LabVIEW connections to GPIB

[vamaro@my-deja.com]

Is it possible to connect more than 20 GPIB instruments to an local
network area an than run 2 LabVIEW programs ( in different PC's ) at
the same time over the network, EACH PROGRAM CHOOSING WITCH INSTRUMENTS
TO CONTROL ?
If so can you give some tips on how to accomplish that ?
Thank you.



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[Kevin_work]

vamaro@my-deja.com wrote:

> Is it possible to connect more than 20 GPIB instruments to an local
> network area an than run 2 LabVIEW programs ( in different PC's ) at
> the same time over the network, EACH PROGRAM CHOOSING WITCH INSTRUMENTS
> TO CONTROL ?
> If so can you give some tips on how to accomplish that ?
> Thank you.

The main problem with large numbers of instruments on a GPIB is
that it is electrically limited to about 15. There are some ways around
this though. NI makes a GPIB extender / expander that allows about
26 devices on one GPIB (GPIB-140). If you have 2 PCs and each has
a card then each can have 15 but they are limited to what is connected
physically to it.
Ethernet GPIB (NI GPIB-ENET) is probably what you are
looking for. These boxes connect
to the LAN and are addressable over the
LAN. The only problem that may arise from the 2 programs is arbitration
of who gets the instrument if both want to use it at the same time.

Hope this is some help
Kevin Kent