VTI Instruments EX2500A User manual

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EX2500A
LXI-VXI GIGABIT ETHERNET
SLOT 0INTERFACE
USER’S MANUAL
P/N: 82-0115-000
Released May 27, 2010
VTI Instruments Corp.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509
[phone]
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2 EX2500A Preface
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
Certification..........................................................................................................................................................5
Warranty...............................................................................................................................................................5
Limitation of Warranty.........................................................................................................................................5
Restricted Rights Legend......................................................................................................................................5
DECLARATION OF CONFORMITY...............................................................................................................................6
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS.............................................................................................................................7
Terms and Symbols ..............................................................................................................................................7
Warnings...............................................................................................................................................................8
SUPPORT RESOURCES ...............................................................................................................................................9
SECTION 1..................................................................................................................................................................11
OVERVIEW..............................................................................................................................................................11
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................11
Features...............................................................................................................................................................11
The Power of LXI .........................................................................................................................................11
Data Transfer Rates.......................................................................................................................................11
Simplified Cabling and Connectivity............................................................................................................11
Familiar Software Interfaces .........................................................................................................................12
Embedded Resource Manager.......................................................................................................................12
Additional Features .......................................................................................................................................12
EX2500A Specifications ....................................................................................................................................13
TCXO/OCXO Option Specifications .................................................................................................................14
SECTION 2..................................................................................................................................................................15
PREPARATION FOR USE...........................................................................................................................................15
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................15
Unpacking...........................................................................................................................................................15
Required Equipment...........................................................................................................................................15
Software Installation...........................................................................................................................................15
Hardware Installation..........................................................................................................................................16
Network Configuration.......................................................................................................................................16
Cabling Considerations.......................................................................................................................................17
Segment Distance/Security............................................................................................................................17
EMI Environment..........................................................................................................................................18
Current LAN Implementation .......................................................................................................................18
Fiber Vs. Copper.................................................................................................................................................18
Copper Cable Recommendation....................................................................................................................18
Fiber Optic Cable Recommendation .............................................................................................................18
Multiple Mainframe Configurations...................................................................................................................19
SECTION 3..................................................................................................................................................................21
MODULE DESCRIPTION...........................................................................................................................................21
Front Panel Details .............................................................................................................................................21
LEDs .............................................................................................................................................................21
Connectors.....................................................................................................................................................22
VXI RST / LAN RST Button........................................................................................................................22
Gigabit Ethernet Functionality............................................................................................................................22
Power On Self-Test LED Error Codes................................................................................................................23
Top Cover Details...............................................................................................................................................23
User Configurable Switches..........................................................................................................................24
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EX2500A Preface 3
SECTION 4..................................................................................................................................................................25
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION......................................................................................................................................25
Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................25
VISA Requirements............................................................................................................................................25
Agilent VISA as Primary VISA Installation Path .........................................................................................25
Agilent VISA as Secondary VISA Installation Path .....................................................................................25
AGILENT VISA AS PRIMARY VISA ........................................................................................................................26
VISA Installation................................................................................................................................................26
EX2500A Driver Installation..............................................................................................................................30
VXI Plug&Play Driver..................................................................................................................................30
IVI Driver......................................................................................................................................................32
Add the EX2500A Interface to Agilent VISA....................................................................................................34
AGILENT VISA AS SECONDARY VISA ...................................................................................................................39
VISA Installation................................................................................................................................................39
EX2500A Driver Installation..............................................................................................................................43
VXI Plug&Play Driver..................................................................................................................................43
IVI Driver......................................................................................................................................................45
Configure NI-VISA for Use with Agilent VISA................................................................................................47
Add the EX2500A Interface to Agilent VISA....................................................................................................48
