Trying to set up communications via an ethernet with no "Server"

[DaveAtSentek]

I am trying to set up communication between my labview software and another pc running something else. we are looking for a solution that allows the other pc to send me data in the form of ascii text ( a tag name followed by a value i.e. "NextProduct: 1002" ) via ethernet cable. It appears that this might be possible via tcp/ip, however I'm not sure how to set it up because my software also has to be able to send the other pc ascii values the same way which makes me think that it wouldnt be basic client/server communications. Any help / advice would be great.

[Jim_Kring]

I would start out with DataSocket and run datasocket server on one of the machines. This has an much easier learning curve. There are a lot of good examples that ship with LabVIEW.

Good luck,

-Jim

[DaveAtSentek]

I have used datasocket client/server before when working with opc items, however the system that I have to hook my softawre up to is old and unable to communicate in an opc/datasocket form.

[waldemar.hersacher]

Hi Dave,

A simple solution is to use VISA. You only need four functions VISA Open, VISA Read, VISA Write and VISA Close. The name of the resource is builded in the following sysntax: TCPIP[board]::host address::port::SOCKET. It seems that you must know the IP address of your device and the device should not use DHCP services to get a new IP address when it starts.

TCP/IP uses a caller/listener or client/server mechanism to establish a connection. I have not found how VISA will act and the colleque who tested TCP/IP with VISA is out of office.

We tested using TCP/IP because one of my customers planned to change his device to use TCP/IP instead of serial communication. We found that we only have to change the resource string and use the "VISA Open" i
nstead of "VISA Configure Serial Port". And you have also a termination character property you can do it the same way as with serial communication.

Waldemar