Keysight Technologies VXI bus 75000 C Series User manual

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394
PC Link to VXI
Configuration and User Guide
75000 Series C

Notices
© Keysight Technologies, Inc. 1999-2019
No part of this manual may be repro-
duced in any form or by any means
(including electronic storage and retrieval
or translation into a foreign language)
without prior agreement and written con-
sent from Keysight Technologies, Inc. as
governed by United States and interna-
tional copyright laws.
Manual Part Number
E8491-90001
Edition
Third Edition, August 2019
Published by
Keysight Technologies, Inc.
900 S. Taft Ave.
Loveland, CO 80537 USA
Sales and Technical Support
To contact Keysight for sales and techni-
cal support, refer to the support links on
the following Keysight websites:
www.keysight.com/find/E8491B
(product-specific information and sup-
port, software and documentation
updates)
www.keysight.com/find/assist (world-
wide contact information for repair and
service)
Declaration of Conformity
Declarations of Conformity for this prod-
uct and for other Keysight products may
be downloaded from the Web. Go to
http://keysight.com/go/conformity and
click on “Declarations of Conformity.” You
can then search by product number to
find the latest Declaration of Conformity.
Technology Licenses
The hardware and/or software described
in this document are furnished under a
license and may be used or copied only in
accordance with the terms of such
license.
Warranty
THE MATERIAL CONTAINED IN THIS
DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED “AS IS,” AND
IS SUBJECT TO BEING CHANGED,
WITHOUT NOTICE, IN FUTURE EDI-
TIONS. FURTHER, TO THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE
LAW, KEYSIGHT DISCLAIMS ALL WAR-
RANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
WITH REGARD TO THIS MANUAL AND
ANY INFORMATION CONTAINED
HEREIN, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED
TO THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MER-
CHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. KEYSIGHT
SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ERRORS OR
FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL
DAMAGES IN CONNECTION WITH THE
FURNISHING, USE, OR PERFORMANCE
OF THIS DOCUMENT OR OF ANY INFOR-
MATION CONTAINED HEREIN. SHOULD
KEYSIGHT AND THE USER HAVE A SEP-
ARATE WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH
WARRANTY TERMS COVERING THE
MATERIAL IN THIS DOCUMENT THAT
CONFLICT WITH THESE TERMS, THE
WARRANTY TERMS IN THE SEPARATE
AGREEMENT SHALL CONTROL.
Keysight Technologies does not warrant
third-party system-level (combination of
chassis, controllers, modules, etc.) per-
formance, safety, or regulatory compli-
ance unless specifically stated.
DFARS/Restricted Rights
Notices
If software is for use in the performance
of a U.S. Government prime contract or
subcontract, Software is delivered and
licensed as “Commercial computer soft-
ware” as defined in DFAR 252.227-7014
(June 1995), or as a “commercial item” as
defined in FAR 2.101(a) or as “Restricted
computer software” as defined in FAR
52.227-19 (June 1987) or any equivalent
agency regulation or contract clause.
Use, duplication or disclosure of Software
is subject to Keysight Technologies’ stan-
dard commercial license terms, and non-
DOD Departments and Agencies of the
U.S. Government will receive no greater
than Restricted Rights as defined in FAR
52.227-19(c)(1-2) (June 1987). U.S. Gov-
ernment users will receive no greater
than Limited Rights as defined in FAR
52.227-14 (June 1987) or DFAR 252.227-
7015 (b)(2) (November 1995), as applica-
ble in any technical data.

