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Introduction Chapter 1
NI-488.2 User Manual for Windows 1-6 © National Instruments Corp.
For high-speed operation, the following restrictions apply:
• All devices in the system must be powered on.
• Cable lengths as short as possible up to a maximum of 15 m of cable for each system.
• At least one equivalent device load per meter of cable.
If you want to exceed these limitations, you can use bus extenders to increase the cable
length or expander to increase the number of device loads. Extenders and expanders are
available from National Instruments.
The following sections describe the NI-488.2 software, which controls the flow of
communication on the GPIB.
The NI-488.2 Software Package
The following section highlights important elements of the NI-488.2 software for
Windows and describes the function of each element.
NI-488.2 Driver and Driver Utilities
The NI-488.2 software contains the following driver and utility files:
• readme.txt is a documentation file that contains important information about the
NI-488.2 software and a description of any new features. Before you use the
software, read this file for the most recent information.
• setup.exe is a Windows setup executable that installs the NI-488.2 software.
• gpib.dll is a 16-bit dynamic link library that implements the NI-488 and
NI-488.2 functions.
• gpib.ini is the GPIB configuration information file that describes the default
configuration of the NI-488.2 software.
• nivgpibd.386, the National Instruments virtual GPIB device, allows you to use
DMA to transfer buffers located above 16 MB in memory. The setup program offers
to install this virtual device for you.
• nivdmad.386 is an improved version of the virtual DMA device (vdmad) used by
Windows 3.0 in 386-enhanced mode. The setup program offers to install this virtual
device for you if you are running Windows 3.0.