Adding an Ethernet Connected Oscilloscope to VISA I/O Through MAX

[RJM2]

This is a repost of a previous Q with more info added:

I'm trying to connect a LeCroy WaveRunner 6051 (Oscilloscope) to the system through ethernet. However, I can see no ethernet port in the VISA I/O control (only my serial, parallel, and GPIB ports). So I was guessing that I needed to setup the ethernet port (using MAX) before I would be able to use it in LabVIEW.

I'm in the process of setting up a VISA TCPIP resource, but am having a bit of trouble with it. I guess the Oscilloscope is not VXI-11 compatible as no instruments are found when I try to setup a VXI-11 resource. Instead I'm trying to setup a Raw Socket. However I'm not sure of what the Port Number should be. Is this number pre-conf
igured to the instrument (do I need to look this number up somewhere), or do I just assign it and use it when I address the instrument? I know that the ethernet connection is working as I can transfer files from my computer to the oscilloscope and back through a shared folder.

I also noticed that I can add a remote system in MAX. This would require putting a VISA server on the Oscilloscope - I'm guessing that this is not what I should do to connect the oscilloscope.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks,

Russ

[Dan_Mondrik]

I think there are instrument drivers for the LeCroy scopes, and those instrument drivers use VISA. The port number is determined by the instrument vendor. I'm not sure if the LeCroy manuals tell you what that port number is, but I'm sure that's what the instrument driver uses.

And your last instinct is right; this is definitely not what remote VISA is for. That's for one PC using instruments connected to another PC, for example.

Dan Mondrik
National Instruments

[RJM2]

Hi Dan,

There are drivers available, but unfortunately the driver for the 6051 needs a LeCroy written VISA32.dll to be installed - this makes control of the laser and other instruments impossible (don't know why, but I can communicate with none of the other instruments if I install LeCroy's VISA driver). So I'm trying to send the instrument simple text commands through ethernet - just can't get an ethernet connection up!

Russ

[gagi1]

Russ,

You can find an IVI driver for the LeCroy WaveRunner 6051 scope on IDNet. However, to use this driver with TCPIP or VICP, you need to install LeCroyVISA. Refer to the LcXSDXO Installation Instructions.rtf distributed with the driver.

[RJM2]

Hi Gagi1,

I actually can't use the IVI driver because it makes the rest of the instruments unusable. I've actually opened the ethernet port to the Oscilloscope - turns out I was using the wrong Port Number. So I've got it working now.

Thanks for your advice though,

Russ

[jbopp]

I just spent half a day configuring my laptop to interface with a TDS5054B scope from Tektronics.  Couple of things to note:

1.  Be sure that the firewall is not ON.  My work laptop has extensive firewall protection; my personal laptop does not.  That was crucial in getting a connection.

2.  Be sure that the scope has TekVISA installed and that this server is RUNNING.  There is a separate CD that came with the scope, and I had to install it.

3.  Turn on the National Instruments VISA server.

4.  Create a new interface by right mouse clicking the Devices and Interfaces key in the Measurement and Automation Explorer.  If the scope is plug into the ethernet port with a CROSSOVER cable, and its VISA server is running, M&A Explorer should be able to find the device.  You may not need to worry about knowing what the exact ethernet address is--unless you are not connected to the same subnet.  Just select the TCP/IP resource, and things should naturally fall into place.

After I performed these steps (hopefully I didn't leave anything out), the VISA access was enabled to the scope.  I hope everyone finds this useful.  There is a link to the Tektronics website that was very helpful.  I would place it here, but not sure that Tektronics would appreciate that.

John