Safety Information
The following general safety precau-
tions must be observed during all
phases of operation of this instrument.
Failure to comply with these precau-
tions or with specific warnings or oper-
ating instructions in the product
manuals violates safety standards of
design, manufacture, and intended use
of the instrument. Keysight Technolo-
gies assumes no liability for the cus-
tomer's failure to comply with these
requirements.
General
Do not use this product in any manner not
specified by the manufacturer. The protec-
tive features of this product must not be
impaired if it is used in a manner specified in
the operation instructions.
Before Applying Power
Verify that all safety precautions are taken.
Make all connections to the unit before
applying power. Note the external markings
described under “Safety Symbols”.
Ground the Instrument
Keysight chassis’ are provided with a
grounding-type power plug. The
instrument chassis and cover must be
connected to an electrical ground to
minimize shock hazard. The ground pin
must be firmly connected to an electri-
cal ground (safety ground) terminal at
the power outlet. Any interruption of
the protective (grounding) conductor
or disconnection of the protective
earth terminal will cause a potential
shock hazard that could result in per-
sonal injury.
Do Not Operate in an Explosive
Atmosphere
Do not operate the module/chassis in
the presence of flammable gases or
fumes.
Do Not Operate Near Flammable
Liquids
Do not operate the module/chassis in
the presence of flammable liquids or
near containers of such liquids.
Cleaning
Clean the outside of the Keysight mod-
ule/chassis with a soft, lint-free,
slightly dampened cloth. Do not use
detergent or chemical solvents.
Do Not Remove Instrument Cover
Only qualified, service-trained person-
nel who are aware of the hazards
involved should remove instrument
covers. Always disconnect the power
cable and any external circuits before
removing the instrument cover.
Keep away from live circuits
Operating personnel must not remove
equipment covers or shields. Proce-
dures involving the removal of covers
and shields are for use by service-
trained personnel only. Under certain
conditions, dangerous voltages may
exist even with the equipment
switched off. To avoid dangerous elec-
trical shock, DO NOT perform proce-
dures involving cover or shield removal
unless you are qualified to do so.
DO NOT operate damaged
equipment
Whenever it is possible that the safety
protection features built into this prod-
uct have been impaired, either through
physical damage, excessive moisture,
or any other reason, REMOVE POWER
and do not use the product until safe
operation can be verified by service-
trained personnel. If necessary, return
the product to a Keysight Technologies
Sales and Service Office for service and
repair to ensure the safety features are
maintained.
DO NOT block the primary
disconnect
The primary disconnect device is the
appliance connector/power cord when
a chassis used by itself, but when
installed into a rack or system the dis-
connect may be impaired and must be
considered part of the installation.
Do Not Modify the Instrument
Do not install substitute parts or per-
form any unauthorized modification to
the product. Return the product to a
Keysight Sales and Service Office to
ensure that safety features are main-
tained.
In Case of Damage
Instruments that appear damaged or
defective should be made inoperative
and secured against unintended oper-
ation until they can be repaired by
qualified service personnel
Do NOT block vents and fan exhaust:
To ensure adequate cooling and venti-
lation, leave a gap of at least 50mm
(2") around vent holes on both sides of
the chassis.
Do NOT operate with empty slots: To
ensure proper cooling and avoid dam-
aging equipment, fill each empty slot
with an AXIe filler panel module.
Do NOT stack free-standing chassis:
Stacked chassis should be rack-
mounted.
All modules are grounded through the
chassis: During installation, tighten
each module's retaining screws to
secure the module to the chassis and
to make the ground connection.
Operator is responsible to maintain
safe operating conditions. To ensure
safe operating conditions, modules
should not be operated beyond the full
temperature range specified in the
Environmental and physical specifica-
tion. Exceeding safe operating condi-
tions can result in shorter lifespan,
improper module performance and
user safety issues. When the modules
are in use and operation within the
specified full temperature range is not
maintained, module surface tempera-
tures may exceed safe handling condi-
tions which can cause discomfort or
burns if touched. In the event of a
module exceeding the full temperature
range, always allow the module to cool
before touching or removing modules
from the chassis.
vi

