NI GPIB-SCSI-A User manual

© Copyright 1991, 1994 National Instruments Corporation.
All Rights Reserved.
Getting Started with Your
GPIB-SCSI-A and the NI-488.2M™
Software for the Sun SPARCstation
June 1994 Edition
Part Number 320422-01

National Instruments Corporate Headquarters
6504 Bridge Point Parkway
Austin, TX 78730-5039
[phone]
Technical support fax: [phone]
[phone]
Branch Offices:
Australia [phone], Austria [phone], Belgium 02/757.00.20,
Canada (Ontario) [phone], Canada (Québec) [phone],
Denmark 45 76 26 00, Finland (90) 527 2321, France (1) 48 14 24 24,
Germany 089/741 31 30, Italy 02/48301892, Japan [phone],
Netherlands 03480-33466, Norway 32-848400, Spain (91) 640 0085,
Sweden 08-730 49 70, Switzerland 056/20 51 51, U.K. 0635 523545

Limited Warranty
The GPIB-SCSI-A is warranted against defects in materials and
workmanship for a period of two years from the date of shipment, as
evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at
its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective during the
warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.
The media on which you receive National Instruments software are
warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects in
materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment,
as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will,
at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute
programming instructions if National Instruments receives notice of such
defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant
that the operation of the software shall be uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the
factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before any
equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will
pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are covered by
warranty.
National Instruments believes that the information in this manual is
accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical accuracy.
In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National
Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent editions of
this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader
should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected. In no event
shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or
related to this document or the information contained in it.
EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED HEREIN, NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS MAKES NO
WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AND SPECIFICALLY DISCLAIMS
ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A
PARTICULAR PURPOSE. CUSTOMER'S RIGHT TO RECOVER DAMAGES
CAUSED BY FAULT OR NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART OF NATIONAL
INSTRUMENTS SHALL BE LIMITED TO THE AMOUNT THERETOFORE
PAID BY THE CUSTOMER. NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS WILL NOT BE
LIABLE FOR DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF DATA, PROFITS,
USE OF PRODUCTS, OR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES,
EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF. This limitation of the
liability of National Instruments will apply regardless of the form of action,
whether in contract or tort, including negligence. Any action against

National Instruments must be brought within one year after the cause of
action accrues. National Instruments shall not be liable for any delay in
performance due to causes beyond its reasonable control. The warranty
provided herein does not cover damages, defects, malfunctions, or service
failures caused by owner's failure to follow the National Instruments
installation, operation, or maintenance instructions; owner's modification of
the product; owner's abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or
surges, fire, flood, accident, actions of third parties, or other events outside
reasonable control.
Copyright
Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in
whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National Instruments
Corporation.
Trademarks
NI-488.2M™is a trademark of National Instruments Corporation.
Product and company names listed are trademarks or trade names of their
respective companies.

Warning Regarding Medical and Clinical Use
of National Instruments Products
National Instruments products are not designed with components and testing
intended to ensure a level of reliability suitable for use in treatment and
diagnosis of humans. Applications of National Instruments products
involving medical or clinical treatment can create a potential for accidental
injury caused by product failure, or by errors on the part of the user or
application designer. Any use or application of National Instruments
products for or involving medical or clinical treatment must be performed by
properly trained and qualified medical personnel, and all traditional medical
safeguards, equipment, and procedures that are appropriate in the particular
situation to prevent serious injury or death should always continue to be
used when National Instruments products are being used. National
Instruments products are NOT intended to be a substitute for any form of
established process, procedure, or equipment used to monitor or safeguard
human health and safety in medical or clinical treatment.

FCC/DOC Radio Frequency
Interference Compliance
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not
installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions in this manual,
may cause interference to radio and television reception. This equipment
has been tested and found to comply with the following two regulatory
agencies:
Federal Communications Commission
This device complies with Part 15 of the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Rules for a Class A digital device. Operation is subject
to the following two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful interference in commercial
environments.
2. This device must accept any interference received, including
interference that may cause undesired operation.
Canadian Department of Communications
This device complies with the limits for radio noise emissions from digital
apparatus set out in the Radio Interference Regulations of the Canadian
Department of Communications (DOC).
Le présent appareil numérique n’émet pas de bruits radioélectriques
dépassant les limites applicables aux appareils numériques de classe A
prescrites dans le règlement sur le brouillage radioélectrique édicté par le
ministère des communications du Canada.
Instructions to Users
These regulations are designed to provide reasonable protection against
harmful interference from the equipment to radio reception in commercial
areas. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause
harmful interference, in which case the user will be required to correct the
interference at his own expense.

