Technical data

42 Agilent Signal Generators Programming Guide
Using IO Interfaces
Using LAN
Using VXI–11
The signal generator supports the LAN interface protocol described in the VXI–11 standard. VXI–11
is an instrument control protocol based on Open Network Computing/Remote Procedure Call
(ONC/RPC) interfaces running over TCP/IP. It is intended to provide GPIB capabilities such as SRQ
(Service Request), status byte reading, and DCAS (Device Clear State) over a LAN interface. This
protocol is a good choice for migrating from GPIB to LAN as it has full Agilent VISA/SICL support.
NOTE It is recommended that the VXI–11 protocol be used for instrument communication over the
LAN interface.
Configuring for VXI–11
The Agilent IO library has a program, IO Config, that is used to setup the computer/signal generator
interface for the VXI–11 protocol. Download the latest version of the Agilent IO library from the
Agilent website. Refer to the Agilent IO library user manual, documentation, and Help menu for
information on running the IO Config program and configuring the VXI–11 interface.
Use the IO Config program to configure the LAN client. Once the computer is configured for a LAN
client, you can use the VXI–11 protocol and the VISA library to send SCPI commands to the signal
generator over the LAN interface. Example programs for this protocol are included in “LAN
Programming Interface Examples” on page 116 of this programming guide.
NOTE To communicate with the signal generator over the LAN interface you must enable the
VXI–11 SCPI service. For more information, refer to “Configuring the DHCP LAN (Agilent
MXG)” on page 35 and “Configuring the DHCP LAN (ESG/PSG)” on page 36.
If you are using the Windows NT platform, refer to “Windows NT and Agilent IO Libraries M
(and Earlier)” on page 8 for information on using Agilent IO Libraries versions M or earlier
to configure the interface.
For Agilent IO library version J.01.0100, the “Identify devices at run–time” check box must
be unchecked. Refer to Figure 2- 4.