SECTION 5..................................................................................................................................................................53
WEB PAGE OPERATION...........................................................................................................................................53
Opening the Web Page .......................................................................................................................................53
General Web Page Operation .............................................................................................................................53
Login Error Message.....................................................................................................................................54
Login.............................................................................................................................................................54
Firmware Version...............................................................................................................................................55
IP Configuration.................................................................................................................................................56
Module Options..................................................................................................................................................57
Time....................................................................................................................................................................58
LXI Synchronization ..........................................................................................................................................59
LXI LAN Events ................................................................................................................................................60
LAN Event Log..................................................................................................................................................61
Device Status......................................................................................................................................................62
Module Information............................................................................................................................................63
Memory I/O...................................................................................................................................................64
Formatted I/O................................................................................................................................................65
Resource Manager Control.................................................................................................................................66
Trigger Configuration.........................................................................................................................................67
Interrupt Control.................................................................................................................................................70
LED Test ............................................................................................................................................................71
Firmware Upgrade..............................................................................................................................................72
Report a Bug.......................................................................................................................................................73
SECTION 6..................................................................................................................................................................75
TRIGGER MECHANISMS ..........................................................................................................................................75
Overview ............................................................................................................................................................75
LXI Trigger Controls..........................................................................................................................................76
VXI Trigger Controls .........................................................................................................................................76
VXI Legacy...................................................................................................................................................77
LAN Event Trigger Controls..............................................................................................................................77
LXI Trigger Bus .................................................................................................................................................78
IEEE 1588 ..........................................................................................................................................................78
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4 EX2500A Preface
SECTION 7..................................................................................................................................................................79
FIRMWARE UPDATES ..............................................................................................................................................79
Updating EX2500A Firmware............................................................................................................................79
SECTION 8..................................................................................................................................................................81
TROUBLESHOOTING................................................................................................................................................81
LED Error Codes................................................................................................................................................81
Network Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................................82
Restore the EX2500A’s Default Network Settings .......................................................................................82
Determine PCs Network Settings..................................................................................................................82
Set the EX2500A to Auto IP.........................................................................................................................83
Set theEX2500A to Static IP.........................................................................................................................84
Restore the Host PCs Network Settings........................................................................................................85
Using Multiple Network Cards...........................................................................................................................85
APPENDIX A...............................................................................................................................................................89
GLOSSARY..............................................................................................................................................................89
INDEX.........................................................................................................................................................................91
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EX2500A Preface 5
CERTIFICATION
VTI Instruments Corp. (VTI) certifies that this product met its published specifications at the time of shipment from
the factory. VTI further certifies that its calibration measurements are traceable to the United States National
Institute of Standards and Technology (formerly National Bureau of Standards), to the extent allowed by that
organization’s calibration facility, and to the calibration facilities of other International Standards Organization
members.
WARRANTY
The product referred to herein is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of three years
from the receipt date of the product at customer’s facility. The sole and exclusive remedy for breach of any warranty
concerning these goods shall be repair or replacement of defective parts, or a refund of the purchase price, to be
determined at the option of VTI.
For warranty service or repair, this product must be returned to a VTI Instruments authorized service center. The
product shall be shipped prepaid to VTI and VTI shall prepay all returns of the product to the buyer. However, the
buyer shall pay all shipping charges, duties, and taxes for products returned to VTI from another country.
VTI warrants that its software and firmware designated by VTI for use with a product will execute its programming
when properly installed on that product. VTI does not however warrant that the operation of the product, or
software, or firmware will be uninterrupted or error free.
LIMITATION OF WARRANTY
The warranty shall not apply to defects resulting from improper or inadequate maintenance by the buyer, buyer-
supplied products or interfacing, unauthorized modification or misuse, operation outside the environmental
specifications for the product, or improper site preparation or maintenance.
VTI Instruments Corp. shall not be liable for injury to property other than the goods themselves. Other than the
limited warranty stated above, VTI Instruments Corp. makes no other warranties, express or implied, with respect to
the quality of product beyond the description of the goods on the face of the contract. VTI specifically disclaims the
implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose.
RESTRICTED RIGHTS LEGEND
Use, duplication, or disclosure by the Government is subject to restrictions as set forth in subdivision (b)(3)(ii) of the
Rights in Technical Data and Computer Software clause in DFARS 252.227-7013.
VTI Instruments Corp.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509 U.S.A.
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6 EX2500A Preface
D
ECLARATION OF
C
ONFORMITY
Declaration of Conformity According to ISO/IEC Guide 22 and EN 45014
MANUFACTURER’S NAME VTI Instruments Corp.