Safety Symbols
A CAUTION denotes a hazard. It
calls attention to an operating pro-
cedure or practice, that, if not cor-
rectly performed or adhered to
could result in damage to the
product or loss of important data.
Do not proceed beyond a CAUTION
notice until the indicated condi-
tions are fully understood and met.
A WARNING denotes a hazard. It
calls attention to an operating pro-
cedure or practice, that, if not cor-
rectly performed or adhered to,
could result in personal injury or
death. Do not proceed beyond a
WARNING notice until the indi-
cated conditions are fully under-
stood and met.
Products display the following sym-
bols:
Warning, risk of electric
shock
Refer to manual for addi-
tional safety information.
Earth Ground.
Chassis Ground.
Alternating Current (AC).
Direct Current (DC)
vii

viii

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 to VXI User Guide ix
1 Introduction
Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in VXI Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Component Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The Keysight E8491B PC Link to VXI Interconnect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The OHCI-Compatible PCI-to-IEEE 1394 Host Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
The Keysight I/O Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Using this Manual. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 2: Interface Installation and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 3: VXI Programming Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus. . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 4: IEEE 1394 Fundamentals and Interface Overview . . . . . . . . 14
Appendix A: Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Appendix B: Editing the E8491B Resource Manager Configuration . . . 14
Additional Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
2 Interface Installation and Configuration
Using this Chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Step 1: Installing the IEEE 1394 Host Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Connecting the Power Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Where to go Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Step 2: Installing the E8491B Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Connecting the E8491B to the Host Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Alternate Configurations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Where to go Next . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Step 3: Installing VXI Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Installing C-size Instruments. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Installing A- and B-size Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Step 4: Installing the Keysight I/O Libraries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Configuring the E8491B Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Editing the E8491B Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Editing the E8491B Configuration on Windows 95 Platforms . . . . . . . . 32
Step 5: Installing Keysight VXIplug&play Instrument Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Step 6. Verifying the Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Using Instrument Soft Front Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Viewing the Resource Manager Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Troubleshooting Installation Problems. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Running the Resource Manager. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3 VXI Programming Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus
Using this Chapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Programming Register-Based and Message-Based VXI Instruments. . . . . 41
Opening Instrument Sessions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Keysight VXIplug&play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Keysight VISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SICL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Optimizing Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Block Data Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Block Transfers using Keysight VXIplug&play Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Block Transfers using Keysight VISA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Contents

x Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 to VXI User Guide
Keysight E8491B Triggering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Using Triggers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Configuring the E8491B Trig In and Trig Out Ports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Triggering Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Trigger Pull Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Using Keysight E8491B Shared Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Locating E8491B Shared Memory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Locating Shared Memory Using Keysight VISA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Locating Shared Memory Using SICL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Locating Shared Memory by Viewing the Resource Manager Output . . 55
Example Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
Storing Readings in Shared Memory - Keysight VISA Example . . . . . . . 57
Storing Readings in Shared Memory - SICL Example . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
4 IEEE 1394 Fundamentals and Interface Overview
Using this Chapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
IEEE 1394 Topology and Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Features of the IEEE 1394 Bus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Optimizing the Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
IEEE 1394 Data Transfer Protocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Asynchronous Data Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Fair Arbitration Protocol. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
VXI Data Transfers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
OHCI-Compatible Host Adapter and Interface Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
The Keysight E8491B PC to VXI Interconnect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Using the Keysight E8491B with the Keysight E1406 Command Module74
The Keysight I/O Libraries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
A Specifications
Interface Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
VXI Characteristics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
CLK 10 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
External Trigger Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
External Trigger Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Trigger Delays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Cooling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
B Editing the Keysight E8491B Resource Manager Configuration
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Configuration File Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
The names.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The oride.cf Configuration File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The vmedev.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The cmdrsrvt.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
The dynamic.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
The irq.cf Configuration File. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
The ttltrig.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 to VXI User Guide xi
The vximanuf.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
The vximodel.cf Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Utility Function Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Using ivxisc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Using iclear . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