There is no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular
installation. However, the chances of interference are much less if the
equipment is installed and used according to this instruction manual.
If the equipment does cause interference to radio or television reception,
which can be determined by turning the equipment on and off, one or more
of the following suggestions may reduce or eliminate the problem.
• Operate the equipment and the receiver on different branches of your
AC electrical system.
• Move the equipment away from the receiver with which it is interfering.
• Reorient or relocate the receiver’s antenna.
• Be sure that the equipment is plugged into a grounded outlet and that
the grounding has not been defeated with a cheater plug.
Notice to user: Changes or modifications not expressly approved by
National Instruments could void the user’s authority to
operate the equipment under the FCC Rules.
If necessary, consult National Instruments or an experienced radio/television
technician for additional suggestions. The following booklet prepared by
the FCC may also be helpful: How to Identify and Resolve Radio-TV
Interference Problems. This booklet is available from the U.S. Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402, Stock Number 004-000-00345-4.

© National Instruments Corp. ix GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
Contents
About This Manual ..........................................................................xi
Organization of This Manual......................................................xi
Conventions Used in This Manual .............................................xii
Related Documentation ..............................................................xiii
Customer Communication ..........................................................xiii
Chapter 1
Introduction.........................................................................................1-1
What You Need to Get Started...................................................1-1
Optional Equipment....................................................................1-2
Inspection ...................................................................................1-2
Hardware Description.................................................................1-2
Software Description ..................................................................1-3
Chapter 2
Hardware Configuration and Installation..............................2-1
Configuring the Hardware ..........................................................2-1
Step 1. Verify the Voltage Requirement....................2-2
Step 2. Configure the Operating Characteristics .......2-2
Configuration Switch Settings for SW1 ........2-3
Configuration Switch Settings for SW2 ........2-6
Using SCSI Terminating Resistors ................2-7
Connecting the Hardware ...........................................................2-9
Step 1. Shut Down the System...................................2-10
Step 2. Connect the Cables ........................................2-10
Step 3. Switch On Your GPIB-SCSI-A and Power
On Your System.............................................2-10
Chapter 3
Software Installation and Configuration ................................3-1
Step 1. Prepare for Installation.................................................3-1
Step 2. Install the NI-488.2M Software ...................................3-2
Set Up a Working Directory.........................................3-2
Install the Driver...........................................................3-3
Installing the Driver Automatically ...............3-3
Installing the Driver Manually.......................3-3
Install the Utility Files.....................3-3
Install the C Library.........................3-4
Install the Driver into the System....3-4

Contents
GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation x © National Instruments Corp.
Build a New SunOS 4.1.2 UNIX
Kernel ..............................................3-5
Step 3. Configure the Software with ibconf.............................3-8
Step 4. Verify the Software Installation ...................................3-9
Using the NI-488.2M Software with Your Application
Program ......................................................................................3-10
Appendix A
Hardware Specifications................................................................A-1
Appendix B
Troubleshooting.................................................................................B-1
Appendix C
Customer Communication............................................................C-1
Glossary.................................................................................................G-1
Figures
Figure 2-1. GPIB-SCSI-A Rear Panel ................................................2-1
Figure 2-2. SW1 Default Mode Switch Settings ................................2-3
Figure 2-3. SW2 Default Mode Switch Settings ................................2-6
Figure 2-4. Location of Terminating Resistors for GPIB-SCSI-A
at End of SCSI Bus ..........................................................2-8
Figure 2-5. Location of Terminating Resistors for GPIB-SCSI-A
Not at End of SCSI Bus ...................................................2-9
Tables
Table 2-1. Configuration Parameters for SW1 Switches
1 through 3.......................................................................2-4
Table 2-2. Configuration Parameters for SW1 Switches
4 through 8.......................................................................2-5
Table 2-3. Factory Default Configurations for SW2.........................2-7
Table A-1. Electrical Characteristics .................................................A-1
Table A-2. Environmental Characteristics.........................................A-1
Table A-3. Physical Characteristics ...................................................A-2

