Correct config?

[Steve]

In reading manuals and the N.I. knowledgebase, I see conflicting
instructions for configuring an AT-GPIB card (not PnP) under Win98. KB
article # 157BSCL1 explicitly states: "You must disable IRQ and DMA."
On the other hand, one of the downloadable PDF manuals ("Using Your
NI-488.2 Software for DOS or Windows 3 with Windows 95/98", 321011c.pdf)
instructs the user on how to set the IRQ and DMA in the Control Panel
applet and also to reserve those resources in order to use the AT-GPIB
card under Win9x. Best I can tell, it does not seem to matter for my
system and applications. Just thought I would ask before I start
getting unusual errors or something. Have I misinterpreted or
misunderstood something?

Thanks
Steve

[gpibtester]

Thank you for bringing the conflicting information to our attention! It is
the case that the KnowledgeBase article information about disabling IRQ and
DMA is incomplete. The only time one might need to disable the IRQ is if
a Win32 GPIB application hangs. This restriction does not apply to Win16
or DOS applications. And the only time one might need to disable DMA is if
a GPIB-PCII or GPIB-PCIIA card runs into problems with read or write calls.
Information about when one might need to disable IRQ or DMA is written about
in the Compatibility Release's ReadMe.txt file.

We will work on getting the KnowledgeBase article corrected.

Thanks once again for bringing this to our attention.

--Liz

Steve wrote:
>In reading manuals and the N.I. knowledgebase,
I see conflicting>instructions
for configuring an AT-GPIB card (not PnP) under Win98. KB>article # 157BSCL1
explicitly states: "You must disable IRQ and DMA.">On the other hand, one
of the downloadable PDF manuals ("Using Your>NI-488.2 Software for DOS or
Windows 3 with Windows 95/98", 321011c.pdf)>instructs the user on how to
set the IRQ and DMA in the Control Panel>applet and also to reserve those
resources in order to use the AT-GPIB>card under Win9x. Best I can tell,
it does not seem to matter for my>system and applications. Just thought
I would ask before I start>getting unusual errors or something. Have I misinterpreted
or>misunderstood something?>>Thanks>Steve>

[Steve]

Thanks for the quick feedback. Found the relevant portion in the readme just as you
said. My little apps are Win32 so I am disabling IRQs, not a problem since I seem to be
running out of them. Quick question: Is it possible or make any sense to enable DMA for
the AT-GPIB without that card using an IRQ?
Thanks
Steve


Liz wrote:

> Thank you for bringing the conflicting information to our attention! It is
> the case that the KnowledgeBase article information about disabling IRQ and
> DMA is incomplete. The only time one might need to disable the IRQ is if
> a Win32 GPIB application hangs. This restriction does not apply to Win16
> or DOS applications. And the only time one might need to disable DMA is if
> a GPIB-PCII or GPIB-PCIIA card runs into problems with r
ead or write calls.
> Information about when one might need to disable IRQ or DMA is written about
> in the Compatibility Release's ReadMe.txt file.
>
> We will work on getting the KnowledgeBase article corrected.
>
> Thanks once again for bringing this to our attention.
>
> --Liz
>

[gpibtester]

You can use DMA with or without IRQs enabled. FYI- DMA does not make a major
difference unless you are doing large data transfers (over approximately
64Kb). So, depending on your application, you can decide whether to enable
or disable DMA.

--Liz

Steve wrote:
>Thanks for the quick feedback. Found the relevant portion in the readme
just as you>said. My little apps are Win32 so I am disabling IRQs, not a
problem since I seem to
>be>running out of them. Quick question: Is it possible or make any sense
to enable DMA
>for>the AT-GPIB without that card using an IRQ?>Thanks>Steve>>>Liz wrote:>>>
Thank you for bringing the conflicting information to our attention! It is>>
the case that the KnowledgeBase article information about disabl
ing IRQ and>>
DMA is incomplete. The only time one might need to disable the IRQ is if>>
a Win32 GPIB application hangs. This restriction does not apply to Win16>>
or DOS applications. And the only time one might need to disable DMA is if>>
a GPIB-PCII or GPIB-PCIIA card runs into problems with read or write calls.>>
Information about when one might need to disable IRQ or DMA is written about>>
in the Compatibility Release's ReadMe.txt file.>>>> We will work on getting
the KnowledgeBase article corrected.>>>> Thanks once again for bringing this
to our attention.>>>> --Liz>>>