Chapter 1 Introduction
© National Instruments Corp. 1-3 GPIB-ENET for Macintosh
Optional Programming Tools
Your kit includes the NI-488.2 software for Macintosh. In addition, you can order the
LabVIEW software from National Instruments. LabVIEW includes instrument driver
libraries that make it easier to communicate with your GPIB instruments.
LabVIEW is a complete programming environment that departs from the sequential
nature of traditional programming languages and features a graphical programming
environment. It includes all the tools needed for instrument control, data acquisition,
analysis, and presentation. When you order LabVIEW, you also get more than 300
complete instrument drivers, which are modular, source-code programs that handle the
communication with your instrument so that you do not have to learn the programming
details.
For more information about LabVIEW, contact National Instruments.
Hardware Description
The GPIB-ENET transparently handles data transfers between an Ethernet-based TCP/IP
host and the GPIB. With the GPIB-ENET, multiple hosts can share a set of GPIB
instruments or a single host can control several GPIB systems.
The GPIB-ENET converts a computer equipped with an NI-488.2 driver and an Ethernet
port into a GPIB Talker/Listener/Controller. The GPIB-ENET is powered by a 100 to
120 VAC or 220 to 240 VAC supply.
The GPIB-ENET has all the software and logic required to implement the physical and
electrical characteristics of all versions of the ANSI/IEEE 488 standard, including
ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1987, and ANSI/IEEE Standard 802.3. The GPIB-ENET
interprets and executes commands that you send to it over an Ethernet link and performs
all necessary Ethernet-to-GPIB protocol conversions.