Detecting Ethernet Instrument in PXI RT Controller

Updated Dec 19, 2023

Environment

Hardware

  • PXI-8231
  • PXI-8232
  • PXI Ethernet Interface Module
  • PXI Controller

Software

  • LabVIEW Real-Time Module
  • Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX)

Operating System

  • PharLap

When using a PXI-8231 or PXI-8232 in a PXI RT system, how do you see the ethernet port and proceed to detect the instrument in MAX?

To detect your Ethernet instruments on a Real-Time PXI controller take the following steps:
  1. First, locate the Remote System, and click the Network Settings tab (at the bottom of the Measurement & Automation Explorer window.


     
  2. You will see the following window. The primary connection (eth0) is the port that connects to your host computer or network. The second Ethernet device in the list (eth1), is the port on the Ethernet card. It is disabled by default. 


     
  3. Ensure that this port is in TCP/IP Network mode. You can then set the IPv4 address and subnet mask. The IP address should be on a different subnet from the primary Ethernet device's subnet (e.g. if the IP address of the controller is 10.x.x.x, assign the second port to 192.x.x.x. The subnet mask of 255.255.255.0 is fine to leave for both.) If your network card does not show up in this window, refer to Multiple Ethernet Network Cards Do Not Show up Under RT System in MAX.

  4. If necessary, configure the static IP settings on your instrument to match the subnet of the port. In many cases, all fields other than IP Address and Subnet Mask (such as Gateway, DNS Server Address, etc.) should be cleared, rather than left to their defaults. 
     
  5. To detect your instrument, you have to add it manually ensure that it gets detected. Right-Click Devices and Interfaces and select Create New..., then VISA TCP/IP Resource, then click Next and select Auto-detect of LAN Instrument. If you want to enter the IP address explicitly, select Manual Entry of LAN Instrument. Complete the steps to exit the dialog box, and also optionally provide your instrument with a VISA Alias.
     
  6. You will now see your TCP/IP Resource under the PXI controller in MAX.

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