Resetting and self-test of GPIB controller board (not the instruments attached to it!)

[Focus_Research]

We have a NI GPIB board as part of a large test operation.  Since reliability is absolutely crucial, I want to be able to force a reset of the GPIB controller board, and also to run a set of self-test diagnostics on the board.  Note!  I'm not talking about resetting the instruments attached to the GPIB bus.  I want to be able to reset the controller board itself and well as run self-tests on it.

I've studied the documentation, but all I find are commands to reset instruments attached to the board.

Is there a test-suit for the GPIB card and a way to reset it?

-Carl Dreher

[Aldo_A]

Hi Carl,

to further understand your question, what NI GPIB board are you using? That will greatly help me answer you question. Thanks!

[Focus_Research]

Aldo-

I pulled the card an it reads PCIe-GPIB+, with stickers that read "162FFAC".

Thanks for checking on this.  I really do need to find a self-test and reset for the card itself.

- Carl Dreher

[Aldo_A]

Hi Carl,

I believe your answer will be in this KB http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/124D580AE300335E86256FDD006CE798

It goes over several options such as LabVIEW, LabWindows, and C/Visual Basic. In additions, here is how you can select the self-test channels in LabVIEW http://digital.ni.com/public.nsf/allkb/2A80E4020A3D537786256E27007E0872?OpenDocument

Let me know if you have additional questions, hope this helps!

[Focus_Research]

Aldo-

These links only discuss the NI-DAQ board, NOT a GPIB card.  I don't see how this is any help at all.

- Carl Dreher

[Aldo_A]

Hi Carl,

I apologize for misunderstanding your request. To reset a GPIB board, here is the Quick Reference Card for NI-488.2 API (http://www.ni.com/pdf/manuals/370497a.pdf).

In specific, use the command "ResetSys" to reset and initialize IEEE 488.2 compliant devices and the "TestSys" to run the self-test diagnostics programmatically.

Hope this helps!

[Dennis_Knutson]

Are you sure that those commands do anything to the controller itself and not just to GPIB instruments? I've always understood that the phrase "IEEE 488.2 compliant devices" meant instruments and that the controller was not.

[Aldo_A]

Hi Carl,

To clear up your setup, will you be doing your reset and self-test routine via a text-based solution or through another environment?

[Aldo_A]

These particular commands were the only ones I've found from the NI 488.2 API, however, there is a text-based solution that does the board reset.

There is a function from Measurement Studio "Board.Reset" which resets the board and places all its software config parameters in their preconfigured state.

In LabVIEW, there isn't a reset command for the board, but to regain communication with your instruments after you receive an error, you will need to send an interface clear command to your GPIB board. 

With the NI-488.2 API, you can send an interface clear with the "SendIFC" VI in LabVIEW, or the "SendIFC()" function in text-based environments. With the NI-VISA API, then you can use the "VISA GPIB Send IFC" VI in LabVIEW, or the "viSendGpibIFC()" function in text-based environments.

[JasonSmith]

You can essentially reset the board by closing all open handles to it, and then re-opening the handle. This is difficult to do if you are using the GPIB pallette in LabVIEW, but is easily achieved when using the VISA pallette or any text-based language. Please note that by all handles, I mean handles to the board, plus handles to any devices connected to the board.

As for the self-test, there is not currently a method to perform the self-test through the API, it would have to be done through the GPIB Troubleshooting Utility, which would not easily be done programmatically.

-Jason S.