Install the Ines GPIB-PCI XL GPIB card

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Installing the driver and support software

  1. The driver has already been installed during when the other GPIB card was installed using the Install the CEC PCI-488 GPIB card instructions.

Loading the driver

  • Once installed, the driver can be loaded manually or automatically. Either way, you must modify /etc/gpib.conf.
    1. open a terminal and execute "su -c 'gedit /etc/gpib.conf'"
      • Replace the contents of the file with this:
/***********************************************************************
                 GPIB.CONF IEEE488 library config file
                             -------------------  

   copyright            : (C) 2002 by Frank Mori Hess
                          (C) 1994 by C.Schroeter
   email                : fmhess@users.sourceforge.net
 ***************************************************************************/
/***************************************************************************
 *    
 *   Syntax:
 *
 *         interface { ... } starts new interface board section
 *         device {...} device configuration
 *
 ***************************************************************************/  
/* This section configures the configurable driver characteristics
 * for an interface board, such as board address, and interrupt level.
 * minor = 0 configures /dev/gpib0, minor = 1 configures /dev/gpib1, etc.
 */ 
interface {
	minor = 0	/* board index, minor = 0 uses /dev/gpib0, minor = 1 uses /dev/gpib1, etc. */
	board_type = "cec_pci"	/* type of interface board being used */
	name = "CEC_PCI"	/* optional name, allows you to get a board descriptor using ibfind() */
	pad = 0	/* primary address of interface             */
	sad = 0	/* secondary address of interface           */
	timeout = T3s	/* timeout for commands */ 
	master = yes	/* interface board is system controller */
}
interface {
	minor = 1	/* board index, minor = 0 uses /dev/gpib0, minor = 1 uses /dev/gpib1, etc. */
	board_type = "ines_pci"	/* type of interface board being used */
	name = "INES_PCI"	/* optional name, allows you to get a board descriptor using ibfind() */
	pad = 0	/* primary address of interface             */
	sad = 0	/* secondary address of interface           */
	timeout = T3s	/* timeout for commands */ 
	master = yes	/* interface board is system controller */
}      
  • Now, to manually load the driver, simply open a terminal and do this:
    1. su -c 'modprobe ines_gpib'
    2. su -c 'gpib_config --minor 1'
  • To do it automatically, simply do su -c 'gedit /etc/rc.local'
    • Add the following two lines (in order) somewhere before the last line:
      1. modprobe ines_gpib
      2. gpib_config --minor 1

Testing the card

  • Make sure you're in the 'gpib' group. If you've installed the drivers as mentioned above, and have not logged out and logged in, do so now.
  • linux-gpib software comes with a simple testing program called ibtest. With it, you can write any string you like to any device on the GPIB bus.
  • Open a terminal and execute these commands:
    1. ibtest --minor 1
    2. d
    3. 1
    4. w
    5. MESS:STATE ON
      • Note that a box should have appeared on the first scope on the bus<
    6. w
    7. MESS:STATE OFF
      • Note that the box has disappeared
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