MANUFACTURER’S ADDRESS 2031 Main Street
Irvine, California 92614-6509
PRODUCT NAME LXI-VXI Slot 0 Interface
MODEL NUMBER(S) EX2500A
PRODUCT OPTIONS All
PRODUCT CONFIGURATIONS All
VTI Instruments Corp. declares that the aforementioned product conforms to the requirements of
the Low Voltage Directive 73/23/EEC and the EMC Directive 89/366/EEC (inclusive 93/68/EEC)
and carries the “CE” mark accordingly. The product has been designed and manufactured
according to the following specifications:
SAFETY EN 61010-1:2001 (2nd Edition)
EMC EN 61326:1997 (w/A 1:1998 and A 2:2001) Class A
CISPR 22 (1997) Class A
VCCI (April 2000) Class A
ICES-003 Class A (ANSI C63.4 1992)
AS/NZS 3548 (w/A1 & A2:97) Class A
FCC Part 15 Subpart B Class A
I hereby declare that the aforementioned product has been designed to be in compliance with the relevant sections
of the specifications listed above as well as complying with all essential requirements of the Low Voltage Directive.
July 2008
Steve Mauga, QA Manager
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EX2500A Preface 7
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
Review the following safety precautions to avoid bodily injury and/or damage to the product.
These precautions must be observed during all phases of operation or service of this product.
Failure to comply with these precautions, or with specific warnings elsewhere in this manual,
violates safety standards of design, manufacture, and intended use of the product.
Service should only be performed by qualified personnel.
TERMS AND SYMBOLS
These terms may appear in this manual:
WARNING
Indicates that a procedure or condition may cause bodily injury or death.
CAUTION
Indicates that a procedure or condition could possibly cause damage to
equipment or loss of data.
These symbols may appear on the product:
ATTENTION - Important safety instructions
Frame or chassis ground
Indicates that the product was manufactured after August 13, 2005. This mark is
placed in accordance with EN 50419, Marking of electrical and electronic
equipment in accordance with Article 11(2) of Directive 2002/96/EC (WEEE).
End-of-life product can be returned to VTI by obtaining an RMA number. Fees
for take-back and recycling will apply if not prohibited by national law.
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8 EX2500A Preface
WARNINGS
Follow these precautions to avoid injury or damage to the product:
Connect Cables Properly
To avoid damage and potential loss of phone service, ensure that
the RJ-45 connector on the front panel of the EX2500A is not
connected to a standard telephone jack. This should only be
connected to a network interface card, network router, or network
hub.
Avoid Electric Shock
To avoid electric shock or fire hazard, do not operate this product
with the covers removed. Do not connect or disconnect any cable,
probes, test leads, etc. while they are connected to a voltage source.
Remove all power and unplug unit before performing any service.
Service should only be performed by qualified personnel.
Ground the Product
This product is grounded through the grounding conductor of the
power cord. To avoid electric shock, the grounding conductor must
be connected to earth ground.
Operating Conditions
To avoid injury, electric shock or fire hazard:
-
Do not operate in wet or damp conditions.
-
Do not operate in an explosive atmosphere.
-
Operate or store only in specified temperature range.
-
Provide proper clearance for product ventilation to prevent
overheating.
-
DO NOT operate if any damage to this product is suspected.
Product should be inspected or serviced only by qualified
personnel.
Class 1 Laser Product
The SFP module in this instrument is a Class 1 Laser device. Do not
attempt to disassemble this module. In the interest of safety, this
equipment should only be serviced by an authorized
VTI Instruments representative. Please observe the following safety
precautions:
• Do not open the unit
• If the unit requires service, contact VTI Instruments
• Ensure proper use by reading and following the
instructions carefully
• Do not attempt to make any adjustments to the unit
Improper Use
The operator of this instrument is advised that if the equipment is
used in a manner not specified in this manual, the protection
provided by the equipment may be impaired.
Conformity is checked by inspection.
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EX2500A Preface 9
SUPPORT RESOURCES
Support resources for this product are available on the Internet and at VTI Instruments customer
support centers.
VTI Instruments Corp.
World Headquarters
VTI Instruments Corp.
2031 Main Street
Irvine, CA 92614-6509
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VTI Instruments
Cleveland Instrument Division
5425 Warner Road
Suite 13
Valley View, OH 44125
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VTI Instruments
Lake Stevens Instrument Division
3216 Wetmore Avenue, Suite 1
Everett, WA 98201
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
VTI Instruments, Pvt. Ltd.
Bangalore Instrument Division
642, 80 Feet Road
Koramangala IV Block
Bangalore – 560 034
India
Phone: [phone]
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
Technical Support
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
E-mail: [e-mail]
Visit http://www.vtiinstruments.com for worldwide support sites and service plan information.
