tds6604 visa ethernet

[juanni]

I'm trying to connect to a tds 6604 (nominally vxi-11 compliant) using ethernet in order to grab scope traces.  I can connect via gpib at about 15 Hz no problem, but am hoping for faster operation with ethernet.  I can't find the scope in visa.  I am using MAX 4.2.1.3001 and NI visa 4.1 with labview 8.5.  The scope is running windows 98, unfortunately.  From the scope, I can ping the desktop that I want to control from- no problem.  Likewise, I can ping the scope from the desktop, but I can't seem to get the scope in visa.  According to ipconfig, the subnet masks are the same for the scope and computer.  What do I do?  Is it worth trying ethernet control, or am I wasting my time?  Also, I am using a USB GPIB at the moment.  Could I speed up my rate by going to a pci gpib card?  Thanks.  Jonathan

[Dennis_Knutson]

Did you add the device in MAX? If you didn't, open MAX, right click on Devices and Interfaces and select Create New>VISA TCP/IP Resource.

For some comparisions between Ethernet and GPIB performance, see http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/4819#toc1.

[juanni]

Dennis-

    I tried adding the scope in MAX.  It is not detected automatically on my local subnet, and  I cannot seem to add it manually, so I guess this is the big problem.  Why can't I find it?  J

[Dennis_Knutson]

I don't know why it wouldn't be detected. I have not used that particular model of scope. Your version of NI-VISA should be okay and pinging it verifies that it's on the network.

[Can_W]

Hey J,
Since you are using two "instruments" with two operating systems on it, I wonder if you have two sets of firewalls. Have you tried disabling both, to see if something is blocking MAX from communicating with it? If this is the situation, there are a list of ports that usually need to be open for National Instruments software. You can find it in this KnowledgeBase. Also, I'm also interested in how your instrument sends data over TCP/IP, because it seems that it could be used for networking purposes also. This is something that the manual should have. Also have you seen or tried out this?

Hopefully this helps,
Can W


Message Edited by Can W on 03-12-2008 10:04 AM

[mkh]

Hi J.,

Did you ever find a resolution to this problem?  I'm dealing with a very similar problem between two computers.  They can ping each other, but neither one recognizes the other through NI-VISA and NI-MAX.

Mike H.

[juanni]

I'm afraid that I can't remember... I finally graduated and don't even have access to that scope anymore.  Sorry.  J