VXI cards not properly recognized in MAX and also LabView

[topspotting]

Configuration : 

- NI GPIB controller

Hardware:

- Keithley 2602A

- Keithley S46T

- Agilent Mainframe E8404A with: Command Module E1406A, Patterngen E8311A and Clockgen E8306A.

 Communication with the Keithley equipment is working fine and also the Mainframe an  the Command Module.

But it is not possible to get communication (via the command module) with the patterngen. cards and the clockgen card.

Here an overview of the NI MAX and  Agilent Connection Expert:

[Dennis_Knutson]

Did you enable tulip support? MAX>Software>NI-VISA>VISA Options>Passports.

[topspotting]

Here the Passport settings. I noticed that NiVixi.dll is not enabled. But when I enable it, I got the an error: 

[Albert.Geven]

I don't think you need a passport for the VXI, a passport is only needed when a non-NI gpibcard is used.

Try without the passport and make sure that the IO address switches on the vxi cards are correct.

[topspotting]

When I communicate with the CommandModule inside the mainframe, using the attached FindCards.vi, I can readout all the cards that are inside that mainframe.

But all those cards are not listed in the selection of the Visa resource address, so direct communication to those cards is not possible.

Message Edited by topspotting on 11-04-2009 02:14 AM

Message Edited by topspotting on 11-04-2009 02:14 AM

[Albert.Geven]

All communication has to go through the controller, that is why it is a mainframe.

This is the most direct communication possible.

So you have to find a way to add or modify vi's that communicate.

[topspotting]

But I find it strange that MAX (see Miscellaneous VISA Resources) and Agilent Connection Expert does not recognize the cards inside the mainframe. Could it be some VXI driver that is not installed properly?

[ninlmartijn]

Dear Topspotting,

I don't have experience with VXI, but here are some suggestions which are hopefully helpfull to you;

- the passports (so also the one Agilent provides with your VXI products) should be available at the VISA bin directory, I could find my directory at C:\Program Files\IVI Foundation\VISA\WinNT\Bin

- You should always communicate to the VXI - GPIB descriptor and not to the device under GPIB, so the descriptor should be like; GPIB-VXI[board]::VXI logical address[::INSTR].

- Be sure that your VISA controls are showing you the right descriptors.

Hope this helps,

Best regards,

[topspotting]

Today I removed all the devices and used “Create new..." at  “Devices and Interfaces”.

After selecting "GPIB-VXI Interface” finally all the VXI cards inside the "MainFrame" are listed.

I really do not know what the problem was, but i'm happy I can communicate again with the hardware.

 

[Albert.Geven]

Hi

I don't know how compatible the Agilent Expert is wit MAX.

Often they work together sometimes they simply fight.