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EX2500A Introduction 11
SECTION 1
OVERVIEW
OVERVIEW
VTI Instruments’ EX2500A is the industry’s first gigabit, LAN-based, VXI Slot 0 interface, which
merges Ethernet’s robust architecture and widespread infrastructure, the fast emerging LXI
standard for instrumentation, and the popular VXIbus platform. Providing a solution that
recognizes a system designer’s need to remain compatible with legacy systems and desire to adopt
new technologies, the EX2500A integrates key features of the LXI standard to create a versatile
interface that extends the VXIbus to an external host through the power of Ethernet.
FEATURES
The Power of LXI
The VXI TTL trigger bus is a powerful component of VXI-based systems and is used to facilitate
hardware handshaking between modules, freeing up the CPU for other tasks. With the introduction
of the EX2500A, all eight of the VXI TTL trigger lines can now be extended across multiple
mainframes and to other LXI devices through the LXI Trigger Bus compliant front panel
connectors (Low-Voltage Differential Signal or LVDS). Additionally, the EX2500A incorporates
the LXI standard VXI-11 instrument discovery mechanism, greatly simplifying integration within
hybrid systems.
Data Transfer Rates
As technology moves toward more data-intensive applications in the functional test and data
acquisition environments, the ability to quickly offload data to the host controller for processing is
critical. The EX2500A is a high-speed gigabit serial communications device and has been
optimized for transferring blocks of data in excess of 40 MB/s. A high-performance DMA
controller is used during block moves to achieve superior transfer rates. This is accomplished
without compromising traditional message-based (word-serial) command performance.
Simplified Cabling and Connectivity
Communication back to the host processor is achieved using a standard Cat 5e Ethernet cable.
Distances up to 200 meters between mainframe and host can be realized. A fiber optic connection
is available if even greater distances are required. Wireless control of VXI instruments is also now
possible through the use of wireless routers. The EX2500A achieves top performance when
connected to a gigabit LAN interface which is also a standard item in recent PC motherboards.
Low-cost gigabit Ethernet switches can be used to connect multiple mainframes to a single host.
For legacy systems, SMB connectors are provided for single-line trigger input/output as well as
external reference clock input/output.
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12 EX2500A Introduction
Familiar Software Interfaces
The EX2500A is fully compliant with the VXIplug&play specifications and implements VISA as
the API communication layer. A standard VISA I/O library is included and integrates seamlessly
with either Agilent Technologies™ or National Instruments™ versions of VISA. This greatly
simplifies installation of the EX2500A into legacy systems using the VISA protocol and preserves
any investment in existing TPS (Test Program Set) and driver development by eliminating the
need for costly code modifications.
The VXI Resource Manager is resident on the module and executed automatically at power up, all
system resources are allocated without the need to run a separate utility. The EX2500A runs an
embedded web interface and system status including installed VXI hardware, memory allocation,
IP configuration, and logical address information can be viewed through an LXI-compliant web
page. Direct communication to installed devices through message or register-based commands can
be achieved through this interface. This interface allows firmware updates to be accomplished
quickly and easily.
Embedded Resource Manager
A resource manager (RESMAN), as defined by the VXIbus specification, primarily performs the
task of identifying all VXI devices in a mainframe and ensures that these devices have passed their
self-tests. RESMAN also configures the system’s A24 and A32 address maps, allocates the
VMEbus interrupt lines, and initiates normal system operation. Furthermore, RESMAN
establishes a system wide control hierarchy described by Commander and Servant relationships.
Unlike other Slot 0 interfaces, the EX2500A has an embedded resource manager that runs on
every power up. Because RESMAN is integrated into the EX2500A, there is no need for this
utility to be available in any other location, such as a PC. Since RESMAN runs on every power
cycle of the EX2500A, user’s free themselves form the need to run this application manually as
well as the need to remember to run the application after device changes have been made to the
mainframe.
Additional Features
The following features are also available on the EX2500A:
•Dual media gigabit Ethernet interface (Cat 5e UTP or SFP-1000BASE SX or LX fiber optic).
•Auto-MDIX (Medium Dependent Interface Crossover) operation, eliminating the need for
crossover cables.
•Detailed link status indicators for Ethernet interface.
•Sophisticated trigger routing capabilities between the front panel input connectors (clock and
trigger), LXI triggers, VXI triggers, and LXI LAN Events.
•Integrated web interface to provide status, test, and software/firmware update capability.
•Options for TCXO or OCXO Clock 10 generation.
