Card testing: Is there a platform available with ISA & PCI slots?

[CalLab_Mark]

I am running Calibration Executive 2.0 to handle AT- and PCI-type E-series daq cards.  I am considering updating to the latest version in order to calibrate the newer cards not supported by my old version.  I'm not wild about plugging these cards into the motherboard slots of an open-cased tower PC and I'd prefer some sort of expansion platform with an ISA and a PCI slot to plug the card under test into.  I had assumed such a platform would be common in the card development world but I've been unable to locate one.  Does such a thing exist?

[James_M.]

Hi Mark,

As you're probably aware, National Instruments does not have a platform with both ISA & PCI slots. Nonetheless, you should be able to find bus extenders for both PCI and ISA buses (if not both together) that would allow for easier external installation of cards. For instance:

http://www.cyberresearch.com/store/bus-adapters-expansion-chassis/computer-accessories-pc-peripheral...

Hope that helps!

James M. | Applications Engineer | National Instruments

[CalLab_Mark]

Disappointing.  There seem to be a multitude of hurdles and caveats with virtual ISA & PCI adapters as offered (typically for use with notebooks).  While on a Google spree I found bus extenders, or risers, that might do what I want (speed workflow and preserve motherboard slots) while offering full bus support.  I've also found that new motherboards are available with legacy ISA slots as well so I'm not stuck with an antique PC running an OS from the previous millennia.

Calibration Executive is an expensive system.  I'm disappointed that NI doesn't provide such a piece of hardware so users don't have to insert/remove cards from the motherboard in an open PC all day long.  A little "elegance" in the appearance of the test stand would go a long way toward easing the pain of the system purchase 🙂

[K C]

Hi,

I know there are firms that produce 'old' style computers. Just what you ask. I will search my archive and let you know.

[K C]

Take a look here

Search for '(industrial) computer isa'

[CalLab_Mark]

Thank you for your reply but I've already covered that:

---

@Mark wrote:
I've also found that new motherboards are available with legacy ISA slots as well so I'm not stuck with an antique PC running an OS from the previous millennia.

---

I'm looking for a way to extend those slots away from the motherboard to make card swapping easier and lessen wear on the mb slots.  I've found some risers that do that but I'm told that at the high frequencies the bus and these DAQ cards operate at these risers or cables won't work.

 

So it looks like I'll continue to swap cards into an unattractive open PC on my cal stand 😞

 

Thanks for your help.

[James_M.]

Hi Mark,

I'm sorry we're not able to help you more in finding an easier platform for calibrating your AT/ISA DAQ cards. Unfortunately we haven't produced ISA-based cards for many years now, so it's understandably difficult to locate resources for them (though it should be noted that NI has not at any point produced backplane extenders for our ISA or PCI DAQ cards). Given that you are putting in significant effort to calibrate these cards ISA-based cards, I presume upgrading to more recent technology is not an option? Locating backplane extenders for solely PCI-based cards would certainly be an easier task.

I wish you the best of luck in your calibration efforts.

James M. | Applications Engineer | National Instruments

[CalLab_Mark]

We have 47 E-series cards, 33 PCI + 14 AT-type.  I estimate about 1/2 our inventory is in daily use and a check with our database shows most AT systems are idle.  I was initially told the latest version of Calibration Executive supported ALL previous types of E-series cards but I've just learned that ISA is NOT supported.  This means IF we purchase this new system I won't need it to have ISA slots and I will end up with 2 calibration stands with 2 open PCs.  The alternative is to do what most others have probably already done and junk the AT cards.  I believe we can get along without them.

[James_M.]

It's my understanding that AT-type E-series DAQ boards are still supported in Calibration Executive (http://zone.ni.com/devzone/cda/tut/p/id/11092). Nonetheless, a switch to using only PCI-based boards may be simplest from a compatibility point of view, and would make it easier to find bus extenders for your needs. For instance, Magma PCI expansion systems (http://www.magma.com/) have been seen to work in the past with our hardware, though there are certainly also other bus extenders on the market. 

James M. | Applications Engineer | National Instruments