Installating the Agilent RM Support
If you have not already done so obtain the 1394 Application package using the link on
http://npg.dl.ac.uk/MIDAS/download/DataAcqApplications.html
Download the file and unzip it.
Extract to C:
This will create the file C:\.eg-defaults.tcl and the directories C:\.midas and C:\MIDAS
Install Agilent RM support from C:\MIDAS\Agilent\wnm0101.exe
Use the Full Installation option
When the installation is complete power on the VXI crate and connect the firewire cable
The Found New Hardware Wizard runs. Let it automatically install software and then click on Finish
Check the hardware installation.
Look under Computer Management and start the Device Manager.
You should see
Test & Measurement devices Agilent E8491 1394 VXI controllerClick on IO icon on the taskbar
Select "Run IO config" Select VXI interface and click "Configure"In the "E8491 VXI Board Configuration" you should see VISA Interface Name VXI0
See the Agilent VXI RM popup window configure the VXI crate. This happens every time you power on the VXI crate or reconnect the firewire cable. It is important that this happens because the communication between the PC and the RM is established and also the VXI autoconfiguration occurs which dynamically assigns VME addresses to all the VXI modules in the crate. You can force the software configuration by pushing the red RESET button on the Agilent RM front panel.
The RM installation is now complete.
Checking the VXI configuration
Click on IO icon on the taskbar
Select "Edit VXI Resource Manager" Click on RM outputThis will display (using Notepad) details of the VXI auto configuration and all VXI modules discovered.
VXI Current Configuration: VXI Bus: 0 Device Logical Addresses: 0 1 2 3 4 Slots: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- Empty O O O O O O O O O Single Device X X X Multiple Devices X VME Failed VXI Device Table: Name LADD Slot Bus Manufacturer Model ---- ---- ---- --- ------------ ----- E8491ctlr 0 0 0 Agilent Technolo E8491 1394 VXI Controller in Slot 0 LA_1 1 1 0 Daresbury Labora 0x170 LA_2 2 0 0 Dr B Struck 0x150 LA_3 3 4 0 Daresbury Labora 0x160 LA_4 4 6 0 Institut Nationa 0x940 VME Device Table: Name Bus Slot Space Size ---- --- ---- ----- ---- No VME cards configured. Failed Devices: Name Bus Slot Manufacturer Model ---- --- ---- ------------ ----- No FAILED devices detected. Protocol Support (Msg Based Devices): Name CMDR SIG MSTR INT FHS SMP RG EG ERR PI PH TRG I4 I LW ELW 1.3 ---- ---- --- ---- --- --- --- -- -- --- -- -- --- -- - -- --- --- E8491ctlr X X X X X X Commander/Servant Hierarchy; E8491ctlr LA_1 LA_2 LA_3 LA_4 Memory Map: A24 Device Name --- ----------- 0x200000 - 0x21ffff E8491ctlr 0x220000 - 0x227fff LA_3 A32 Device Name --- ----------- 0x22000000 - 0x227fffff LA_2 0x20000000 - 0x21ffffff LA_4 Interrupt Request Lines: Handler Interrupter Name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ---- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - E8491ctlr X X X X X X X LA_1 LA_2 LA_3 LA_4[End of typical output]
Each time you change the modules in the VXI crate it is a good idea to check this file to ensure all your modules have been discovered and that there are no errors.
VXI module having Model code 0x170 is the Daresbury Slot1 module
VXI module having Model code 0x150 is the Struck STR8080 (VRE) module
VXI module having Model code 0x160 is the Daresbury Eurogam Clover module
VXI module having Model code 0x940 is the Euroball Master Trigger module
Note that the Struck STR8080 module (Device LA_2) has been assigned the VME address range in A32 address space of 0x22000000 to 0x227fffff. Note this base address (0x22000000) as it is important.