. hard drive is 30 GB or larger. National Instruments Software National Instruments has developed several software kits you can use with the NI PXI-8184/8185. The software is already installed on your hard drive. NI-DAQ has an extensive library of functions that you can call from your application programming environment.
Page 13
NI-VISA You also can use the National Instruments LabVIEW and Measurement Studio application programs and instrument drivers to ease your programming task. These standardized programs match the modular virtual instrument capability of PXI and can reduce your PXI software development time.
Page 15
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration 1 Protective Screw Cap (4X) Figure 2-1. Removing Protective Screw Caps Make sure the injector/ejector handle is in its downward position. Align the NI PXI-8184/8185 with the card guides on the top and bottom of the system controller slot. Caution Do not raise the injector/ejector handle as you insert the NI PXI-8184/8185.
Page 16
What if the NI PXI-8184/8185 does not boot? section of Chapter 5, Troubleshooting. Figure 2-2 shows an NI PXI-8185 installed in the system controller slot of a National Instruments PXI-1042 chassis. You can place PXI devices in any other slot.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration How to Remove the Controller from the PXI Chassis The NI PXI-8184/8185 controllers are designed for easy handling. To remove the unit from the PXI chassis, complete the following steps: Power off the chassis. Remove the bracket-retaining screws in the front panel. Press the injector/ejector handle down.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration DMI Event Logging Submenu Major errors that occur during the BIOS booting process are stored in battery-backed memory on the controller, and remain there until you view and clear them using this submenu. This logging capability allows a system administrator to detect the historical occurrence of faults on a controller.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration Port section of Chapter 3, Information, for pinout information.) Setting this option to Parallel Port disables normal LPT1 functionality. The default is Disabled. • Legacy USB Support—Use this setting to use a USB keyboard and mouse as if they were standard PS/2-style peripherals.
In most chassis configurations, an unauthorized user has easy access to the jumper Note that resets the CMOS contents to the factory default. For a secure setup of this controller, National Instruments recommends further provisions that are beyond the scope of this document. The Security setup menu includes the following settings: •...
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration by 32-bit operating system drivers that access the hard disk directly. The default is No. Note To disable a current password, leave the new password field blank by pressing <Enter> on the field. Boot Setup Menu This screen displays the boot order of devices associated with the controller.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration 1 Normal Operation (Default) 2 Clear CMOS Contents 3 Pin 1 Figure 2-3. Clearing the CMOS Contents (NI PXI-8185 Shown) Note For clarity, the battery is not shown in Figure 2-3. LabVIEW RT Configuration Switches Note These switches are functional only if the controller supports LabVIEW RT.
National Instruments software manuals, all in Adobe Acrobat format. To access any manual, change your directory to NI PXI-8184/8185 User Manual 2-14...
At the time of this manual’s publication, this software is not yet available; however, an interim trigger routing software utility is available from National Instruments. Contact National Instruments or refer to KnowledgeBase 2RCBPFWD at ni.com/support for more information.
Page 29
• 512 MB, 64 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max • National Instruments has tested and verified that the SO-DIMMs we sell work with Note the NI PXI-8184/8185. We recommend you purchase your SO-DIMM modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.
Chapter 2 Installation and Configuration Installing from a Network Complete the following steps to install an OS from a network. Create a network bootdisk. (Refer to the file in the readme.txt folder on your OS installation CD.) netboot Use another PC on the network with a CD-ROM drive. Share the drive and load the OS installation CD.
Chapter 3 I/O Information Front Panel Figure 3-1 shows the front panel layout and dimensions of the NI PXI-8184/8185. Dimensions are in inches [millimeters]. 0.00 [0] 0.69 [17.5] 1.25 [31.8] 1.31 [33.3] 1.50 [38.1] 1.84 [46.7] 2.50 [63.5] 3.00 [76.2] 3.47 [88.1] Figure 3-1.
Chapter 3 I/O Information Table 3-2. VGA Connector Signals (Continued) Signal Name Signal Description Ground Not Connected Serial Data HSync Horizontal Sync VSync Vertical Sync Serial Clock COM1 and COM2 Figure 3-3 shows the location and pinouts for the COM1 and COM2 connectors on the NI PXI-8184/8185.
Figure 3-5 shows the location and pinouts for the IEEE 1284 (parallel) connector on the NI PXI-8184/8185. Table 3-5 lists and describes the IEEE 1284 connector signals. Parallel port adapter cables are available from National Instruments, part number 777169-01. Parallel Port Figure 3-5.
Chapter 3 I/O Information Universal Serial Bus Figure 3-6 shows the location and pinouts for the Universal Serial Bus (USB) connector on the NI PXI-8184/8185. Table 3-6 lists and describes the USB connector signals. AMP manufactures a USB mating connector, part number 787633. Figure 3-6.
Page 40
To connect both a PS/2 keyboard and PS/2 mouse to the NI PXI-8184/8185, use the Y-splitter adapter cable included with your controller (refer to Figure 4-1, Y-Splitter Cable). Replacement Y-splitter cables are available from National Instruments, part number 778713-01. PS/2 Figure 3-7. PS/2 Connector Location and Pinout Table 3-7. PS/2 Connector Signals...
Chapter 3 I/O Information Trigger The TRG connector is the software-controlled trigger connection for routing PXI triggers to or from the backplane trigger bus. Figure 3-8 shows the TRG connector location on the NI PXI-8184/8185. Table 3-8 lists and describes the trigger connector signals. Figure 3-8.
