How do I command an Agilent N5230A with LabView, via LAN ?

[jul7290]

I want to command a Agilent N5230A via LAN, but I think I have some problems to with the VISA configuration of the device, or some configurations on the device.

I was searching on forums but didn't find the solution to my problem. Could anybody help me ?

Thanks a lot 

[Anthony_F]

Normally you would get the instrument driver for your device either from the Instrument Driver Network (IDNet) or from the Help >> Find Instrument drivers menu in LabVIEW

Taking a look at the current driver for your device looks like the only supported option is GPIB

First thing first, you have to get the device to show up in Measurement & Automation Explorer or you won't be able to use it with VISA at all.  If Agilent has any software that will make the device show up as a virtual COM port or virtual GPIB port then everything is done for you.  If not, you could probably use the current instrument drivers and add in the TCP functionality yourself, but this is usually not so easy.

You could try a TCP Open, followed by a TCP Write with *IDN? and see if you get a response back. If not, an easier solution may be to get a GPIB/Ethernet adapter which will expose the device automatically as a GPIB device in MAX.

[nyc_(is_out_of_here)]

The N5230 is part of Agilent's PNA series of network analyzers. http://na.tm.agilent.com/pna/programming/

You will find that there are some commands that are only available if you use DCOM.

[jul7290]

Thanks for your help.

Actually the main problem I have is that I can't send anything with NI-VISA to the PNA. I tried a "Telnet connection", and it works, but with the VISA-Write block, nothing happens.

In MAX, the PNA is registrer as a TCP Socket connection (see image for details). I couldn't find the PNA as a VXI-11 LAN Instrument.

I think that the PNA isn't recognized as it should, that's the reason why I can't command it with the VISA-Write block.

Do I have to configure something particular on the PNA ? I already activated the LAN Socket and Telnet functionalities.

[jul7290 · Accepted solution]

I found the solution to my problem.

The connection to the PNA is allowed with a TCP Socket, on the port 5025 by default. So in MAX, the IP address and this port number have to be set to be able to command tyhe PNA via LabView.