Chapter 1
Introduction and Quick Start
1-6
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Optional Software
Your VXI/VME-PCI8026 kit includes the NI-VXI/VISA bus interface
software. In addition, you can use National Instruments LabVIEW to ease
your programming task. This standardized program matches the modular
virtual instrument capability of VXI and can reduce your VXI/VMEbus
software development time.
LabVIEW is a complete programming environment that departs from the
sequential nature of traditional programming languages and features a
graphical programming environment.
Quick Start
You can use this
section as a guide to quickly configure
and operate your VXI or VME system using the PCI-MXI-2 and the
VXI-MXI-2 or VME-MXI-2.
The Quick Start summary assumes that you intend to perform a basic
configuration as follows:
•
You have one PCI-MXI-2 interface module, which you will install
in your 5 V PCI-based computer as the Resource Manager (logical
address 0).
•
You have either one C-size VXI-MXI-2 or one 6U, B-size
VME-MXI-2, which you will install in a VXI or VME chassis,
respectively, and connect to the PCI-MXI-2.
•
You will be using the NI-VXI/VISA software for initialization,
configuration, and device interaction.
•
You will use the default hardware and software settings:
–
The PCI-MXI-2 is the main controller, the VXI/VME Resource
Manager, and a message-based device.
–
Your system contains only one VXI or VME chassis.
–
There is no shared memory used on the PCI-based computer,
the PCI-MXI-2, or the VXI/VME-MXI-2.
Refer to the end of this chapter for a complete listing of the hardware and
software default settings. If you need more information, or if you want to
try a different configuration, refer to the appropriate hardware or software
chapters in this manual, which describe the installation and configuration
steps in greater detail.
