Chapter 1 Introduction
VXI-MXI-Express Series User Manual 1-4 ni.com
Advanced Configuration Options
The VXI-MXI-Express default hardware configuration should be
acceptable for most systems. Refer to AppendixB, Default Settings, only
if your system uses the front-panel CLK10 and trigger SMB connectors.
The NI-VISA/NI-VXI bus interface software includes a Resource
Manager, an interactive configuration and troubleshooting program,
a comprehensive library of software routine s for VXI/VME programming,
a logging utility you can use for debugging, and graphical interactive
control programs for interacting with VISA. You can use this software to
seamlessly program multiple-mainframe configurations and have software
compatibility across a variety of controller platforms.
NI-VISA has a comprehensive library of software routines not only for
VXI/VME programming, but also for GPIB, GPIB-VXI, PXI, TCP/IP, and
Serial. You can use this software to program instruments connected through
different types of interfaces.
Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) helps you view your
entire test and measurement system and configure various components,
whether they are VXI, GPIB, PXI, or Serial devices. You can easily
add VME devices to your system with MAX and view them in the
configuration tree along with the rest of your system. MAX features variou s
options for running the Resource Manager, Resman, such as performing
resource manager operations on your VXI systems and configuring Resman
to run automatically at startup. You also can execute Resman i ndependently
to configure your instruments after each power cycle.
The NI Spy utility tracks the calls your application makes to National
Instruments drivers, including NI-VXI, NI-VISA, and NI-488.2. NI Spy
helps you debug your application by clearly highlighting the functions that
return errors. You can let NI Spy keep a log of your program’s calls to these
drivers so that you can check them for errors at your convenience.
National Instruments Application Software
In addition to the NI-VISA/NI-VXI software, you can use the National
Instruments LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, and LabWindows™/CVI™
application programs and instrument drivers to ease your programming
task. These standardized programs match the modular virtual instrument
capability of VXI and can reduce your VXI/VME software development
time. These programs are fully VXIplug&play compliant and feature