Debian GNU/Linux nigpib0.85 and 0.85 drivers problems

[Carlo F.]

Hello,
on Debian GNU/Linux kernel 2.418bf (then uncessfully updated to 2.4.22) I am trying to use the following GPIB card on the PCI slot:
Helwett Packard E2078A\82350 A. It is connected to an Agilent 54621A oscilloscope. However I keep on having problems with the driver . I tried to recompile the kernel with the required options, but again new problems. I am already lost before starting the serious stuff and after spending a huge ammount of time on it. Could somebody tell me if the nigpib0.85 or 0.84 supports my GPIB card ? Or Perhaps such driver is only for ni gpib cards ? and there are maybe other driver that I can try to use (Afterwards I would like to use Labview 7)?
Thank you in advance.
Bye
Carlo

[Brian_Powell]

The NI driver for Linux only supports NI cards. Would it be possible for you to use an NI GPIB card instead of your Agilent card?

Brian

[Carlo F.]

Thank you for your answer. Unfortunately, at the present time it is not possible for me to use a NI GPIB card (perhaps in the future). Do you maybe have any suggestion about which driver can I try to use?
Bye
Carlo

[Brian_Powell]

Unfortunately, no. I suggest you contact Agilent.

Brian

[Carlo F.]

Thank you. I'm going to try to contac Agilent.
Carlo

[Brian_Powell]

I should also add that when you contact Agilent, you will want to ask them not just for the GPIB driver, but also for support for VISA. You may not need it now, but you will when you start using LabVIEW.

LabVIEW's builtin GPIB functions require NI-488.2, but the builtin VISA functions can work with any vendor's VISA.

So for LabVIEW support, you either need to get Agilent VISA for Linux, or you need to get Agilent's "passport" that will allow their GPIB driver to work in NI-VISA for Linux.

They may also support a proprietary API for GPIB on Linux that works in LabVIEW if they don't have VISA support.

Brian

[Carlo F.]

I have just posted a quite generic request. However, beside the details about their hardware, I have specified that my aim is to use the card with Labview 7 on Debian GNU/Linux. Let's see if and what they answer back. If they do not mention any support for VISA I post another request for that.
Thank you (as you have just relised I am a beginner in the field).
Carlo

[Methis Elddir]

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 14:03:26 -0600, Carlo F. wrote:

> Hello,
> on Debian GNU/Linux kernel 2.418bf (then uncessfully updated to
> 2.4.22) I am trying to use the following GPIB card on the PCI slot:
> Helwett Packard E2078A\82350 A. It is connected to an Agilent 54621A
> oscilloscope. However I keep on having problems with the driver . I
> tried to recompile the kernel with the required options, but again new
> problems. I am already lost before starting the serious stuff and
> after spending a huge ammount of time on it. Could somebody tell me
> if the nigpib0.85 or 0.84 supports my GPIB card ? Or Perhaps such
> driver is only for ni gpib cards ? and there are maybe other driver
> that I can try to use (Afterwards I would like to use Labview 7)?
> Thank y
ou in advance.
> Bye
> Carlo

As an alternative you could try the Linux-GPIB driver.
http://linux-gpib.sourceforge.net/

Here's the hardware support list:
http://linux-gpib.sourceforge.net/doc/supported-hardware.html

This is a cool open source project. As you can see from the list, they
support any vendor. This project in combination with the Comedi project
permits Linux to work with a variety of hardware.

I didn't see your hardware on the support list but if you email Frank Mori
Hess (through the mailing list), he may be able to help. And yes, it works
quite well with LabVIEW.