How to switch GPIB Analyzer between different GPIB boards?

[Ed_Perkins]

How do I switch the GPIB Analyzer between multiple GPIB boards?  My system has two PCI-GPIB+ boards, but the GPIB Analyzer seems to be "stuck" to one board only.  I've tried using MAX to right click on a particular GPIB board and start the GPIB Analyzer, but I always capture traffic from the GPIB0 board, even if I've right clicked on the GPIB1 board.  I running version 2.4 of the NI IEEE software and Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2.

Thanks in Advance,

Ed Perkins

Honeywell Engineering

Minneapolis, MN

[Robert M]

I'm fairly certain this applies to Windows 2000/XP as well:

KnowledgeBase 0FQF7BVD: Only One Analyzer at a Time is Active among Multiple "Plus" Boards in a Single Computer [link removed; article no longer available]

[Ed_Perkins]

Unfortunately, the Knowledgebase article doesn't apply to Windows XP and the current IEEE-488 (ver. 2.4) software.  The article's solution for Windows 3.x and Windows NT is to change the board type of one of the boards using the GPIB Configuration Utility.  It isn't possible to change the board type with the current GPIB Configuration Utility and plug and play hardware.  The article's solution for Windows 98/95 also won't work because the GPIB board's Device Manager entry in XP differs from 98/95.  Any more ideas?

Thanks again,

Ed Perkins

[Robert M]

Hi Ed,

You are correct, the KnowledgeBase does not apply to Windows XP.  I'm sorry I didn't have the correct answer for you.  I have since modified the KnowledgeBase with the appropriate changes copied below, but it will not be live for a few days.

Windows 2000/XP

Although you can open GPIB Analyzer from either GPIB+ board in MAX, it is only connected to one of the boards at a time. It is usually connected to the first one listed (normally GPIB0). In order to switch GPIB Analyzer to the other board, you must uninstall the board it is currently connected to. You can do this in two ways:

1. Right-click on the board in Windows Device Manager and select "Uninstall".
2. Right-click on the board in MAX and select "Delete Interface".

GPIB Analyzer will then automatically connect to the remaining installed GPIB+ board. You can then redetect the uninstalled board in two ways:

1. In Windows Device Manager select "Action » Scan for hardware changes"
2. Select "Start » Settings » Control Panel » Add hardware"

Please let me know if you run into any issues following these directions.

Thanks,

[ScottieB]

I wanted to add a shortcut to what Robert is suggesting.  You can swap GPIB0 and GPIB0 in MAX by right clicking on the board and editing its properties.  So rather than uninstalling GPIB boards, just set GPIB0 to GPIB2, GPIB1 to GPIB0, and then GPIB2 to GPIB1 to swap your two boards.  The analyzer app should capture the traffic on GPIB0.

Scott B.

GPIB Software
National Instruments

[ScottieB]

Sorry for my post, I just realized that my shortcut doesn't work.  You do need to have the GPIB boards re-enumerated to swap which on the analyzer app will look at, so deleting the interfaces as Robert suggests is the only way to do this.  My apologies for the incorrect information.

Scott B.

GPIB Software

[f.grasdepot@laposte.net]

Hi,

I can remember that I used a PCI-GPIB+ analyzer on GPIB1 so
if your GPIB1 does not need to use GPIB0 , one solution might be to
rename GPIB0 in GPIB2 in NI configuration tool temporarily ...

I have a question: would you comment on the reason why having two
boards running in the same PC in your case ?

Regards,
FG

[Ed_Perkins]

Here's what works for us:

1. Delete both the GPIB0 and GPIB1 interfaces.

2. Reboot the PC.  Both interfaces will be re-installed.

3. Scan for intruments.  The last interface scanned will be the interface used by the Analyzer.

We have two interfaces:  one with all of our instruments (about 12) and one for use by our customer.  We didn't want instruments added by our customer to possibly impact our instruments so we added a 2nd IEEE card.

Ed Perkins