Fluke 2645A, 2640A user manual NetDAQ and Your Network Administrator

2640A/2645A NetDAQ

Users Manual

low system data throughput because of the processing rate of host computers and disk systems, and instruments that are physically close to the host computer.

Now, the increased processing capability of affordable host computers, increased channel measurement rates, and pressure to place the instruments close to the signal source have made support of high-speed, long distance communication techniques necessary. At the same time, many companies are installing network wiring to support general client/server processing on Personal Computers.

Using networking techniques to communicate between the PC and the instrument has many advantages (and a few disadvantages). Advantages include:

∙High data transfer rates

∙Standard wiring methods and use of in-place wiring

∙Standard protocols

∙Low cost interface boards

Disadvantages include:

∙Increased setup complexity

∙Increased instrument power consumption (compared to RS-232)

∙Additional interface in the PC

The NetDAQ instrument and host computer software use Ethernet wiring and low level protocols, TCP/IP high level protocols, and the WINSOCK application interface layer. These are all public domain, non-proprietary standards with multiple-company support. Use of these non-proprietary protocols and hardware ensures that NetDAQ instruments and software will operate on most installed networks and have the lowest possible cost using off-the-shelf commercial networking products. Read “Network Primer” in this appendix for more information on these standards.

NetDAQ and Your Network Administrator I-3.

If you plan to communicate between your host PC and the NetDAQ instruments on a network that is totally isolated from any other network communication devices, you can install the network and set up the devices without consulting Network Administration. However, if you're going to communicate on an existing network, you need to coordinate this with your Network Administrator. Specifically, you need to ask the following questions before installing and setting up your instruments and host PC:

1.What values should I use for my IP addresses, Socket Port Number, and Subnet Mask?

I-2