User manual

Software and Network Operation
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379User Manual 1316.0827.02 ─ 06
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14.4.2 LXI Configuration
LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI) is an instrumentation platform for measuring
instruments and test systems that is based on standard Ethernet technology. LXI is
intended to be the LAN-based successor to GPIB, combining the advantages of Ethernet
with the simplicity and familiarity of GPIB.
14.4.2.1 LXI Classes and LXI Functionality
LXI-compliant instruments are divided into three classes, A, B and C, with the functionality
of the classes hierarchically based one upon the other:
●
Class C instruments are characterized by a common LAN implementation, including
an ICMP ping responder for diagnostics. The instruments can be configured via a
web browser; a LAN Configuration Initialize (LCI) mechanism resets the LAN con-
figuration. The LXI Class C instruments shall also support automatic detection in a
LAN via the VXI-11 discovery protocol and programming by means of IVI drivers.
●
Class B adds IEEE 1588 Precision Time Protocol (PTP) and peer-to-peer commu-
nication to the base class. IEEE 1588 allows all instruments on the same network to
automatically synchronize to the most accurate clock available and then provide time
stamps or time-based synchronization signals to all instruments with exceptional
accuracy.
●
Class A instruments are additionally equipped with the eight-channel hardware trig-
ger bus (LVDS interface) defined in the LXI standard.
For information about the LXI standard refer to the LXI website at http://www.lxistan-
dard.org. See also the article at the Rohde&Schwarz website: http://www2.rohde-
schwarz.com/en/technologies/connectivity/LXI/information/.
Instruments of classes A and B can generate and receive software triggers via LAN mes-
sages and communicate with each other without involving the controller.
Operation in a Network