© National Instruments Corp. xi GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
About This Manual
This manual contains instructions for installing and configuring the
National Instruments GPIB-SCSI-A and NI-488.2M multitasking software
for use with the Sun SPARCstation running under SunOS 4.1 or higher
operating system. This manual is meant to be used with the NI-488.2M
Software Reference Manual.
This manual assumes that you have a general knowledge of the Sun
SPARCstation running SunOS and the General Purpose Interface Bus
(GPIB).
Organization of This Manual
This manual is organized as follows:
• Chapter 1, Introduction, lists what you need to get started and optional
equipment you can order, gives instructions for inspecting your
GPIB-SCSI-A, and briefly describes the hardware and the NI-488.2M
software.
• Chapter 2, Hardware Configuration and Installation, describes how to
configure the GPIB-SCSI-A and how to connect the GPIB-SCSI-A to
the Sun SPARCstation.
• Chapter 3, Software Installation and Configuration, lists all the files
located on the distribution disk, and contains step-by-step instructions
for installing and configuring your NI-488.2M software, verifying the
installation of your NI-488.2M software, and using the NI-488.2M
software with your GPIB application program.
• Appendix A, Hardware Specifications, lists the electrical,
environmental, and physical specifications of the GPIB-SCSI-A and the
recommended operating conditions.
• Appendix B, Troubleshooting, suggests some areas to check if you
have problems installing the GPIB-SCSI-A Controller and/or the
NI-488.2M software after going through Chapter 2 and Chapter 3.

About This Manual
GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation xii © National Instruments Corp.
• Appendix C, Customer Communication, contains forms you can use to
request help from National Instruments or to comment on our products
and manuals.
• The Glossary contains an alphabetical list and description of terms used
in this manual, including abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes,
mnemonics, and symbols.
Conventions Used in This Manual
The following conventions are used in this manual.
bold Bold text indicates LEDs.
italic Italic text denotes emphasis, a cross reference, or
an introduction to a key concept.
bold italic Bold italic text denotes a note, caution, or
warning.
monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that
are to be literally input from the keyboard,
sections of code, programming examples, and
syntax examples. This font is also used for the
proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, device names, functions, variables,
and filenames, and for statements and comments
taken from program code.
<> Angle brackets enclose the name of a key on the
keyboard–for example, <Delete>.
- A hyphen between two or more key names
enclosed in angle brackets denotes that you
should simultaneously press the named keys.
For example, <Control-Alt-Delete>.
<Enter> Key names are capitalized.

About This Manual
© National Instruments Corp. xiii GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
IEEE 488 IEEE 488 and IEEE 488.2 refer to the
IEEE 488.2 ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.1-1987 and the
ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1987, respectively,
which define the GPIB.
Abbreviations, acronyms, metric prefixes, mnemonics, symbols, and terms
are listed in the Glossary.
Related Documentation
The following documents contain information that you may find helpful as
you read this manual:
•GPIB-SCSI-A User Manual, National Instruments Corporation
• ANSI X3.131-1986, Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)
• ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.1-1987, IEEE Standard Digital Interface for
Programmable Instrumentation
• ANSI/IEEE Standard 488.2-1987, IEEE Standard Codes, Formats,
Protocols, and Common Commands
•SPARCstation Installation Guide, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain
View, California 94043
•SPARCstation SunOS 4.1.1 Sun-4c Release Notes, Sun Microsystems,
Inc., Mountain View, California 94043
•SunOS 4.1.1 Release Notes, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Mountain View,
California 94043
Customer Communication
National Instruments wants to receive your comments on our products and
manuals. We are interested in the applications you develop with our
products, and we want to help if you have problems with them. To make it
easy for you to contact us, this manual contains comment and configuration
forms for you to complete. These forms are in Appendix C, Customer
Communication, at the end of this manual.

© National Instruments Corp. 1-1 GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter lists what you need to get started and optional equipment you
can order, gives instructions for inspecting your GPIB-SCSI-A, and briefly
describes the hardware and the NI-488.2M software.
What You Need to Get Started
One of the following boxes:
GPIB-SCSI-A, 100 to 120 VAC
GPIB-SCSI-A, 220 to 240 VAC
One of the following power cords:
U.S.A. standard power cord
Switzerland power cord
Australian power cord
Universal European power cord
North American power cord
U.K. power cord
Standard 50-pin SCSI-1 terminator
Type SCSI-G Cable:
GPIB-SCSI-A (50-pin SCSI-1) to Sun SPARCstation
(SCSI-2 50-pin)–1 m
One of the following software media:
3.5 in. NI-488.2M Distribution Disk for GPIB-SCSI-A Sun
SPARCstation SunOS 4.1.2 Driver and C Interface
or
NI-488.2M Distribution Streaming Tape for GPIB-SCSI-A Sun
SPARCstation SunOS 4.1.2 Driver and C Interface