Chapter 4 Common Configuration Questions Boot Options What devices can I boot from? The NI PXI-8184/8185 can boot from the following devices: • The internal IDE hard drive • An external SCSI hard drive or CD-ROM if an SCSI adapter, such as the PXI-8214, is used •...
Chapter 4 Common Configuration Questions Operating System and Software Driver Installation How do I install or reinstall the video driver? Refer to the file on the hard drive or recovery CD-ROM. Drivers.txt How do I install or reinstall the Ethernet driver? Refer to the file on the hard drive or recovery CD-ROM.
• 512 MB, 64 MB × 64, 7.5 ns, 1.05 in. max • National Instruments has tested and verified that the SO-DIMMs we sell work with Note the NI PXI-8184/8185. We recommend you purchase your SO-DIMM modules from National Instruments. Other off-the-shelf SO-DIMM modules are not guaranteed to work properly.
Page 49
Common Configuration Questions 1 SO-DIMM Module 2 SO-DIMM Socket Figure 4-3. Installing a SO-DIMM in an NI PXI-8184/8185 Controller (NI PXI-8185 Shown) How do I flash a new BIOS? You need to download the new BIOS from ni.com/support/ . To download the new BIOS, follow the instructions pxisupp.htm...
Boot Options section for more information. A USB floppy drive is available from National Instruments, part number 778492-02. The LPT port on the NI PXI-8184/8185 also can be configured through the BIOS setup for floppy signals instead of LPT signals. Refer to Chapter 3, Information, for the floppy drive pinout.
Does your monitor work with a different PC? If it hangs, note the last screen output that you saw for reference when consulting National Instruments technical support. • What has changed about the system? Did you recently move the...
Page 52
Chapter 5 Troubleshooting My controller boots fine until I get to Windows, at which point I cannot read the screen. This may include garbled output, white screen, black screen, or an out of sync message from the monitor. This problem usually results from having the video card output set past the limits of the monitor.
Page 54
Pollution Degree ........2 For indoor or enclosed area use only. Caution Clean the PXI-8185 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device is completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to service. Storage Environment Ambient temperature range ....–20 to 65 °C (Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2.)
Page 56
Appendix A Specifications Electromagnetic Compatibility Emissions..........EN 55011 Class A at 10 m FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz Immunity ..........EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001, Table 1 CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) Compliant Note For EMC compliance, operate this device with shielded cabling. CE Compliance This product meets the essential requirements of applicable European Directives, as amended for CE marking, as follows:...
Page 58
Appendix A Specifications Clean the PXI-8184 with a soft nonmetallic brush. Make sure that the device is Caution completely dry and free from contaminants before returning it to service. Storage Environment Ambient temperature range ....–20 to 65 °C (Tested in accordance with IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2.) Relative humidity range......5% to 95% noncondensing...
Page 60
Technical Support and Professional Services Visit the following sections of the National Instruments Web site at for technical support and professional services: ni.com • Support—Online technical support resources at ni.com/support include the following: – Self-Help Resources—For immediate answers and solutions,...
Page 61
Appendix B Technical Support and Professional Services If you searched and could not find the answers you need, contact ni.com your local office or NI corporate headquarters. Phone numbers for our worldwide offices are listed at the front of this manual. You also can visit the Worldwide Offices section of to access the branch ni.com/niglobal...
Page 63
Glossary 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. Celsius cache Small portion of high-speed memory used for temporary storage of frequently used data CMOS Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor;...
Page 65
Glossary instrument driver A set of routines designed to control a specific instrument or family of instruments, and any necessary related files for LabWindows/CVI or LabVIEW interrupt A means for a device to request service from another device interrupt level The relative priority at which a device can interrupt IRQ* Interrupt signal...
Page 66
NI-DAQ The National Instruments software for data acquisition instruments NI-VISA The National Instruments implementation of the VISA standard; an interface-independent software that provides a unified programming interface for VXI, GPIB, and serial instruments Non-maskable interrupt; high-priority interrupt that cannot be disabled by another interrupt.
Page 67
Glossary resource Hardware settings used by devices in a computer system, including ISA interrupt level, DMA channel, and I/O address Root mean squared. See also Real Time Clock; an electronic circuit that maintains the time of day, and also can provide timing signals for timesharing operations Seconds slave A functional part of a PXI device that detects data transfer cycles initiated...
Page 69
4-7 configuration in MAX (figure), 4-5 drivers (NI resources), B-1 injector/ejector handle position (caution), 2-2 NI PXI-8185 installed in a PXI chassis (figure), 2-3 Ethernet, connector procedure, 2-1 location and pinout (figure), 3-5 removing NI PXI-8184/8185 from PXI...
Page 70
2-17 into controller, 4-3 installing in a PXI chassis, 2-1 (figure), 2-3 installing SO-DIMMs (figure), 2-16, 4-7 logic blocks, 1-4 National Instruments software, 1-4 modules, 1-2 National Instruments support and National Instruments software, 1-4 services, B-1 peripheral expansion overview...
Page 71
2-14 designs, 1-1 installing from CD-ROM, 4-4 peripheral expansion overview (table), 3-1 LabVIEW, 1-5 POWER OK LED, 3-10 National Instruments software, 1-4 programming examples (NI resources), B-1 NI-DAQ, 1-4 protective screw caps, removing (figure), 2-2 NI-VISA, 1-5 PS/2...