How to write drivers in CVI 6.0 for TCP/IP controlled instruments?

[edp]

I would like to know if I can write a CVI driver for an instrument that is controlled via TCP/IP. Is this part of the driver wizard in CVI 6.0? I couldn't find an option for TCP/IP instruments.
Any help will be appreciated, Thanks in advance.

[DanielMcchane]

edp,
You certainly can develop an instrument driver for an instrument. It sounds like you are fairly familiar with the wizard. We don't have any part of the wizard that allows you to customize the driver to control an instrument through TCP/IP, but you could through the TCP library, or with direct calls to the driver. Let me know if I have misunderstood your question.

Daniel McChane
Application Engineer
National Instruments

[btejani]

Actually, the wizard content does allow you to control an instrument through TCP/IP because the generated code uses VISA for instrument I/O.

If you don't already know, VISA is a bus independent API for instrument communication. You can use it for GPIB, Serial, VME, VXI, PXI, ethernet (i.e. TCP/IP), and more.

--Bankim

[btejani]

The LabWindows/CVI Instrument Driver Wizard is a good starting point for writing an IVI driver. However, depending on what type of instrument you're using and how you're using it, IVI may be overkill for you. While IVI's features are very useful, they can be difficult to implement for a new driver developer.

You might be better off developing a simpler LabWindows/CVI driver or a VXIpnp driver. They have fewer driver architecture mandates, and are typically easier for a first-time driver.

Whether you choose IVI, CVI, VXIpnp, or even LabVIEW, you should use VISA for your instrument I/O. VISA is bus-independent, so you will be able to communicate with GPIB, serial, VME, VXI, PXI, and ethernet (for TCP/IP) instruments using the same API.

You can find great d
river development resources (for IVI, CVI, and LabVIEW) on the page http://www.ni.com/devzone/idnet/development.htm. Another resource for help when writing a driver the National Instruments Instrument Driver Group. You can reach them at instrument.driver@ni.com. They offer free support, testing utilities, and can even post/distribute/maintain your driver if you develop a quality driver.

Good luck with your driver!

Bankim Tejani
National Instruments

[edp]

Based on the answer above, I have to write my CVI drivers using the VISA model (Virtual Inst. System Arquitecture) correct?
Can you point me to an example, perhaps? I need to talk to my instrument via Ethernet (TCP/IP) so if you could provide a sample driver, that would be awesome.
BTW, my instrument "understands" SCPI but doesn't support GPIB.