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3.7
LAN PROGRAMMING GUIDELINES
This section provides general directions for linking to the 8099 and hints for
writing LAN programs. Refer to ICS's AB80 series Application Notes and the
Appendix for additional information about programming VXI-11 devices.
3.7.1 LAN Programming and Timeouts
The VXI-11 protocol provides a way to send data packets and commands to
an instrument and to receive data back from instruments over your company
network or LAN. As with GPIB Programming, there are a couple things the
user must do before using the 8099.
Windows users should:
1. Install a VXI-11 compliant VISA Library (from NI or Agilent).
2. Define the 8099 as a VISA TCP/IP Resource.
3. Write and test the Application Program
Linux/UNIX users should:
1. Install RPC client-side support.
2. Use the system's rpcgen utility to install VXI-11 RPC.
3. Write and test the program. See AB80-3 for RPC programming
Programs written for a LAN instrument need to be organized in the following
manner:
1. Open a socket and link to the 8099 and to any other instruments.
2. Body of the test program with instrument reads, writes etc.
3. An exit routine that closes all links and sockets.
Leave the instrument links and channels open until the program is finished to
avoid unnecessary program delays and exhausting the devices' resources. Error
testing should be built into the program to verify that the called function worked
as planned. Test your commands with ICS's VXI-11 keyboard program before
adding them to your program. (See Section 3.9 for VXI11_kybd directions).
ICS also provides a Error Log Utility to read back soft errors from the 8099
during program debugging. See Section 3.10 for more information about the
ErrorLog Utility.
Example Visual Basic programs that make VISA calls are supplied on your Sup-
port CD and are available for downloading from ICS's website (www.icselect.
com). Use these programs as a starting point for your program.