xii Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 to VXI User Guide

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI
Configuration and User Guide
13
1Introduction
Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in VXI Systems
The IEEE 1394 Serial Bus (FireWire) is a high-speed bus that has been
implemented as an I/O interface between external PCs and Keysight VXI
systems. The bus links the PC backplane to the VXI mainframe backplane. This
manual describes the implementation, configuration, and use of this interface.
Component Overview
Implementation of the IEEE 1394 serial bus as an I/O interface for Keysight VXI
systems is provided through three components and two operating systems:
–Keysight E8491B PC Link to VXI Interconnect
–OHCI-compatible PCI-to-IEEE 1394 Host Adapter
–Keysight I/O Libraries
–WIN 95 and WIN NT operating systems
The Keysight E8491B PC Link to VXI Interconnect
The E8491B is the VXI hardware that links the VXI mainframe backplane to the
IEEE 1394 serial bus. The E8491B is a 1-slot, C-size, message-based device that
is installed in mainframe slot 0.
The OHCI-Compatible PCI-to-IEEE 1394 Host Adapter
The OHCI PCI-to-1394 Host Adapter card is installed in the PC and links the
computer’s (PCI) backplane to the IEEE 1394 bus. The OHCI adapter has three
external IEEE 1394 ports and can support up to 16 E8491Bs.
The Keysight I/O Libraries
The Keysight I/O Libraries provide the Keysight VISA and Keysight SICL drivers
required to use the E8491B. Included with the libraries are the drivers for the
OHCI-compatible host adapter.

14 Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide
Introduction Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in VXI Systems
Using this Manual
This manual is organized to help you install, configure, and begin using the IEEE
1394 serial bus as quickly and efficiently as possible. The following information
outlines the contents of the other chapters, and identifies the areas of
programming a VXI system that are NOT covered in this manual.
Chapter 2: Interface Installation and Configuration
This chapter contains information on installing the E8491B hardware and its
drivers (the Keysight I/O Libraries). Also included is information on installing VXI
instruments, installing Keysight VXIplug&play drivers, and on verifying the
system.
Chapter 3: VXI Programming Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus
This chapter contains the information necessary to begin communicating with
VXI instruments through the E8491B and IEEE 1394 serial bus. The chapter
contains information on optimizing system performance using block data
transfers, and also covers triggering and using E8491B shared memory.
Chapter 4: IEEE 1394 Fundamentals and Interface Overview
This chapter describes the IEEE 1394 serial bus and how it is implemented in
Keysight VXI systems. It defines the bus terminology and data transfer protocol.
Appendix A: Specifications
Appendix A contains the operating and performance specifications of the
E8491B.
Appendix B: Editing the E8491B Resource Manager Configuration
Appendix B contains information on editing your VXI system configuration as set
by the resource manager. It describes selected configuration files and utility
functions used to view and modify your configuration.
Additional Information
Programming the E8491B is through Keysight VISA and Keysight SICL functions.
Although this manual identifies the specific functions used, you will need to refer
to the Keysight VISA and Keysight SICL manuals for detailed information.
Also, included with the Keysight I/O Libraries is the utility ‘I_O Config’. This utility
is used to configure the E8491B and has a help file associated with it.

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide 15
Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in VXI Systems Introduction
Pop-up or pull-down menus displayed by the Keysight I/O
Libraries software will show I/O Libraries as “I_O Libraries” and I/O
Config as “I_O Config” because the “/” cannot be displayed. The
“/” character is therefore replaced by the underscore character.

16 Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide
Introduction Using the IEEE 1394 Serial Bus in VXI Systems

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI
Configuration and User Guide
17
2Interface Installation and
Configuration
Using this Chapter
This chapter contains information necessary to install and configure the IEEE
1394 host adapter (if required) and the Keysight E8491B interconnect. The
installation sequence and other topics covered in this chapter are as follows:
Step 1: Installing the IEEE 1394 Host Adapter page 17
Step 2: Installing the E8491B Interconnect page 22
Step 3: Installing VXI Instruments page 25
Step 4: Installing the Keysight I/O Libraries page 29
Step 5: Installing Keysight VXIplug&play Instrument
Drivers page 33
Step 6. Verifying the Installation page 34
Troubleshooting Installation Problems page 39
Running the Resource Manager page 39
Step 1: Installing the IEEE 1394 Host Adapter
The IEEE 1394 adapter shipped as Option 001 to the Keysight E8491B is an
OHCI-compatible PCI-to-IEEE 1394 Host Adapter. Included with the adapter is a
cable for powering IEEE 1394 devices and a 4.5m interface cable.
Refer to your computer’s documentation for specific
instructions about the installation of PCI adapters.
If your personal computer (PC) currently has a Solectron OHCI403
PCI-to- IEEE 1394 host adapter, a later version OHCI-compatible
PCI-to-IEEE 1394 host adapter or a built-in IEEE 1394 port,
proceed to Step 2: Installing the Keysight E8491 Interconnect.