•256 MB of 333 MHz DDR system memory, upgradeable to 2 GB.
•Capable of VXI-3.0 2eVME backplane cycles.
•LXI 1588 operation.
•A16, A24, and A32 address space access.
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EX2500A Introduction 13
EX2500A SPECIFICATIONS
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS
P
HYSICAL
A
TTRIBUTES
Size
1-slot, C-size
Weight
2.5 lbs (1.1 kg)
S
LOT
0
C
APABILITY
Yes
R
ESOURCE
M
ANAGER
Embedded
A
DDRESS
S
PACE
A
CCESS
A16, A24, and A32
VXI
R
EVISION
C
OMPLIANCE
1.4, 2.0, 3.0
LXI
R
EVISION
C
OMPLIANCE
LXI 1.0 Class A
M
AXIMUM
D
ATA
T
RANSFER
R
ATE
(B
LOCK
M
OVE
)
40 MB/s
MEMORY (DRAM)
Standard
Optional
256 MB, 333 MHz DDR SDRAM
Up to 2 GB available
TRIGGER SUPPORT
Bus Lines
Front Panel Connectors
VXI TTL 0 - 7, LXI 0 - 7, LAN Events, VXI ECL 0 - 1, and the VXI 10 MHz clock
EXT TRIG IN, EXT TRIG OUT
PROCESSOR SPEED
825 MHz
E
THERNET
P
ROTOCOL
TCP/IP, VXI-11
I/O
L
IBRARY
Agilent I/O Library Suite (14.2 or later)
VISA
S
UPPORT
VXIplug&play compliant
O
PERATING
S
YSTEM
S
UPPORT
Windows XP, Windows 2000
LXI
R
EQUIRED
S
PECIFICATIONS
T
RIGGER
-
TO
-T
RIGGER
R
ESPONSE
T
IMES
Typical
External Trigger→ LXI Trigger Bus Channel
External Trigger → VME TTL or ECL
LXI Trigger Bus Channel → External Trigger
LXI Trigger Bus Channel → VME TTL or ECL
LXI Trigger Bus Channel → LXI Trigger Bus Channel
VME TTL or ECL → External Trigger
VME TTL or ECL → LXI Trigger Bus Channel
VME TTL or ECL → VME TTL or ECL
22 ns
30 ns
22 ns
22 ns
20 ns
20 ns
20 ns
22 ns
T
IMESTAMP
A
CCURACY
1 ms
B
ACKPLANE
P
OWER
R
EQUIREMENTS
V
OLTAGE
+5 V
+12 V
+24 V
-2 V
-5.2 V
-12 V
-24 V
+5 V STBY
IPEAK
4.6 A 45 mA 0 mA 55 mA 150 mA 0 mA 0 mA 0 mA
IDYNAMIC
450 mA
1 mA
0 mA
4 mA
2 mA
0 mA
0 mA
0 mA
ENVIRONMENTAL
O
PERATING
T
EMPERATURE
0 °C to +50 °C
H
UMIDITY
5% to 85% relative humidity
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14 EX2500A Introduction
TCXO/OCXO OPTION SPECIFICATIONS
STANDARD OSCILLATOR –USE VXI 10 MHZ
P
ERFORMANCE
±50 ppm
TCXO
O
PTION
P
ERFORMANCE
High Performance
A
GING
±1 x 10-6/year
T
EMPERATURE
±3 x 10-6 (0 °C to 50 °C)
A
DJUSTMENT
R
ANGE
±3 x 10
-6
min
W
ARM
-
UP
T
IME
N/A
OCXO OPTION
P
ERFORMANCE
Ultra High Performance
A
GING
±1 x 10-7/year
T
EMPERATURE
Less than ±2 x 10-8 (0 °C to 70 °C)
ADJUSTMENT RANGE
±4 x 10-7 min
W
ARM
-
UP
T
IME
< 3 minutes
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EX2500A Preparation for Use 15
SECTION 2
PREPARATION FOR USE
OVERVIEW
This section provides a step-by-step process for setting up the EX2500A for use. It covers
hardware installation, input connections, and cabling considerations.
UNPACKING
When the EX2500A is unpacked from its shipping carton, the contents should include the
following items:
•EX2500A LXI-VXI Gigabit Ethernet Slot 0 Interface
•LXI Quick Start Guide
•EX2500A User’s Manual (this manual)
•EX2500A Quick Start Guide
•VTI Instruments Corp. Drivers and Product Manuals CD
•Agilent IO Library distribution CD
All components should be inspected for damage. Also, take note of the MAC address located in
the Card Configuration section of the product label found on the top side cover (see Figure 3-2).
