User`s manual

Chapter 6 187
Advanced Operations
Passing Control
Configuring the Test Set as the System Controller
To configure the Test Set as a System Controller, select the I/O
CONFIGURE screen, position the cursor to the Mode field using the
Cursor Control knob, highlight the Mode field by pushing the Rotary
Knob, select Control from the Choices menu. As a consequence of
setting the Test Set to be the System Controller it will also become the
Active Controller. The letter C appears in the upper-right corner of the
display to indicate that the Test Set is now the Active Controller.
If the Test Set is the only controller on the bus it must be configured as
the System Controller. If the Test Set is not the only controller on the
bus, then whether or not it is configured as the System Controller
would depend upon three issues:
1. whether or not other controllers have System Controller capability
2. which controller will be the Active Controller upon power-up
3. which Controller will be monitoring the bus to determine if
communications have failed (only the System Controller can
unconditionally demand control of the bus and reset it to a known
state using the IFC line)
Ensure that only one Controller connected to the bus is configured as
the System Controller or bus conflicts will occur.
When Active Controller Capability is Required
The Test Set must be the Active Controller on the bus under the
following conditions:
1. whenever the Test Set needs to control any device connected to the
HP-IB bus, such as an external disk drive, an external printer, or an
external instrument
2. whenever a screen image is printed to an external HP-IB printer
3. Whenever an instrument configuration is saved or recalled from an
external HP-IB disk drive
4. Whenever running any Agilent Technologies Test Software package
which uses an external HP-IB device such as a printer, or an
instrument
5. Whenever running any IBASIC program that uses an external
HP-IB device such as a printer, or an instrument