Introduction Chapter 1
GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation 1-2 © National Instruments Corp.
Optional Equipment
You can call National Instruments to order the following optional
equipment.
•Rack-Mount Kit
Single (1 unit)
Dual (2 units)
•Double-Shielded SCSI Cable
GPIB-SCSI-A (50-pin Champ) to SCSI-1 (50-pin Champ)–1 m
•Shielded GPIB Cables*
GPIB Type X1 Cable (1 m, 2 m, 4 m, or 8 m)
GPIB Type X2 Cable (1 m, 2 m, 4 m, or 8 m)
* To meet FCC emission limits for a Class A device, you must use a
shielded (Type X1 or X2) GPIB cable. Operating this equipment
with a non-shielded GPIB cable may cause interference to radio and
television reception in commercial areas.
Inspection
Before you install the GPIB-SCSI-A, inspect the shipping container and its
contents for damage. Retain the packaging material for possible inspection
or for reshipment.
If the equipment appears to be damaged, do not attempt to operate it.
Contact National Instruments for instructions. If the damage appears to
have been caused in shipment, file a claim with the carrier.
Hardware Description
The GPIB-SCSI-A is a high-performance interface product that
transparently handles data transfers between the SCSI and the GPIB. It is
actually an 8-bit microcomputer that operates as a full-function IEEE
488.2/SCSI Controller. It can turn any computer with a SCSI port into a
GPIB Talker/Listener/Controller or can make any device on the SCSI bus
look like a GPIB device.

Chapter 1 Introduction
© National Instruments Corp. 1-3 GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
The GPIB-SCSI-A has all the software and logic required to implement
the physical and electrical characteristics of the ANSI/IEEE Standard
488.2-1987 and the ANSI Standard X3T9.2. It is able to interpret and
execute commands that you send to it over the GPIB or SCSI ports and
perform all necessary GPIB-to-SCSI protocol conversions.
Software Description
The NI-488.2M software is a comprehensive package consisting of a
multitasking driver and programs that transform a Sun SPARCstation
running SunOS 4.1.1 or higher into a GPIB Controller with complete
communications and bus management capabilities. The NI-488.2M
software includes the following items:
• C language interface
• interactive control utility (ibic)
• automatic installation program (instgpib)
• programs to test the software installation (ibtsta, ibtstb)
• interactive software configuration utility (ibconf)

© National Instruments Corp. 2-1 GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
Chapter 2
Hardware Configuration and
Installation
This chapter describes how to configure the GPIB-SCSI-A and how to
connect the GPIB-SCSI-A to the Sun SPARCstation.
Figure 2-1 shows the rear panel of the GPIB-SCSI-A.
A
B
ON
OFF
GPIB
SCSI
12345678
OPEN
SW1
12345678
OPEN
SW2
Figure 2-1. GPIB-SCSI-A Rear Panel
Configuring the Hardware
The hardware configurations of the SCSI ID (Target ID) and the GPIB
primary address must match the software configuration in the system
configuration files and the NI-488.2M software.
There are two basic steps to configure the GPIB-SCSI-A.
1. Verify the voltage requirement.
2. Configure the operating characteristics.
These steps are described in more detail in the following paragraphs.

Hardware Configuration and Installation Chapter 2
GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation 2-2 © National Instruments Corp.
Step 1. Verify the Voltage Requirement
The GPIB-SCSI-A is shipped from the factory with either a 100 to 120 V or
a 220 to 240 V power supply. Verify that the voltage on the power supply
matches the voltage that is supplied in your area.
Caution: Operating the GPIB-SCSI-A at any voltage other than the
one specified on the rear panel could damage the unit.
Replacement fuses must be the proper type and rating. See
Appendix A, Hardware Specifications, for fuse information.
Step 2. Configure the Operating Characteristics
The GPIB-SCSI-A is shipped from the factory configured to operate in
SCSI (S) mode. Optional parity checking on the SCSI port is disabled. The
SCSI ID that the GPIB-SCSI-A responds to is set at 5, and the primary
GPIB address is set at 0. Additionally, the GPIB-SCSI-A kit is shipped
from the factory with a SCSI terminator installed. Depending on your
system, you may want to remove it.
Note: The only parameters available for configuration with this kit are
the SCSI ID and the GPIB address. Do not change any other
switch settings from the factory default settings.
The factory default setting of the GPIB-SCSI-A Target ID is 5. To confirm
that a Target ID of 5 is available in your system, enter the SunOS dmesg
command to print out the startup messages from the last time you booted.
Among these messages are the devices found on the SCSI bus and their
respective Target ID numbers. If a Target ID of 5 is not available in your
system, select an unused Target ID (a number between 0 and 7) and set the
appropriate switch to that Target ID number (refer to Configuration Switch
Settings for SW1 later in this chapter). Typically, Targets 1 and 3 are used
by the internal disks, Target 4 is used by a tape drive (if you have a tape
drive), and Target 0 is used by an external disk drive. Target 7 is always
used by the Sun central processing unit.

