GPIB control of Tektronix AFG3102 using RT embedded controller PXIe-8130

[Anil_AFM_CranesSci]

Hello All,

My RT setup includes a PXIe-1062Q Chasis with PXIe-8130 embedded controller, PXI-5406, PXIe-5122 and PXI-7831R. PXIe-8130 has a GPIB interface card also in it. I am trying to control Tecktronix AFG3102 (arbitrary function generator) using GPIB interface card.

I have insalled the following drivers in RT setup,

NI-488.2 RT 2.5.2
NI-Visa 4.3
NI-Visa server 4.3

Are these driver's sufficient to control Tektronix AFG3102 or not ? Because I tried alot, but other than GPIB interface card, it's not able to detect anything else. Is there any RT driver (like NI-488.2 RT 2.5.2 rather than NI-488.2) for Tektronix products as well ? I searched in NI driver downloads section, but couldn't find any!

I have set basic VISA options such as "secuirity" and "remote" to  '*' and '10.0.4.65' respectively. (note: 10.0.4.65 is the ip address of my RT system). I was able to detect GPIB interface card only after doing this settings

I have attached MAX configuration tree for both Host computer as well as RT (remote system)

Anil K M
Indian Institute of Science

[TobyHex]

Hello Anil_AFM_CranesSci,
I wanted to first point you to a KnowledgeBase that explains how to communicate with GPIB instruments connected to a Real-Time PXI controller. Please let me know if this proves to be useful and we shall go from there. Thanks again and have a great day!
Regards,

Nicholas K

[Anil_AFM_CranesSci]

Hello Nicholas K,
Thanks for the reply.
I had tried that also before posting this issue in forum.
When doing whatever is given in that knowledge Base, at the second last point i.e, "Your PXI GPIB device as well as instruments connected to that device will show up in the format shown below. The GPIB::INTFC is the resource of the GPIB board itself while the GPIB::INSTR are the instruments connected to that GPIB board." I am just seeing one resource which is GPIB::INTFC, whereas GPIB::INSTR doesn't show up.

One more point. In MAX, while clicking on the PXI2::6::INSTR(PCI-GPIB), the option "Scan for instruments" is not hilighted. Does it means, any kind of patch is needed ?

Anil

[Anil_AFM_CranesSci]

Hello,

We have already tried the solution posted in the Knowledgebase but it doesn't work. We also reformatted the RT controller's hard disk and reinstalled all softwares, also to no use.

Regards

Anil

[Pie56694]

Hi Anil,

The PXIe-8130 embedded controller features a PCI-based GPIB controller (page 4), so it does not require special driver consideration.  Not having the "Scan for instruments" option is expected behavior when using GPIB on an embedded RT controller.  One problem may be with, "I have set basic VISA options such as "secuirity" and "remote" to  '*' and '10.0.4.65' respectively. (note: 10.0.4.65 is the ip address of my RT system)".  You must configure VISA security on the real-time target, not for the real-time target.  See here.  Remove the other VISA security and remote settings that you may have applied.  Also, make sure the Tecktronix AFG is powered up, connected to the PXIe-8130's controller, configured for GPIB communication, and in Talk/Listen mode.  How to do this is found in the User Manual (page 31 of the PDF).  Make sure the PXI controller is not in Safe Mode.  After you have confirmed these things, try the VISA Interactive Control again.  Please let me know how things work out.

[Anil_AFM_CranesSci]

Hello Steve,

We had configured VISA security on the real time target as well.The pic for RT MAX config was screen shot when Host VISA security was hilighted. In fact RT MAX config is also set properly.
Ya, our RT is not in Safe Mode, we double checked it also. Could this be any hardware issue, should we contact any tech support, because it is already 4,5 working days that we are trying. And it looks like we are wasting much time on this.

Waiting for your responce
Anil K M
Indian Institute of Science

[Pie56694]

Hi Anil,

Did you configure the Tektronix scope for GPIB mode?  Please use the instructions in my last post to verify.  Does the AFG reply to a *IDN? from another GPIB controller?  Please tell me the primary address of the AFG.  Why are there four ethernet drivers installed on the PXI?  Is it possible to wipe out the software on the PXI and install just the ethernet driver for the onboard card, LabVIEW Real-Time, NI-488.2 Real-Time, NI-VISA, and NI-VISA server?  I'm sorry that things aren't working for you.  The system does look fairly involved, and I'd like to do everything possible to isolate the onboard GPIB controller.