The MAC address may be required if problems arise when locating the module in the local
network.
REQUIRED EQUIPMENT
In order to use the EX2500A, the following items are required:
•A VXIbus mainframe
•One of the following network cables:
oUnshielded Category 5e (Cat 5e) Ethernet cable not exceeding 100 m in length.
oFiber optic cable with appropriate connector for SFP module used (typically LC style
connectors) not to exceed the SFP manufacturers maximum length specification.
•A gigabit Ethernet switch (if multiple devices will be connected on the network).
•VMIP, SMIP, or other VXIbus cards which are part of the test system.
SOFTWARE INSTALLATION
The fastest way to begin controlling an EX2500A is to discover the unit using Bonjour™. To do
this, the following software must be installed on the host PC:
•An Internet connection
•A Microsoft™ Windows™ XP OS with Service Pack 2 (SP2) and Internet Explorer™ (IE)
•Bonjour for Windows version 1.0.4 (or later)
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16 EX2500A Preparation for Use
Bonjour is an application that utilizes the mDNS (multicast domain name service) discovery
protocol. As an IE plug-in, it allows the end user to identify all compliant hardware on a LAN that
implement mDNS. Bonjour is distributed by Apple, Inc. and is available for download over the
Internet. Note that, if Bonjour has already been installed on the host PC, this software installation
section can be skipped.
HARDWARE INSTALLATION
Once the system is defined and the EX2500A has been installed in the leftmost slot (slot 0) of the
mainframe, connect the network cable from the EX2500A to the LAN switch or directly to the
PCs network interface card (NIC). The EX2500A is auto-MDIX capable, making crossover cables
unnecessary.
FIGURE 2-1: EX2500A INSTALLATION
NETWORK CONFIGURATION
By default, the EX2500A will attempt to locate a DHCP server. If one is found, the IP address
assigned by the DHCP server will be used. Otherwise, after a timeout of 20 seconds, the unit will
attempt to obtain an IP address by using Auto IP.
NOTE At any time, the EX2500A can be returned to a known, default network configuration by using the
LCI (LAN Configuration Initialize) mechanism. See VXI RST / LAN RST Button section for more
information.
Auto IP is a mechanism for finding an unused IP address in the range 169.254.X.Y, where X is in
the range 1 through 254 and Y is in the range 0 through 255. The device will first attempt to obtain
the specific address 169.254.X.Y, where X and Y are the second-to-last and last octets (bytes) of
the device’s MAC address. However, X will be set to 1 if it is 0 in the MAC address, and to 254 if
it is 255 in the MAC address. This is in accordance with the Auto IP standard (RFC 3927). If this
address is already in use, the unit will attempt to obtain other IP addresses in a pseudorandom
fashion until it finds one that is available.
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EX2500A Preparation for Use 17
To illustrate the Auto IP mechanism, Table 2-1 lists the Auto IP default address for some example
MAC addresses.
MAC Address
Auto IP Default Address
00:0D:3F:01:00:01
169.254.1.1
00:0D:3F:01:01:01
169.254.1.1
00:0D:3F:01:A3:28
169.254.163.40
00:0D:3F:01:FE:FE 169.254.254.254
00:0D:3F:01:FF:FE
169.254.254.254
TABLE 2-1: AUTO IP DEFAULT ADDRESS ASSIGNMENT
If a static IP address assignment is preferred, one can be optionally assigned via the embedded
web page interface. This is done by clicking the Network Configuration link, disabling DHCP
and Auto IP, enabling Static, and then assigning a static IP address, subnet mask, and gateway
address, and, optionally up to three DNS servers. For more information, see IP Configuration in
Section 5.
NOTE The 169.254/16 subnet is reserved by the IANA for Auto IP usage. It should not be used for either
DHCP or static IP configurations.
However, a much more convenient and recommended way to obtain the benefits of a static IP
address is to employ DHCP, but assign the instrument a reserved IP address in your company’s
DHCP server configuration. This reserved address, linked to the EX2500A’s MAC address on the
DHCP server, would be assigned to the EX2500A at power up initialization without having to
manually set it on the EX2500A. The DHCP server configuration provides a centralized,
controlled database of assigned IP addresses, preventing accidental assignment of the same IP
address to multiple instruments. Consult your company’s Information Technology department for
assistance.