18 Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide
Interface Installation and Configuration Using this Chapter
The layout of a typical host adapter is shown in Figure 2-1.
1Remove the computer chassis cover to expose the expansion slots and
external access covers.
2Locate an unused, unobstructed PCI bus expansion slot (Figure 2-2) that
supports bus mastering. (PCI bus slots are usually white or ivory.) See your
computer documentation to determine if the PCI slot supports bus mastering.
Figure 2-1 Layout of a Typical OHCI-Compatible PCI-to-IEEE 1394 Host Adapter.
External
IEEE 1394
Connectors
12 VDC
Power Connector
Turn off and disconnect the power to your computer and to
any peripheral devices before installing the host adapter.
Refer to your computer’s documentation for specific
instructions about the installation of PCI adapters.

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide 19
Using this Chapter Interface Installation and Configuration
Figure 2-2 Locating a PCI bus Expansion Slot.
PCI expansion slots
(usually white or ivory)
shared slot
Many computer PCI systems have one pair of ISA and PCI slots
close to each other. This saves space and allows you to install
either an ISA card or a PCI card in the slot pair.

20 Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide
Interface Installation and Configuration Using this Chapter
3Remove the corresponding expansion slot cover from the computer chassis
(Figure 2-3).
Figure 2-3 Removing the PC Expansion Slot Cover.
expansion slot cover

Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide 21
Using this Chapter Interface Installation and Configuration
4Align the bus contacts on the bottom of the host adapter with the PCI bus
slot. Carefully, but firmly, press the adapter into the slot.
5Secure the host adapter bracket to the computer chassis with the screw from
the expansion slot cover removed in step C.
Connecting the Power Cable
6Connect the power cable between the adapter and the PC as shown in Figure
2-5. This provides power from the adapter to devices along the interface via
the interface cable. This allows you to cycle power on any VXI mainframe in
multi-frame systems without affecting other frames. The power is also
available to other IEEE 1394 devices that may be part of the interface
network. The host adapter is capable of supplying 12V with a maximum
current draw of 0.5 amps total to all three IEEE 1394 connectors.
Figure 2-4 Installing the Host Adapter.
Host
Adapter

22 Keysight E8491B IEEE 1394 PC Link to VXI User Guide
Interface Installation and Configuration Using this Chapter
7Replace the computer cover. Connect one end of the interface cable to either
adapter external connector.
Where to go Next
–If you are installing the IEEE 1394 interface for the first time:
Continue with “Step 2: Installing the E8491B Interconnect.”
–If the E8491B and your VXI instruments are already installed:
Proceed to “Step 4: Installing the Keysight I/O Libraries.” Note that the
Keysight I/O Libraries contain the OHCI-compatible host adapter drivers.
Step 2: Installing the E8491B Interconnect
The E8491B interconnect links the IEEE 1394 bus to the backplane of the VXI
mainframe. The E8491B is a C-size device with VXI Resource Manager and Slot 0
capability.
There are no configuration switches on the E8491B. The device’s logical address
is 0 and it provides the system’s resource manager functionality via software that
is part of the Keysight I/O Libraries. Its VXI servant area is 255, therefore; it is the
interface to all VXI devices with logical addresses between 1 and 255. The
E8491B is normally, but not required to be, installed in mainframe slot 0.
Figure 2-5 Connecting the Power Cable Between the PC and the Host Adapter.
Host
Adapter Power In
(From System
Power Out
(To Disk Drives)
12V DC
Connector
Power Power Supply)
Refer to Chapter 4: IEEE 1394 Fundamentals and Interface
Overview for more information on the OHCI-compatible
PCI-to-IEEE 1394 host adapter.