Chapter 2 Hardware Configuration and Installation
© National Instruments Corp. 2-3 GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
Configuration Switch Settings for SW1
The DIP switch at location SW1 on the rear panel (see Figure 2-1) is used to
configure the power-on primary GPIB address and SCSI ID of the
GPIB-SCSI-A.
Figure 2-2 shows the factory default settings.
123456 78
OPEN
SW1
Figure 2-2. SW1 Default Mode Switch Settings
In Figure 2-2 switches 1 through 3 are ON, OFF, ON, respectively,
selecting the SCSI ID of 5. Switches 4 through 8 are OFF, indicating that
the GPIB primary address of the GPIB-SCSI-A is 0.

Hardware Configuration and Installation Chapter 2
GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation 2-4 © National Instruments Corp.
Tables 2-1 and 2-2 show the possible configurations of the eight switches
and what each configuration indicates. Factory default settings are in bold
italics.
Table 2-1. Configuration Parameters for SW1 Switches 1 through 3
Switches
123 Indication
OFF OFF OFF SCSI ID of 0
OFF OFF ON SCSI ID of 1
OFF ON OFF SCSI ID of 2
OFF ON ON SCSI ID of 3
ON OFF OFF SCSI ID of 4
ON OFF ON SCSI ID of 5
ON ON OFF SCSI ID of 6
ON ON ON SCSI ID of 7

Chapter 2 Hardware Configuration and Installation
© National Instruments Corp. 2-5 GPIB-SCSI-A for SPARCstation
Table 2-2. Configuration Parameters for Switches 4 through 8
Switches
123 Indication
OFF OFF OFF OFF OFF
OFF OFF OFF OFF ON
OFF OFF OFF ON OFF
OFF OFF OFF ON ON
OFF OFF ON OFF OFF
OFF OFF ON OFF ON
OFF OFF ON ON OFF
OFF OFF ON ON ON
OFF ON OFF OFF OFF
OFF ON OFF OFF ON
OFF ON OFF ON OFF
OFF ON OFF ON ON
OFF ON ON OFF OFF
OFF ON ON OFF ON
OFF ON ON ON OFF
OFF ON ON ON ON
ON OFF OFF OFF OFF
ON OFF OFF OFF ON
ON OFF OFF ON OFF
ON OFF OFF ON ON
ON OFF ON OFF OFF
ON OFF ON OFF ON
ON OFF ON ON OFF
ON OFF ON ON ON
ON ON OFF OFF OFF
ON ON OFF OFF ON
ON ON OFF ON OFF
ON ON OFF ON ON
ON ON ON OFF OFF
ON ON ON OFF ON
ON ON ON ON OFF
ON ON ON ON ON
GPIB Primary address 0
GPIB Primary address 1
GPIB Primary address 2
GPIB Primary address 3
GPIB Primary address 4
GPIB Primary address 5
GPIB Primary address 6
GPIB Primary address 7
GPIB Primary address 8
GPIB Primary address 9
GPIB Primary address 10
GPIB Primary address 11
GPIB Primary address 12
GPIB Primary address 13
GPIB Primary address 14
GPIB Primary address 15
GPIB Primary address 16
GPIB Primary address 17
GPIB Primary address 18
GPIB Primary address 19
GPIB Primary address 20
GPIB Primary address 21
GPIB Primary address 22
GPIB Primary address 23
GPIB Primary address 24
GPIB Primary address 25
GPIB Primary address 26
GPIB Primary address 27
GPIB Primary address 28
GPIB Primary address 29
GPIB Primary address 30
GPIB Primary address 0