VXI-11 Device Discovery is also supported by the EX2500A. This allows all EX2500s on a local
network to be found without knowledge of their MAC address or IP address with the use of a
broadcast message.
If problems occur when trying to connect to the EX2500A, see Network Troubleshooting in
Section 8 for assistance.
CABLING CONSIDERATIONS
The EX2500A can interface with a network through either copper or fiber media. Copper media
allows for three communication speeds: 10/100/1000 Mb/s, whereas fiber media is a 1000 Mb/s
only interface. To determine which type of media to use, some general guidelines can be made.
Segment Distance/Security
10/100/1000BASE-TX network spans are limited to 200 meters (100 meters point-to-point) and,
therefore, the developers of larger LANs face the necessity of providing fiber optic connectivity.
In general, fiber is reserved for situations that require cabling distances greater than 200 meters.
For example, going between buildings in a corporate campus environment or connecting
departments located on different floors of a high rise building.
Security is another possible factor that could influence a user to utilize fiber cabling. Fiber optic
cable cannot be spliced except under clean room conditions, making it nearly impossible for a
hacker to tap into the cable. A situation that requires an exposed intra-building network connection
makes fiber the best choice.
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18 EX2500A Preparation for Use
EMI Environment
Copper cable is susceptible to electromagnetic interference, which can corrupt files or generate
additional Ethernet traffic in the form of reissued messages. Fiber cable is not susceptible to these
electromagnetic sources of interference. Using fiber optic cabling with the EX2500A allows for
control of a test chassis from a computer located far away from the test lab or in areas that are near
elevators, fluorescent lighting, or other sources of high external noise.
Current LAN Implementation
If the potential location of an EX2500A is on an existing 10/100 Mb/s network, a gigabit fiber
connection will not fit without additional network equipment. At a minimum, a switch with a
gigabit fiber port is needed to connect fiber to the EX2500A. On the other hand, another Cat 5e
UTP patch cord would be the only requirement to put the EX2500A on the existing network.
FIBER VS.COPPER
The table below summarizes some of the differences between fiber optic and copper cabling:
F
IBER
C
OPPER
Bandwidth
Gigabit
Gigabit
Distance
40 km+ @ 1,000 Mb/s
100 m @ 1000 Mb/s
Noise
Immune
EMI/RFI susceptible
Security
Almost impossible to tap
Susceptible to tapping
TABLE 2-2: CABLE COMPARISON
Copper Cable Recommendation
The type of copper cable VTI recommends is Cat 5e UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair).
Fiber Optic Cable Recommendation
Fiber optic cables are specified by their core diameter and the type of fiber: multi-mode or single-
mode. When using a 1000BASE-SX fiber optic transceiver, three possible cable choices can be
made:
1) 62.5/125 μm MMF(multi-mode fiber)
2) 50/125 μm MMF
3) 9/125 µm SMF (single-mode fiber)
In the descriptions above, the first number refers to the diameter of the fiber optic core, and the
second number refers to the diameter of the cladding. The cladding is the outer diameter and the
core refers to the cable’s inner diameter. (See Figure 2-2 below.)
Core
Cladding
Cable Jacket
FIGURE 2-2: FIBER OPTIC CABLE CROSS-SECTION
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EX2500A Preparation for Use 19
In general, the core diameter is segment length dependent. If the fiber segment between the
EX2500A and the switch is 2 m to 300 m, use a 62.5/125 μm MMF cable. For segments greater
than 300 m, use a 50/125 μm MMF cable. Finally, the proper fiber cable connectors must be
specified when ordering X/125 μm MMF cable. The EX2500A interfaces to fiber via the SFP port.
This port accepts a transceiver that requires an LC duplex style connector. The other end that
connects to the switch must be specified by the user.
MULTIPLE MAINFRAME CONFIGURATIONS
The EX2500A features an 8-channel LXI trigger bus on the front panel. These channels are used
primarily for high-speed multi-unit triggering and synchronization. Currently, the EX2500A can
route VME TTL or ECL triggers to the LXI trigger bus or from the LXI trigger bus to the VME
aforementioned triggers. Connecting the EX2500A’s LXI trigger bus to other LXI devices or to
other EX2500As is done using a VTI Instruments trigger bus cable.
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