National Instruments VXI-1394 User Manual - Introduction

©

 National Instruments Corporation

1-1

VXI-1394 User Manual for Windows

1

Introduction

This chapter describes your VXI-1394 interface kit, lists what you need 

to get started, and includes a brief description of the hardware and software.

The VXI-1394 interface kit links a PCI-based computer to the VXIbus 

using the IEEE 1394, or FireWire

®

, high-speed serial bus. This kit makes 

your computer perform as if it were plugged directly into the VXI 

backplane, giving your external computer the capability of an embedded 

computer. You can connect streaming devices such as digital cameras to 

either the VXI-1394 interface in your VXI mainframe or the PCI-1394 

interface in your computer. IEEE 1394 features 

hot plug-in

 capability 

under Windows, which means you can add and configure 1394 devices 

without powering down your system.

Your kit contains a National Instruments VXI-1394 interface module, 

which plugs into your VXI mainframe and links your computer to the 

VXIbus.

Your kit also contains an industry-standard OHCI host adapter, which links 

your PCI-based computer to the IEEE 1394 bus.

Your kit includes the NI-VXI/NI-VISA bus interface software, which is 

fully VXI

plug&play

 compliant. NI-VXI/NI-VISA is the National 

Instruments implementation of the VISA I/O software standard on which 

all VXI

plug&play

 software components are based.

What You Need to Get Started

To set up and use the VXI-1394 interface kit, you need the following items:

❑

A computer running Windows 2000/XP/Me/98 Second Edition

❑

An industry-standard OHCI host adapter

❑

VXIbus mainframe

❑

VXI-1394 interface module that plugs directly into a VXI mainframe

❑

1394 cable